About 80% of breakages happen in 10% of items — glasses, plates, picture frames, electronics. If you nail the packing for those, you're basically safe. Here's our crew's playbook.
Glasses and stemware
Stuff each glass with packing paper first — this stops the stem snapping under pressure. Wrap individually. Stand them upright in the box (never on their sides). Use a small/medium box, never a large one — too much weight crushes the bottom layer.
Plates and bowls
Stack vertically like records, not flat. They're structurally stronger on their edges than flat. Wrap each one in paper, with cardboard separators between stacks of 4-5.
TVs and monitors
Original boxes are best if you still have them. Otherwise: wrap in a blanket, then bubble wrap, then transport flat or upright (never face down). If you mounted it on the wall, dismount it the night before so we don't need to figure out your bracket on move day.
Picture frames and mirrors
Tape a giant X across the glass (this contains the shatter if it cracks). Wrap in bubble wrap. Stand vertically in the truck, between mattresses if possible.
Wine and bottles
Wine boxes from a bottle shop are perfect — most will give them away free if you ask. Don't mix wine with anything heavy. Wine doesn't love big temperature swings, so don't leave the box in a hot truck for hours if you can avoid it.
Or — and we say this with bias — pay us $250 to do the whole pack for you. It takes us 2 hours what would take you 5, and nothing breaks. Up to you.
Now stop reading, let's do it.
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