Packing Hints

General Tips

• Packing Materials
• Packing Pointers

Specific Items

• Appliances & Utensils
• Barbeque Grills and Propane Tanks
• Bedding
• Books
• Bureau Drawers
• Canned Goods and Other Non-Frozen Foods
• Cars and Motorcycles
• China and Glassware
• Clocks
• Clothing
• Cups
• Dishware
• Drapes & Curtains
• Firearms
• Flamables & Combustibles
• Frozen Foods and Plants
• Glasses & Stemware
• Lamps and Lampshades
• Linens
• Medicines
• Microwave Ovens
• Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures
• Personal Computers and Diskettes
• Phonographs and Compact Disc Players
• Records, Tapes and CD's
• Rugs and Linoleum
• Silverware
• Tools
• Video Tapes
• Waterbed Mattresses

Packing Materials

• Use only strong, corrugate cartons with covers or plastic totes. We can supply you with specially made cartons, for everything from mattresses to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of mover provided cartons might avoid damage that results from the use of poor quality packing materials. Your alternative is to collect boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor storage. Be careful when choosing used boxes. It's not uncommon to find insects and other pests in them. Also save old newspapers for the use in packing, but remember that ink may rub off and stain clothing or other items.
• Plastic part bags and labels for easy identification.
• Bubble wrap, tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs.
• Corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items.
• Gummed tape (1 ½ to 2 inches wide) for sealing cartons.
• Markers and labels for identifying contents of cartons.
• Notebook and pencil for carton identification log.
• Scissors and/or sharp knife.

Packing Pointers

After you collect your materials, select a work area of sufficient space to handle various size cartons. A strong table with a protective cover will save you time and frustration during the packing process. (We suggest you not using your good dining room table.) Keep your marking pens, tape, and scissors nearby. Spread a neatly stacked, generous amount of packing paper flat on your table.

Before you begin to pack you need a game plan. For example:

• Pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes time to unpack.
• Pack a couple of cartons a day, starting well ahead of the move.
• Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Make a carton identification log to show the number of boxes packed per room, and the total number of cartons packed. It's a good idea to leave space in your log for a special comments section to note carton conditions or location of high value goods. Notify your mover of any high value items.
• Be sure to have plenty of "filling" material available.
• Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are secured and will hold the weight of the contents.
• Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape.
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. A general rule to remember on carton size - the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.

Appliances & Utensils

Wrap and place small appliances and utensils in sturdy cartons with heavier items on the bottom. Have an authorized serviceman prepare all large appliances (refrigerator, stove, freezer, washer, dryer, etc.) for moving. Be sure to defrost, clean and dry applicable appliances before movers arrive.

Barbeque Grills and Propane Tanks

Wrap grates and briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents. Propane tanks will not be accepted even if an authorized gas grill distributor has purged them.

Bedding

Fold and pack all pillowcases, sheets and blankets in clean, medium-sized, 3 cube ft cartons and pillows in large, 4 cubic ft cartons. Beds will be dismantled by movers and set up in your new home. Mattresses, when requested, will be placed in special cartons by the mover. You can help protect mattresses by covering them with old sheets or mattress covers.

Books

Pack on edge in small, 1.5 cube ft cartons. Alternate bindings. Don't overload cartons. (A good rule of thumb is to limit individual carton weight to 50 pounds.)

Bureau Drawers

Don't overload. Too heavy a load in drawers can cause damage to bureau during move. Remove firearms and any items that might break or leak.

Canned Goods and Other Non-Frozen Foods

Pack upright in a 1.5 cube ft carton with no more than 24-30 cans per carton. Don't attempt to move perishable (on long distance moves). Wrap glass containers and boxed foods individually and pack in small cartons.

Cars & Motorcycles

Cars and motorcycles shipped on the moving van should be drained nearly empty of fuel. Motorcycle batteries should be disconnected. Automobile antifreeze should be ample to protect against severe cold in winter.

China & Glassware

When not packing with used grocery or liquor store boxes, pack glassware in mover-provided dish packs. Glassware and china cups should be stuffed with tissue. Don't test unwrapped glasses. Pack plates and saucers on edges, not flat, and layer with padding between each layer as well as on the top and bottom of the carton (label these boxes "Fragile").

Clocks

Remove our secure pendulum in large clocks. Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert service personnel.

Clothing

Place clothes on hangers in wardrobe cartons (available from you mover). Fold and pack other clothing in clean cartons.

Cups

With packing paper in place on the worktable, position one cup six to eight inches from one of the corners.

Now pull the near corner of the paper up and over the cup.

Nest a second cup directly on top, with handle to left (second cup should "nest" itself in packing paper folded over the bottom cups).

Pull the two side corners up and over, one at a time, and tuck corners inside the top cup.

Hold the bottom and top cup in position and roll cups to the remaining corner. Fragile mixing bowls may be rolled in the same manner.

Delicate cups, like china, should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass or china should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.

Dishware

Select a medium sized carton (or mover provided dish pack) and line the bottom of the carton with crumpled packing paper.

With packing paper stacked neatly in place on a worktable, center one plate on the paper.

Grasp a corner of several sheets of packing and pull the paper over the plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Stack a second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets over the second plate.

Stack a third plate. Grasp remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the plate.

Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper.

Rewrap the entire bundle; starting with one corner of packing paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover with next corner, then the third corner; and finally, the fourth.

Seal the bundle with packing tape.

Place the bundle of dishware in a medium size box so the places are standing on edge.

Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes, and other dishware. When packing smaller dishes, you may choose to stack in greater quantity.

Drapes & Curtains

Hang drapes over crossbars in wardrobe cartons, or pack, folded, in clean cartons. Remove curtains from rods, folded in clean cartons. Remove curtains from rods, fold and pack in cartons or bureau drawers.

Firearms

Firearms, along with serial numbers, must be registered with your Metropolitan's professional moving consultant before the move.

Flamables & Combustibles

Flammable liquids and aerosol cans must not be packed. Changes in temperature and pressure can cause them to leak, or even explode. For your own production, you should know that if you pack these items and they cause damage to your shipment or others, you, not your mover, might be held liable.

Frozen Foods and Plants

Because of the delicate and perishable nature of these items, your Metropolitan's professional moving consultant is prohibited from accepting these items when your shipment is being transported more than 150 miles and/or twenty-four (24) hours from the time of loading. Frozen food shipped within these guidelines must be packed in a freezer which at time of loading is a normal deep-freeze temperature. Please consult with your Metropolitan's professional moving consultant for further advice about moving these items.

Glasses & Stemware

Stuff glasses and stemware with crumpled tissue or packing paper before wrapping.

Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it one or two full rotations (depending on size); pull sides of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner. Corrugated paper rolls or cellular boxes may be used for added protection.

Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its side.

No matter what you're packing, you should use crumpled packing paper in between each layer to assure a snug fit wherever there's a gap.

All boxes with "fragile" items should be marked accordingly.

Lamps & Lampshades

Remove bulbs, harps and shades. Roll up cord. Pack lamps with bedding or wrap separately and place upright in clean, tissue-lined carton. Wrap harp and final (decorative knob) with packing paper and tape to inside wall of carton that contains shade. Wrap shades in tissue, not newspaper. Place upright in large, tissue-lined cartons.

Linens

Fold neatly and place in clan cartons or in bureau drawers. (Don't overload.)

Medicines

Seal caps with masking tape. Wrap and pack upright, in small cartons. Some prescription drugs, such as insulin, lose their potency if exposed to heat. Check with your pharmacist before transporting with your shipment. It is recommended that you carry all medications with you.

Microwave Ovens

Remove all loose articles inside the oven, such as cookware, glass shelves and carousels. Wrap loose articles and place in a separate container. Tape the door shut with an "X" pattern over the door and glass to protect the glass. When the original carton is not available, follow instructions for packing "Personal Computers and Diskettes."

Mirrors, Paintings & Pictures

Tell your agent about valuable paintings for special care. Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings and frames in unprinted newspaper or paper pads (available from your mover) and place on edge in cartons or mirror cartons. Never place printed newspaper directly against paintings. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons.

Personal Computers & Diskettes

Pack computer equipment in original cartons when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Be sure your hard drive is "parked" and ready for transport (newer models may not require "parking"). Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the computer. Wrap cords separately; label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer and the carton.

Computer diskettes can be wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a small carton. Do not pack any magnetized items such as radios, batteries, computer equipment, etc. with your diskettes. It could erase your data.

If you choose to include them with your shipment, it is recommended that you make a back-up copy of the diskettes containing important information to hand-carry to your destination. The inside of a trailer gets very warm, especially in the summer. Since diskettes are heat sensitive, shipping them is at your own risk.

Phonographs & Compact Disc Players

Use original cartons and packing materials when available. Secure changer and tone arm of phonograph. Tighten down screw (located on the top of turntable) to stabilize platter. Wrap dust cover in soft tissue or pad with old linen to protect against surface scratches. Wrap unit with an old blanket and place upright in carton. Label box "FRAGILE" and "THIS SIDE UP." To stabilize the laser on a compact disc player, replace the transport screws (normally located on the bottom of the unit). Refer to your owner's manual for further information.

Records, Tapes & CD's

Layer the bottom of a small carton with shredded or crushed paper. Records without sleeves should be wrapped with tissue paper or plastic wrap to prevent scratching. Pack records and CD's on edge (do not lay flat). Brace at both ends using a hardback book or layer pieces of cardboard to provide a snug fit. Cassette tapes should be in their protective cases. If not, wrap individual tapes in paper. Place either vertically or horizontally on layers of shredded or crushed paper. Fill in with paper as needed. Mark box "FRAGILE."

Rugs & Linoleum

Leave rugs and linoleum to be rolled up by movers. We cannot be responsible for linoleum cracking when rolled, however.

Silverware

Wrap each piece in cloth or non-tarnish paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.

Tools

Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.

Video Tapes

Place videos on edge in small carton. When stacking, layer with paper in between to protect from scratching. Fill in around edges with crumpled paper to secure.

Waterbed Mattresses

Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your owner's manual for special instructions concerning the care and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects.