Packing Tips

1. Before loading most cartons, you'll need to wrap many items to protect them from scratching or breakage. There are a variety of materials available, including bubble pack, foam peanuts and tissue.

2. However, most often the professionals use clean, unprinted newsprint. Place a small stack of newsprint on a flat, uncluttered table or countertop. Round glasses and jars can be rolled up in two to three sheets of newsprint; always begin from a corner of the sheet, and fold the sides in as you role.

3. Larger or odd-shaped items require a similar technique. Place them in the center of the sheet, and bring the corners together. It may be necessary to flip the item over and wrap it again from the other side. If in doubt, use more paper!

4. When the corners are bought together, secure them with tape. For all your packing needs you will find PVC (poly-vinyl chloride) packing tape most effective. Do not use masking tape or narrow cellophane tape.

5. Before packing the cartons, line the bottom with a few inches of wadded newsprint for padding. Then place large heavy items on the bottom, and lighter, more fragile items on top. Most things, such as plates and books, should be loaded vertically to utilize their own maximum structural strength.

6. Don't overload cartons; keep them to a manageable weight. Fill in any voids and top off loaded cartons with wadded paper and tape cartons to avoid shifting while enroute. Be sure to label contents to make unpacking more organized.