Packing Tips
Packing Services
Use our packing service if you don’t have the time or energy yourself. We provide a full packing service or part-packing of breakable items.
Packing Materials
If you choose to pack yourself, we can supply a wide range of packaging materials at to assist you at unbeatable prices, we can supply double walled cardboard cartons, bubble wrap, tape and plain paper, we can also supply polythene furniture covers.
Don’t forget to ask about hanging wardrobe containers if you don’t want to pack your clothes in suitcases.
Direct Removals Packing tips
If you choose not to use our packing service and decide to pack yourself, here are some handy tips to help you
Fragile Items
- Wrap all glass and china before placing into cartons.
- We recommend that plates, dishes etc. be packed on their sides do not stack them on top of each other.
- We advise all mirrors and picture be bubble-wrapped prior to moving.
- When packing fragile things, use old clothes and underwear to fill-in the spaces in the boxes.
Non Fragile Items
- Soft items, i.e. bedding, towels, soft toys etc. can be placed into strong bin bags rather than boxes.
- Pack books by lying them flat or with the spines facing down. Pack books of a similar size together and use a small box.
- If you’re packing CDs or old LPs, pack them standing up and not flat in a box. Protect at either end of the box with a hardcover book.
Kitchen Items
- When packing saucepans, place smaller kitchen items inside them and put the lid on upside down so that you can stack them easily.
- When packing cutlery, make sure all sharp knives are wrapped facing the same way.
- Empty, drain and clean kitchen appliances before packing, i.e. kettle, toaster, coffee machine, iron.
- If you don’t have the original boxes for small kitchen appliances, pad out packing boxes with tea towels and wrap items carefully.
- Try to be specific when keeping a list of moving box contents, e.g. Write ‘Saucepans’, not just ‘General kitchen’.
Garden Items
- When transporting gardening tools, we suggest that you bundle some together with strong tape, this makes spades, forks etc easier to handle
Dismantling
- When dismantling shelves, units, tables, etc., tape screws & fittings securely to the underside of the item so that they don’t get mislaid.
Electrical Items
- Tie up and secure loose cables to electrical items when you’re packing so that they don’t get damaged or lost during the move
- Take clear photos of any complicated wiring – on computers, hi-fi systems, etc. It’ll make it easier to set things up in your new home.
Don’t overfill your boxes
Although our removals crews are fully trained and experienced in handling and removals (as well as liking a challenge!), they are still just humans. Please don’t make the boxes too heavy for them to carry. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t pick up the box, neither can they. Pack light items such as bedding and linens in large boxes, and heavy items such as books in smaller boxes.
No hazardous materials
Our insurance doesn’t allow us to carry hazardous materials such as paint and other liquids. You’ll need to arrange for these items to be moved yourself. We suggest putting them into a plastic container before attempting to transport hazardous materials yourself.
General Packing Tips
- Use original boxes if possible and ensure cartons are packed tightly ensuring there is no movement inside.
- When filling cartons ensure there are no gaps. Use paper to fill any spaces to keep contents secure.
- When packing avoid making boxes too heavy.
- When packing heavy items, like books or cookware, don’t fill the box up to the top. Pack the remaining space with cushions or clothes.
- Stick packing tape across the bottom of boxes as well as the top, to stop anything falling out of the bottom during the move
- Old newspapers are great for packing fragile items but remember that the newsprint may come off on the items.
- Remember to stack the boxes you’ve packed with the heaviest at the bottom so that nothing gets crushed.
- You don’t need to empty chests of drawers, unless there are breakable items in them. Individual drawers can be removed if the chest’s too heavy.
Useful Advice
- Organise a box of refreshments the day before you move. Include a kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, cups etc.
- When you strip the beds on moving day, put the linen together in a separate bag or box so that you can find it easily at your new home.
- Last minute laundry should be done at least 2 days before you move to ensure that clothes can be dried and packed properly.
- If you’re taking curtains with you, and moving around the same area, take them into the dry cleaners and pick up after you’ve moved
- Remember to write the room and general contents on the outside of the box and mark as fragile if it contains breakable items.
- Pack a separate bag with fresh clothes, toiletries and other essentials – light bulbs, scissors, toilet rolls – for the day of the move.
- Pack a box to be opened first for each room, e.g. crockery, cutlery in the kitchen, bedlinen in the bedroom, towels in the bathroom.
- The removal team will deal with items that are too big for boxes, e.g. pictures, mirrors, but they should be taken down by the customer.