The Challenge of Packing Heavy Items During a Move
Heavy items are a class of their own when you’re packing your things for a relocation. Their heft and size make it challenging and tiring, and this is compounded by the fact that most heavy household items are also valuable and expensive. Damaging them, therefore, is out of the question.
No wonder some homeowners feel hopeless when faced with such a daunting task. Worry not, however, as residential movers from Salt Lake City, veterans of relocation, have a few tips to make this undertaking a little bit easier—and lighter.
Second-Guess Yourself
At least, in this case. Ask yourself if you need to transport the item instead of buying a replacement when you arrive at your new place. As mentioned earlier, heavy items are usually also expensive, but this is mostly because they were purchased with the idea that they will be “tied” to the place and will not be moved with you when you pull up your roots. As most movers charge by weight and miles, you can calculate whether moving them is cost-effective versus just replacing them. The latter option is attractive if you’re replacing heavy appliances, as new ones will naturally be more energy-efficient. Otherwise, if the cost of moving them is much lower than the price of a new unit, talk with your moving contractor for your options.
Tools of the Trade
Second, have your tools ready. In the context of moving, these tools mean the right boxes and moving supplies. Prepare heavy-duty shipping boxes that can support the weight of the belongings. For heavy articles that are fragile too, you can look at crates (plastic is okay, but for solid, dependable strength, you will never go wrong with wood).
Regardless of their construction, you need to wrap your items in protective layers to cushion them from the rigors of travel. Bubble wrap is a favorite, but you can also use thick blankets or even crumpled newspaper in concert with bubble wrap or as stand-alone (the former is much better). Wrap each item with soft, non-abrasive paper, which will form as the first layer of defense. Finally, seal your boxes with high-quality packing tape. This not only keeps your items from spilling from their boxes but also enables the box to support and fully enclose the bulk of your item. Wrap the bottom of each box with tape to prevent the box from being ripped apart by the weight of its contents.
Remember that heavy items need smaller boxes, and lighter items need bigger boxes. A heavy item in a box too big for it will become loose and rattle around in it. This will damage not only the box and but also the object itself.
IKEA, Disassemble!
If the item can be disassembled, do so, down to their smallest components. This is where furniture from IKEA can be handy. Protect each piece with soft packing paper and label each. For appliances, unplug them and remove all detachable parts from the appliance and pack them separately. For devices with doors (like a refrigerator), use twine or straw to keep them from accidentally opening during the move. For kitchen items like canned goods or those in jars, stack them in layers (with packing paper between each layer) and stuff the gaps with crumpled newspaper or bubble wrap.
A little ingenuity can go a long way when packing heavy items. For anything else that you can’t do on your own, a mover can offer more advice.
