Moving can be very stressful. We pack all of our home or business into numerous boxes, load them into a van or lorry and expect them to arrive safe and sound at the other end. Unless you oversee every single step of the move yourself, how can you be sure that your valuables aren’t thrown around, stacked incorrectly or subjected to potholed roads and sudden stops along the way?
According to a Moving Day Blunders blog post accidental damage can cost thousands even though removal firms will do their best to ensure that nothing gets broken, including securing loads with straps and arming themselves with insurance. But when heirloom jewellery gets damaged or lost, vital IT equipment is compromised or the oil painting that was handed down from your great aunt Flo gets broken, money isn’t always a suitable replacement. Not to mention the hassle of claiming from the insurance company.
Short of teleporting your belongings to their new home, you can improve the chances of keeping your valuables safe when moving by making use of adequate packaging materials. Use our top tips to keep valuables safe while moving.
House move storage solutions
Moving house can be a source of a lot of stress. Moving house can lead to:
- Damaged furniture
- Broken valuables
- Lost or misplaced items
- Damage to expensive electrical equipment like TVs and computers
It’s understandable that you’ll want to protect your items as much as possible when moving. Common house move storage solutions include cardboard boxes, packing crates, bubble wrap and specialist packing materials like mattress boxes. It pays to invest in the right packing materials for your move, protecting your things and easing some of the stress that can come with your move.
Proper packing can benefit a range of moving solutions. Whether you’re moving house completely, your child is heading to university, or you need to put some things in storage, there are packing materials to meet your needs. House move storage can even last beyond moving day, helping you store and organise your belongings and keep them safe until you need them.
Which packaging materials will keep my valuables safe?
Packing can be a time-consuming and stressful task, especially if you don’t have all of the materials you need. However, if you’re prepared and have a plan for your belongings, you can make the packing process much simpler, and ensure your valuables are taken care of.
Here’s our top tips:
Before you pack anything, you’ll need to find some sturdy boxes. Steer clear of cardboard boxes if your valuables are going to be stored for any amount of time, since cardboard can degrade and will get soggy in rainy or cold conditions. Plastic crates are a safe option as they can’t be penetrated and are easy to stack securely. They can also be washed and re-used.
Create a pad at the bottom of the box using packing paper, and wrap items individually using acid-free tissue or bubble wrap.
Don’t forget to use more packing paper to fill any gaps in the box or crate, and make another pad for the top of the box. These packaging materials will act as shock absorbers if the box is jolted or dropped.
It’s also important to secure your boxes properly to keep your boxes together and stop your valuables falling out and going missing – especially smaller items. You should also label your boxes to ensure you know where your valuables are kept, making them easier to unpack at your destination.
How to use bubble bags
Anti-static bubble bags are available in different sizes to cope with all of your valuables, from jewellery to vases, pictures to clocks, and in the workplace, IT equipment of all sizes. As with bubble wrap, the integral air pockets absorb impact to protect the contents, reducing the chance of cracks, dents and scuffs. Anti-static properties mean that as well as protecting electrical products from static damage, these bubble wrap bags won’t attract dust and so are suitable for long-term storage.
If you want to know how to use bubble bags, it couldn’t be easier. There’s no need to find a pair of scissors to cut to size or get tangled up when spreading a roll of bubble wrap over a table or floor. Simply drop your valuables into the bag and seal it securely.
Whether you’ve used bubble wrap, anti-static bubble bags or packing paper, make sure that you label any boxes or crates that contain valuable, breakable or sentimental items as ‘fragile’ which should ensure that the handlers take extra care to avoid accidental damage.
Is bubble wrap recyclable?
The UK is getting better at recycling all the time and the availability of plastic recycling technology and facilities is increasing. Some councils now offer a household plastics collection, which includes plastic film, carrier bags and bubble wrap. Thanks to these operations, Veolia has reported a 10 percent increase in kerbside plastics collected in the year up to December 2020. Your local council should be able to advise is bubble wrap recyclable in your area.
Where this service isn’t available, bubble wrap and anti-static bubble bags can be recycled at carrier bag collection points in supermarkets, or re-used as packaging materials for future moving or storage projects. They’re also perfect for protecting fragile or valuable items when sending by post.
Whether you use packing paper, bubble wrap or anti-static bubble bags to keep possessions safe while moving, we’d always recommend recruiting a specialist remover for particularly valuable items.
phs Teacrate offers a wide range of crates, boxes and packaging materials, including bubble wrap, to help keep all your valuables safe in transit and minimise the chance of accidental damage. Get in touch today or visit our online store for information on our full range and more top tips for achieving a safe move.
Tea crates – A secure solution for keeping your valuables safe
For a reliable and secure solution to keep your valuables safe, you can’t beat tea crates. Tea crates provide the ultimate protection for your valuables thanks to their sturdy plastic composition and secure fastenings.
As well as being a secure home move solution, packing crates are affordable too. You can rent a set crate deal containing everything you need to move with ease. From the crates themselves to the packing materials, including bubble wrap, you’ll have everything you need to pack up your valuables and move them safely.
Get your moving materials from phs Teacrate
With all the stress of moving home or office, it’s comforting to know that you’ll have the right materials by your side. At phs Teacrate, you’ll find everything you need for a successful move.
phs Teacrate offers a wide range of crates, boxes and packaging materials, including bubble wrap, to help keep all your valuables safe in transit and minimise the chance of accidental damage. Get in touch today or visit our online store for information on our full range and more top tips for achieving a safe move.