In addition to these tips, make sure to check out an awesome organizing and packing video as well. Don’t feel like doing all the packing? We’d be happy to pack and/or unpack for you.
In General
- Tape the bottom of every single box very well; tape the top closed tightly when full. Run two strips of tape along the side and one strip down the center. (If the box is still not strong enough, apply more tape on the sides.)
- Use small boxes for heavier items; larger boxes for light weight, bulky items.
- Wrap small and/or fragile items individually. Label Box “Fragile” on top of the box.
- Stuff the top, bottom and sides of boxes with paper or bubble wrap if you can. This helps prevent shifting, rubbing and possible breakage.
- Stack boxes to the top to prevent them from being crushed. But don’t pack fragile items too tightly. Stuff with paper and bubble wrap.
- Label the contents of every box and the room where it belongs. Group boxes together that belong in the same room. Label any boxes/items “STORAGE” that will be stored for you.
Don’t Pack These Items
- Money, Medicine, Stocks, Bonds, securities, valuable papers or jewelry. Keep them with you at all times.
- Flammable items: aerosol cans, paints, gasoline, etc.
- Perishable times: frozen foods, produce, plants, etc.
- Soaps, polishes or chemicals.
- Kitchenware or other heavy items in boxes with dishware.
Glass(es) and Dishware
- Use double corrugated boxes called Dishpack Boxes.
- Cushion the bottom with rolled up paper, towels or bubble wrap.
- Wrap each piece individually or if plastic wrap several items with one sheet.
- Bundle flatware in groups of three and wrap the bundle. Then stand up flatware into boxes as in placing a book on a shelf in a library.
- Don’t place one layer of dishware directly on top of another; separate with a layer of stuffed paper, towel, rag, bubble wrap or styrofoam.
- Cushion the top and sides with paper to prevent shifting. The steadier the contents, the less the chance of damages is.
Clothing
- Put hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes but place shoes at the bottom if you want to conserve maximum usage of boxes.
- If not or place shoes in medium size boxes. Use paper to protect and keep pairs separated. Especially red bottom high heels.
- Place non hanging clothes in medium size/linen size boxes.
Pictures
- Use a picture box.
- Line bottom of box with paper, towel, bubble wrap or styrofoam.
- Place picture in box, then stuff front, back and along the top with paper.
- It is sometime possible to pack more than one picture in a box and this saves a lot of money. If doing so use pictures back to back for safe packing or frame to frame if same color.
- Packing of pictures is always required for long distance moves or moves into storage. Also labeling if mirror or marble “Fragile”. Place this everywhere visible to eye for movers.
- On a local move there is no need to pack your large pictures. Unless very fragile then we would need to pack these specialty items with bubble wrap, tape and special crating.
Electronics & IT Towers
- If possible, pack in original cartons. If not, pack each item in ample amounts of bubble wrap and/or white packing paper.
- Color code wiring with color stickers and colored cord wraps for easy re-installation. If a chord is in USB port E label chord E with purple on the Eport and Purple on the chord or zip tie.
Press Board/Particle Board/IKEA Furniture
- Furniture made of pressed/engineered wood and/or particle board is not designed to be moved once it has been assembled. It therefore may not survive transport nor be repairable (since the glue and bracing hardware become compromised). Atlanta Furniture Taxi Company may deny any claim associated with this type of furniture.
- You can always disassemble such furniture yourself prior to the move; we will then safely move the parts to your destination location where you can reassemble them.
