Breakages nearly always come from two things: empty space inside the box and pressure from above. Fix both and glassware travels perfectly well over hundreds of miles.
Materials worth paying for
- Double walled small cartons for anything heavy or fragile
- Plain packing paper, because newsprint transfers ink onto china
- Bubble wrap for stems, handles and electronics
- Cardboard dividers for glasses and stemware
- Corner protectors and flat picture cartons for mirrors and frames
Plates and bowls
Wrap each plate individually, then wrap them again in pairs. Line the base of the box with crushed paper and stand the plates vertically on their edge. A plate on its edge resists pressure. A stack of flat plates does not.
Glasses and stemware
Stuff paper gently inside the bowl of each glass, wrap from the base upwards and give the stem an extra turn of bubble wrap. Use dividers and keep stemware in the top layer of the carton, never underneath heavier items.
Mirrors, art and TVs
Tape a cross of masking tape across mirror glass to hold it together if it flexes, add corner protectors and use a flat picture carton. Televisions travel best in the original box. If you no longer have it, a purpose made TV carton with a foam surround is the next best thing.
The shake test
Seal the box, lift it and give it a gentle shake. If you hear or feel anything move, open it and add more padding. That five second check prevents most claims.
FAQs
Questions people ask us about this
01Can I use newspaper to wrap china?
It works as bulk padding but the ink transfers onto glazed china and light coloured crockery. Plain packing paper costs very little and saves a washing up marathon.
02Are fragile items covered by removals insurance?
Goods in transit cover applies to items packed by us as standard. Items you pack yourself are usually covered differently, so ask us to confirm before you decide who packs what.