Those about to set out on a relocation journey are consumed with many questions, and one of the top priorities is the question of how to pack furniture so it arrives at your new home intact. The last thing you want on your plate after a costly long-distance move is to have to pay for repairs or replacements, and some things are just irreplaceable. So, our experts give you the gist of how to protect furniture when moving interstate.
How to Pack Furniture for Moving?
Whether you are moving in winter or waiting for the best time of the year to move, you want to maximize the space of your truck rental and make sure your valued possessions arrive at your new home damage-free. The key is to pack and protect your items in the right way, make a household inventory list and choose the right size of the truck, and properly fill it. So, let’s take a look at the packing supplies you’ll need when wrapping furniture for moving.
Get the Right Supplies for Packing Furniture
If you decide to pack by yourself, you’ll need the right supplies. You can buy them from your mover or online on Amazon. Your moving essentials should include packing paper for moving, sturdy boxes, saran wrap, plastic bags and mattress bags, packing tape, cardboard sheets, pads and blankets, and a dolly. You may also need moving straps to hold your things together, so they don’t break or get damaged.
Start by getting the right supplies.
How to Prepare Furniture for Moving – Disassemble Before Packing
One of the most important things to do before moving, especially if you are downsizing and moving to a smaller home, is to figure out what you won’t need anymore and donate it to maximize the space in your truck. The next one of the key moving hacks for stress-free moving is to disassemble everything that can be disassembled, bed frames, dressers, glass tops, tables, even the chairs, if possible. If you can’t find the hard copy of each item’s manual, try looking for it online and follow the instructions to make sure you’ve done it properly. Put all screws, nails, and other small pieces in a sealable plastic bag and label it.
Disassemble what can be taken apart.
What Do You Wrap Furniture in for Storage?
There are different ways we handle different pieces to keep them protected during transport and storage. Plastic or bubble wrap and moving blankets are the key players here, and depending on the type of the item, we use them in different ways.
How Do You Pack a Couch?
To protect a couch, you’ll need saran wrap, microfoam, blankets, and tape. Here, you want to make sure the couch is protected from both receiving and causing damage to other objects in transport. To do so, cover the upholstered couch with plastic wrap first to protect the fabric. Then, cover it with blankets, paying extra attention to any exposed wood. Then secure it all with tape.
It’s worth noting that you should never use plastic wrap first on a leather couch, as it can cause the leather to sweat and deteriorate. Cover the leather with microfoam first, then add a layer of plastic wrap, and secure with blankets and tape.
Shield the upholstery well.
How to Prepare Wooden Furniture for Packing? All You Need to Know
Packing wooden objects should be approached with the same care you approach packaging fragile items. Even if you are on a last-minute moving project and found some packing tips for moving in a hurry that advise you to just wrap the whole dresser or table up to save time and supplies – empty and disassemble it first. You really don’t want to end up with scratches on the inside of your wooden pieces and pay for polishing.
How Do You Pack Wood Furniture for Moving? Wrap It Well!
Wood pieces require extra care and expertise – that’s why many prefer to use packing services and leave it in the hands of professionals. So, if you want to do it yourself – you should be extra careful. When it comes to wood – wrapping is the name of the game. Use blankets to cover the wooden piece and pad it well. Then cover it with plastic and secure it with tape. Be careful not to tape over wood – it could leave residue that could damage the wooden surface on unfinished wood and leave you wondering how to remove tape residue after your move.
Check out this video teaching you how to properly protect wooden items.
How to Pack a Truck the Right Way?
Once all your pieces are properly protected, you are bound to catch yourself wondering how to stack your things in a truck the best possible way. What you want to achieve is a good balance when it comes to weight, and you also want to avoid the items tumbling, falling over, damaging each other. So, how do we do it?
Do Movers Pack Boxes or Furniture First?
The key here is to distribute the weight evenly throughout the vehicle. So, put heavy boxes that don’t contain fragile items first and closest to the cabin. Then you should put the bulky items, like your sofas, beds, tables, and chairs, and it would be good to tie them together. Now is the time to roll out the straps. Tie the heavy items with straps, and place them against the walls. Then bring in the lighter boxes, and you can put them on top of the dressers and tables.
It’s important to make a good balance.
Good Luck and Have a Safe Relocation
Whether you’re using moving services or relocating on your own, we hope you don’t experience any moving stress along the way, and all your items arrive in one piece. Don’t forget to personalize your new home, as it will be easier for you to figure out how to weather the coronavirus quarantine in a nice environment. Once you do, put yourself out there and get ready to meet new neighbors.
