When you move house, it’s essential that you carefully pack all of your belongings to ensure everything arrives in one piece.
In this blog, we’ll explore the packing materials we’d advise you to use for the best results.
Why are packing materials important during the moving process?
Packing materials are vital components of the moving process. Here we’ll explain why.
Keeping fragile items secure
Moving can be stressful… we know that.
However, an effective way to reduce stress is to ensure fragile items are moved safely and securely. By using bubble wrap, packing paper and foam peanuts, you will more effectively protect fragile belongings from suffering any damage during transit.
These sorts of materials, described above, provide cushioning to absorb any knocks that could happen when items are being loaded and unloaded into a removal van or during transportation.
Preventing scratches & dents
Moving blankets and stretch wrap are ideal for preventing any scratches, scuffs or dents appearing on the surface of your beloved items of furniture. Plastic covers or wraps are also quite important (particularly here in Scotland) for keeping items safe from the rain and the damp.
More organised day
By having all your belongings and items carefully packed and wrapped up, you’ll almost certainly be more organised. You’ll know where everything is and where it should be going when you reach your destination.
Essential packing materials & what to use them with
Now that we know all the reasons why packing materials are so vital when it comes to moving furniture, we’ll discuss the packing materials that will be your best friend and when best to use them.
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is one of the most widely used packing materials.
It’s best for fragile items that could break or shatter, such as glassware, crockery, electronics, ornaments, artwork or mirrors.
Below, we’ll outline why bubble wrap is essential when packing:
Protection against impact
The air-filled bubbles, that give bubble wrap its distinctive name absorbs shocks and vibrations during transit. This in turn reduces the risk of cracks, chips or breakages when items are moved around or even dropped.
Prevents scratches
Bubble wrap helps to prevent scratches and scuffs to surfaces, making it an ideal layer to use when moving mirrors, TVs and artwork.
Lightweight
Thanks to being filled with air, bubble wrap adds virtually no weight to a box, keeping removal costs down and stopping boxes from becoming too heavy and inflicting injury.
Versatile
Thanks to its pliable nature, bubble wrap can be used to cover any number of shapes and sizes – from ornaments to large flat screens, and everything in between.
You could even line a box with bubble wrap or use it to fill any voids within a box to keep items as secure as possible.
Water & moisture resistant
As touched on earlier, bubble wrap can be used as a barrier of sorts against moisture, helping to protect items from damp environments.
Packing paper
Another important packing material is packing paper.
This soft, clean and flexible material can be used to wrap and protect your belongings. It feels similar to newspaper; without the possibility of the newsprint rubbing off on your belongings – not something you want!
Here are some reasons why packing paper is an essential tool when moving:
Padding for empty spaces
Packing paper provides the perfect padding for any empty spaces in removal boxes, stopping your items from rattling around and hitting one another, which could lead to chips and cracks.
Protecting crockery
Packing paper is also important for wrapping crockery and can be used to stuff into empty glasses and mugs. This helps to protect your fragile cookware in transit.
An eco-friendly alternative to plastic
Thanks to being made from (you guessed it!) paper, this is an eco-friendlier choice of packing material compared to plastic.
Packing paper can be reused multiple times if handled carefully – don’t worry if it’s a bit creased! And when you are finished you can recycle it thanks to it being fully recyclable.
Carboard boxes
The most obvious of all the packing materials – boxes!
When you think of moving, you think of lots of brown boxes, and for good reason – they’re essential for any moving day!
We’ll look at the reasons that cardboard boxes are a must-have below:
Organising items from different rooms
To help make your move as efficient and stress-free as possible, pack all your items from certain rooms together, so all the kitchen items are in boxes labelled kitchen, all your clothes are in boxes labelled wardrobe, and so on.
This means, when it comes to unpacking and organising things at the other end, it will be a lot simpler.
Transporting is easier
Obviously, larger items won’t fit in boxes, but for smaller items, boxes are the most efficient way to transport lots of things in one go, as you can pack them efficiently and maximise space.
This space-saving comes in particularly handy during transit as many removal companies will charge per box.
Keeping items secure & contained
The simple fact of placing lots of belongings in a box reduces the likelihood of your possessions going missing, keeping everything in one place and making it much easier to keep track of during the removal process.
Eco-friendly packing material alternatives
Here, we will dive into more detail around packing materials that are eco-friendly and sustainable.
Biodegradable packing peanuts
Packing peanuts fill in the gaps left within a box to provide additional padding during transit without adding any real weight to the box.
Traditional foam packing peanuts are made from a material referred to as polystyrene or styrofoam, and it’s worth noting that this isn’t a biodegradable substance.
With sustainability such an important consideration in this day and age, the manufacturing of packing peanuts has come on leaps and bounds, and now it is possible to purchase biodegradable packing peanuts. These can be recycled or even composted in a garden!
The best way to figure out if a packing peanut is biodegradable or not is to place them in the sink and turn on the tap – if they are biodegradable, just like magic, they will start to break down and disintegrate within a few minutes.
Recycled paper products
Earlier, we discussed packing paper and cardboard boxes; it’s possible to opt for ones which are made from recyclable materials (in fact, the vast majority will be made from recyclable materials), ensuring your move is as sustainable as possible.
Reusable containers
And finally, reusable containers, such as clear plastic boxes with lids, are another great way to ensure your move is eco-friendly.
These boxes can be used for moving and then they can be used again as storage, once you’re in your new place, as they are the perfect thing to place in cupboards, garages and attics, keeping items safe and secure within an air-tight container.
Conclusion
And there you have it!
We’ve walked you through all the best packing materials for protecting your belongings when moving. You’re now well-equipped to ensure your furniture and possessions are well protected during your next move.
Here at GTW Storage, we offer city-centre storage solutions to make moving house a smoother and easier transition. To learn more about how self-storage can help, click here, or get in touch with our team.