How To Prevent Damage During a Move

Moving can be stressful, and you’ve got a lot going on. The last thing you want to worry about is something breaking during the move. A best-case scenario is something breaks that you’re not fond of—you know, something like a decorative item you received as a gift.

If it breaks during the move, at least you’re no longer trying to get rid of it without hurting someone’s feelings. However, there are other things you don’t want damaged so how do you keep these items safe? To help guide you, here are some packing tips for a damage-free move.

Use the Right Size Box

Regardless of what people say, size does matter when it comes to preventing damage during a move. You don’t want a box that’s too big or too small. Think like Goldilocks; you want to find a box that’s just the right size.

You want the item to slide easily into the box without a lot of room to move around. While packing paper can provide a bit of a buffer, it’s not going to be enough if the box is twice the size of whatever you’re packing.

Look for Quality Packing Materials

You don’t need to go out and purchase the most expensive packing paper or load up on Styrofoam peanuts. In fact, if you can avoid using inexpensive peanuts, do so. Not only do packing peanuts provide limited protection, but they’re also horrible for the environment.

Look for packing materials that provide some protection and help keep the item from shifting around in the box. If you have fragile items, try using some old blankets or even sweaters as packing materials. The soft fabric provides plenty of protection and acts as stuffing to keep the item in place.

When it comes to packing items like televisions, you may want to invest in some foam corners. The foam fits over the corners to help protect against damage. Foam sheets are another option when you need to wrap breakable items.

If you want to stay as eco-friendly as possible during your move, consider using old newsprint. Yes, newsprint can be messy. The ink easily rubs off, so it’s not the best solution for everything but it’s effective when you don’t mind the ink.

The Type of Tape Matters

Guess what! Not all tape is the same, but you probably already know this. After all, pretty much everyone is familiar with the differences between masking and scotch tape. With this being said, these aren’t the types of tape you want to use during a move. Simply put, neither type of tape is strong enough to prevent damage.

You want to go with packing tape and a lot of it. On some boxes, you may need to use two or three stripes to properly seal the box—and don’t forget to tape both the top and bottom of the box. Even if the bottom is already secured with tape, go ahead and add another layer. Sometimes, there’s no such thing as using too much tape.

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