When you’re moving to a new home, packing things usually takes the most time and energy. That goes double for fragile items, which need to be packed correctly so they make it to your new home undamaged. Proper packing becomes even more essential if you plan to store your breakable items in self storage, especially long-term.

That’s easier said than done, however, since the average person has no idea how to pack fragile items. If that’s you, and you can’t pack a piece of stemware or crystal to save your life, you’re in luck! NSA Storage crafted the article below just for you, packed with tips, hacks, and advice for packing fragile stuff!

If you’re moving soon and need help making sure your breakable items stay in good shape while stored, read on. The info below will help you become a item packing pro!

Why Packing Fragile Items Correctly is Important

Why is it so important to pack fragile items correctly? Because if you don’t, they can:

• Crack, break, or fall apart when being moved.
• Be scratched, damaged or destroyed during storage.
• Be so loose in their box that they bang up against each other and break.
• Costs you a lot of money (and just as many tears) to replace.

What Packing Supplies and Tools Do You Need?

As with any big task, having the right tools and supplies on hand when you pack fragile items is critical. Below is a list of the supplies and tools you’ll need to make packing your breakable items safer and faster:

• Double corrugated dish pack boxes
• Telescoping mirror boxes
• Bubble wrap
• Clean, ink-free packing paper
• Packing peanuts
• Packing tape
• Indelible ink markers for labeling packed boxes

The Most Common Fragile Items

If you’re not sure what counts as “fragile”, the list below will help:

• Ceramic dishes and bowls
• Glass cups, mugs, and other items
• Mirrors
• Frames
• Crystal stemware and other crystal items
• Holiday ornaments
• Artwork like statues and sculptures
• Collectibles

Top 9 Tips for How to Pack Fragile Items for Self Storage

1. Be Sure to Use the Correct Box(es)

Most fragile items can be packed in large, 6-cubic-feet dish pack boxes. These are double corrugated boxes that are super strong. Mirrors and large pictures, on the other hand, need mirror boxes. These telescoping boxes protect these large, heavy, awkward, fragile items.

2. Wrap Fragile Items with Plenty of Packing Paper

Now is definitely not the time to skimp on supplies, especially packing paper. Most breakable items need at least four or five sheets to be well packed and padded and not get damaged. Don’t skimp on the paper!

3. Add Padding to Each Box Before Starting

Be sure to crumple a couple of dozen pieces of packing paper to pad the bottom of each box. This will serve as excellent padding that will absorb any shocks or drops when moving and storing your breakable items. Squish them down into the bottom of the box!

 4. Pack Things Gently but Tightly

The last thing you want is for your fragile things to be loose in their box. Instead, you want to pack fragile items gently with paper but also tightly. That way, there’s less chance that any sudden movements, which are normal when moving and storing things, will cause damage.

5. Use Bubble Wrap and Packing Peanuts Sparingly

You might think that bubble wrap and peanuts should be used for all fragile items, but that’s not true. The vast majority of fragile items can be well packed with simple, clean, ink-free packing paper. If you have super fragile things that need peanuts or bubble wrap, go for it, but don’t use them on everything.

6. Plates Should be Packed Standing on Edge

Everyone knows that, in your cupboards, you stack plates flat on top of each other. However, when packing plates, it’s best to wrap them in paper and then stand them on their edge in the box. 

Experts recommend wrapping 3 or 4 plates together, maximum, and then standing them on their edge together. Start from large plates and work your way to smaller and smaller plates as you go up.

7. Pack Glasses and Stemware Standing Up

Glasses and stemware should always be packed standing straight up like they would be in your kitchen cabinets. Never lay any type of glass or stemware on its side for packing or storage. Even a small amount of pressure can break them.

8. Use Box Dividers for the Most Fragile Items

You might’ve seen box dividers when you purchased a case of wine or some other beverage in glass bottles. They are basically cardboard dividers that keep each bottle from banging together and breaking. The same dividers can be used to pack very fragile stemware and other items and make it much easier. 

9. Label All Your Boxes Well

This isn’t a packing tip, per se, but one that will still help you. Labeling all of your boxes clearly with indelible ink will make moving into your new home much easier. Thanks to that labeling, you’ll know exactly which box has what, and where it should go in your new home.

Should You Store Fragile Items in a Climate Controlled Storage Unit?

Depending on the type of fragile items you need to store, a climate controlled storage unit might be best. These specialized units keep the temperature and the humidity stable throughout the year. That means, for example, that high humidity won’t be a problem, and neither will temperature spikes both hot and cold.

Experts recommend packing the following items in a climate controlled storage unit:

• Expensive artwork
• High-end electronic equipment
• Pictures and picture albums
• High-end upholstered furniture
• Anything that can be affected by high humidity or extreme temperatures 

Store Your Fragile Items with NSA Storage

Hopefully the tips and hacks provided today will empower you to pack your breakable items like a pro. Once you get started, you’ll find that it’s not as difficult as it might have seemed. Just take your time, be careful, and if you need to, use extra packing paper.

If you need a clean, safe, and secure storage unit to store your fragile things, NSA Storage can help. NSA has storage facilities across the United States, including climate controlled storage units. They’re perfect for storing your delicate, fragile, and valuable belongings both short-term and long-term.

If you’re ready, you can reserve a storage unit online quickly and easily. That way, when you arrive, it will be ready to go! Until then best of luck packing and storing your fragile items!