When you are preparing for a move, there are some items you can simply stuff inside a box or a bag without giving it much thought. You can’t do that with your glassware unless you don’t mind if it breaks during transport.
These tips will show you how to pack glassware for moving, so your precious glasses and stem glasses will reach your new home in one piece.
Get the right packing supplies in advance
Don’t wait until the last minute to get the necessary packing supplies for your move. To safely pack glassware for moving, you should try to get dish barrel boxes and cell kits.
Dish barrel boxes are cardboard boxes that are twice as thick as regular boxes. They protect glassware, bowls, plates, and other fragile items. As for cell kits, they are adjustable cardboard box dividers designed to keep glassware safe during a move.
You can use regular cardboard boxes if you don’t have dish barrel boxes and cell kits. In that case, choose small boxes, which will cushion the glasses packed inside easier. It’s a good idea to double your boxes.
You will also need packing tape, white packing paper, or perhaps a lot of bubble wrap. Using newspapers to wrap your glassware is not a good idea, as you must wash all your pieces after unpacking them.
Cell kits are a great option if you use them properly
If you use a dish barrel box with a cell kit, you should cushion the bottom with packing paper. Then, assemble the first layer of your cell kit. It should be taller than the other layers, and it’s designed to safely pack larger and taller glasses. Place this layer on top of your packing paper cushion.
Fill each compartment of this layer with a glass, then place a piece of cardboard on top of this layer and keep going with the second and third ones.
When each compartment of the cell kit contains a glass, add some more packing paper to cushion the top of the box and seal it with packing tape.
Your glassware will be safe inside their compartments during your move.
Wrap your glassware with caution
Pack your glassware with white packing paper or bubble wrap if you don’t use cell kits. Packing paper is more eco-friendly than bubble wrap and can also be more affordable.
Start by gently stuffing each piece of glassware with some crumpled packing paper. Next, lay the piece on a sheet of packing paper, roll it and fold the paper at the top and bottom of the glass.
For fragile stemware, wrap the stem in crumpled paper before rolling the entire piece in a sheet of paper.
If you hear some clunking noise when you place two wrapped pieces of glassware next to each other, it means you didn’t use enough paper. Remember that it’s better to use too much packing paper than to buy new glassware because you didn’t use enough.
Stack and pack your glassware in a box
When using an ordinary box with no cell kit, start by making sure the bottom flaps of the box are well sealed with packing tape. You don’t want the bottom of the box to suddenly crack open while you carry it.
Next, cushion the bottom of the box with a few layers of crumpled packing paper. You can then start packing your wrapped-up glassware inside in an upright position. Put the largest and heaviest pieces first, then put the most fragile ones on top.
As you stack your glassware inside the box, be generous with packing paper or bubble wrap. Your goal is to ensure nothing will move inside the box during transit. Fill any space with crumpled paper.
Be sure not to fill the box to the top as you stack your glasses: you need to leave enough space for another thick layer of packing paper before closing the box.
Make sure you label your boxes properly
Before sealing the box, shake it very gently. You must add more padding if you feel or hear something moving inside the box.
When the box is perfectly padded, close the flaps and seal the box with packing tape. The last thing to do is label the box properly.
You can either use a label or write directly on the box with a marker. Write “Fragile” in big, bold letters. You can also write “This side up” near the top of the box, so anyone handling it will know it’s important not to flip it over.
Finally, label the box on more than just one side. Anyone touching this box needs to know immediately that the contents are fragile and that they must be careful. Labels are helpful when you put the boxes inside a storage unit at home. They help you quickly identify the contents in each box.
