There are a few important things to know
when it’s time to pack a box. You need
to have the right size box, the right kind of cushioning material for inside of
it, the right kind of tape to seal it with, a destination address, and a
shipping method in mind. Packing for a
move is that much more complicated, but more or less adhering to those main
points. I make candy boxes for my family every Valentine’s Day and then I send
them out via parcel post. But I don’t
just send them out- there’s a method to the process to make sure that
everything arrives at its final destination the way it was intended to.
Once again, this is the same concept for
handling a move, but the task is much more enormous and the risk exceedingly
more so. Because, let’s be honest, it’s
not that big of a deal if a couple candy boxes get messed up in transit (it’s
the thought that counts). It’s a whole
different ball game if all of your worldly possessions arrive at your new home
in a state of disarray.
So here are some general packing tips that
you can scale down to a simple shipping experience or multiply for the
monumental task of moving:
Choosing
the Right Supplies
When shipping, you want to use shipping
boxes. Sure, the old coffee maker box
might be the right size but it’s covered in pictures and print and it’s not
acceptable for shipping in. A shipping
box is going to be sturdy enough and plain enough so that there’s no confusion
about what is going where.
When moving, you want to use moving
boxes. They are strong enough so that
the edges and corners won’t cave in, and this is important.
Properly
Pack Your Items
Use bubble wrap, newspaper, packaging
peanuts… If you’re moving your belongings you obviously want to keep them and
so it would behoove you to protect them from all of the bumps and dings they
will experience in transit.
Carefully
Seal the Boxes
When you are done packing your boxes, give
them a little shake. Nothing crazy,
you’re just listening for anything to shift about. IF you hear something, your items are not
properly protected. When you can’t hear
anything sliding around in there, you are ready to seal the box. You packaging tape to cover all of the seams. Don’t use masking tape, and don’t use duct
tape.
Finally, make sure you have insurance on
whatever you dealing with, even if it’s just a bunch of candy boxes going to
family, or if it’s your entire home in boxes.
