Proper Packing Boxes and How to Pre-Pack Them

Packing, easily the most detested activity in any relocation, is really all about planning and organisation. You need to appreciate that all your belongings, with the possible exception of large irregular sized items, will be packed in moving boxes and hence these must be chosen with care.

It is important to not fill boxes too much as this increases their chances of collapsing when stacked or bursting open. The cartons should be robust because if they are too flimsy they’ll possibly be crushed when stacked on each other. When selecting boxes, follow a golden rule; the larger the box, the lesser should be the weight of the stuff inside.

Moving boxes are usually available in the following sizes:

• Small (1.5 cubic foot): These are usually the smallest general-purpose cartons and are ideal for books, canned goods, CDs, DVDs, etc.
• Medium: (3.0 cubic foot): Easily the “workhorse” of cartons, these are great for accommodating kitchen appliances, pots and pans, lamp bases, tools, etc.
• Large (4.5 cubic foot): Ideal for folded clothes, bed linens, stuffed toys, coats, pillows, lampshades, and kitchen good, etc.
• Extra-large (6 cubic foot): Usually this is the largest box available and can accommodate large and bulky items that did not fit in the other boxes.

There are also a few speciality boxes that merit consideration:

• Dish barrel: These are recommended for moving fragile kitchenware, chinaware and crystal items due to their multi-layer construction that protects from sudden shocks.
• Mattress Carton: Mattresses are expensive and need to be protected from damage during transit, and are best transported in mattress boxes.
• Mirror carton: The boxes are expandable and ideal for carriage of mirrors, framed pictures, and glass table tops.
• Wardrobe Cartons: These act like portable wardrobes and are ideal for clothes that need to be kept hanging.

You must also obtain the variety of packing materials that you need to use to keep your stuff protected, some of the more common being:

• Tissue paper / newsprint: for stuffing fragile glasses, cups and bowls, wrapping delicate statuettes or artificial flowers. Use only the unprinted variety to prevent transfer of printing ink on to your belongings.
• Bubble wraps / corrugated cardboard sheets: Perfect for padding between layers of fragile goods such as dinner plates, electronic items, etc.
• Butcher’s paper / Tissue paper : Ideal for wrapping large and heavy items.
• Foam Pellets: Ultimate for padding cartons containing fragile items.
• Cloth padding / mattress covers: Suitable for preventing damage from knocks and scratches.

If you would rather not be overwhelmed by the entire process of pre-packing, we suggest you get in touch with Sydney Domain Furniture Removals. With more than a decade of experience, we are the leaders in the furniture removalists business. Not only do we have our own team of experienced packers but also own fleet of trucks that make your relocation a dream. Bung in our customer-friendly and transparent billing system and you’ve got yourself the recipe for the perfect furniture removalists solution. To discover more, give us a ring!