Moving is typically a chore. Hours may be spent packing and moving belongings to the new house. Unfortunately, when it is time to unpack, many homeowners find precious belongings have been damaged in transit. Perhaps breakable items have been bumped together, or perhaps the boxes came apart along the way. Much of this damage can be avoided if you know how to properly pack a box.

Never stuff a box completely full of breakables. Leave a border of bubble wrap, peanuts, or newspaper on all sides as well as the top and bottom. Wrap your vases or figurines individually, and then add a cushion between them. If you have items with projections, such as unicorns or angel figurines, tape cardboard over the delicate areas before wrapping them.

Pack plates, saucers, and soup bowls on edge instead of putting them in flat. Add a layer of Styrofoam to the bottom, then wrap each piece in bubble wrap. Fit the items in tightly enough that they cannot fall to one side but do not overfill the container. Thick, heavy bowls can sometimes be nested if you wrap each separately. Place them upside down in the box with the smallest on bottom.

Use a small box for books and other heavy items. A container that is large enough to hold two standard hardbacks side by side with little room at the top and bottom is ideal. Use one tall enough for a stack of eight to ten volumes, which will bring the total to sixteen to twenty. The weight will be about right for the average homeowner to lift with ease. You should also be spared the sight of your rare books tumbling into a mud puddle because the weight exceeded the tolerance of the cardboard.

Before you begin adding items, tape the bottom and side flaps of the box to reinforce them. Place a strip of tape lengthwise and then two or three strips perpendicular to the length. Repeat the procedure when sealing the top. This will ensure that the box will not fall apart while it is being handled.

Mark each box as you pack it. You can use a pen or marker, or tape a piece of paper to the box. Label each container with the contents and the room in which it should be placed at your destination. Mark at least two sides, one along the width and one along the depth, so you can identify the contents even if other containers are stacked around it.

Bag small items, such as paper clips and tacks, as well as liquids before you place them into a box. If the lids become dislodged in transit, you will be able to remove the items easier. Leaks will be more confined, hopefully to just the one bag instead of spread throughout the contents.

Pack sharp items with care. Place kitchen knives in a smaller box first, for example, or tape cardboard around the blades. Label the outside with a cautionary note so that if someone other than you unpacks, he or she will know there is a hazard inside.

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