How To Pack Your China And Crystal

Use a strong, sturdy box that will withstand the bumps and grinds of the moving van. Double boxing fragile items is recommended.

A few weeks before your move, start collecting and saving clean newspaper for wrapping your fragile items. Tissue paper is not recommended for packing since it doesn’t offer enough protection. Your moving company should also be able to supply you with packing paper and Styrofoam peanuts (at a nominal charge).

Fill the bottom of the carton with the peanuts or crumpled-up newspaper to a depth of several inches.

Starting with the largest plate, wrap the item securely in flat newspaper sheets. Use several sheets per dish, bowl or cup. Secure with tape, or in the case of the cups, tuck the loose ends inside the cup and around the rim.

Stack the plates in the center of the box on their ends, not flat. Make sure there is plenty of crumpled newspaper or peanuts between each layer and around the sides. The stack should be stable and not move from side to side.

When packing crystal stemware, use the same technique for wrapping. Starting at the corner of the newspaper, place the stemware at the outermost triangle and roll inward to the other side. Use caution when wrapping the paper around fragile rims and stems.

Never stack stemware without using cushion material between each glass.

When the carton is full, surround the contents on the top and sides with more packing material or peanuts.

Seal the inner box. Place the carton inside a larger, sturdy box and surround with packing material. Seal and label.

Finishing Touches

Be sure to mark each carton “fragile” to warn movers to use extra care handling each box.

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