Packing Guide
The packing guidelines below will ensure the safety of your items regardless if they will be stored in a Chicago storage unit, moved across the country or down the street.
TV, Computer, Microwave, Air conditioner can be packed in a TV box.
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of TV box and tape shut.
2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box (bubbles down)
3. Wrap bubble around the appliance.( bubbles toward the appliance!)and the monitor is large – pack monitor in TV box and CPU and accessories in Electronic box. If Monitor is not that big – you can pack everything in one TV box.)
4. Place the item in the box
5. Fill up spaces between box and appliance with white paper or soft clothes.
6. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
VCR, DVD player, CD player, and such: Use Electronic box. Electronic box is double corrugated and extremely durable. It also has line on the upper part on the sides of the box that allow to close it at custom height if necessary:
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of Electronic box and tape shut.
2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box ( Bubbles down),br> 3. Wrap bubble around the appliance.( bubbles towards the appliance!) You can safely place 2 players in one box.
4. Place the item in the box
5. Fill up spaces between box and appliance with white paper or soft clothes.
6. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Art work
Picture/poster Smaller than 15’ x 15’, no frame – quite safely can be moved in a large linen box, smaller pictures 10×10 can be moved in a Book Box.
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of the box and tape shut. 2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box (bubbles down)
3. Wrap white paper around the picture/poster (no bubble necessary)
4. Place Pictures in the box. Stuck the vertically DO NOT LAY FLAT!
5. Fill up spaces between walls and pictures with crumbled white paper.
6. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Pictures/Poster larger than 15x 15, no frame – should be moved in a picture box.
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of picture box and tape shut. 2. Wrap bubble around the pictures.( bubbles toward the picture!)
3. Place the item in the box. You can put 2-3 if fit. Pictures/posters should not rub against each other and should not bulge the sides of the box
4. Fill up spaces between box and pictures with white paper.
5. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Framed Paintings, should be moved in a picture box.
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of picture box and tape shut.
2. Wrap bubble around the pictures.( bubbles toward the picture!)
3. Place the item in the box. Small paintings you can put 2-3 if fit. Paintings should not rub against each other and should not bulge the sides of the box.
4. Fill up spaces between box and pictures with white paper.
5. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Figurines and small statues (smaller than 15”tall) – Use china box. China box is double corrugated and extremely durable. Use Styrofoam popcorns or white paper as a cushioning materials. Soft clothes are not recommended when you pack valuable figurines: protruding parts of figurine can be caught in clothes and break.
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of the box and tape shut.
2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box (bubbles down)
3. Wrap bubble around the figurine.( bubbles toward the item!) do not put pressure when wrapping fragile items, you do not even have to tape bubble, – you can just wrap an item and place in the box.
4. Place figurine in the box. Stuck them vertically DO NOT LAY FLAT!
5. Fill up spaces between walls and between figurines with crumbled white paper or Styrofoam.
6. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Figurines and statues (over 15”tall) – Use china box. China box is double corrugated and extremely durable. Use Styrofoam popcorns or white paper as a cushioning materials. Soft clothes are not recommended when you pack valuable figurines: protruding parts of figurine can be caught in clothes and break.
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of the box and tape shut.
2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box (bubbles down)
3. Wrap bubble around the figurine.( bubbles toward the item!) do not put pressure when wrapping fragile items, you do not even have to tape bubble, – you can just wrap an item and place in the box.
4. Place figurine in the box. At the center of the box. DO NOT LAY FLAT!
5. Fill up spaces between walls and between figurines with crumbled white paper or Styrofoam.
6. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape. If your figurine is Tall and China box flaps can not be closed you can do two things:
a. – leave the flaps open. Wrap some bubble around the top of the statue and place the box in the truck with care. OR
b. – you can make up another china box, fill it with crumbled white paper, flip it bottom up and fit it on top over the box with the item. You need to remember how far your figurine sticks out of the bottom box so you do not push too far. Once the top box is in position – run tape around where two boxes come together shut.
Wardrobe closet, hanging clothes – use Wardrobe Box.
1. Flip the new wardrobe box upside down , fold the bottom flaps and seal with tape shut. Wardrobes usually have an arrow to show which side is top.
2. Open the fron flap down (One of the top flaps has deeper cut than others).
3. Place metal bar on the top of the box in the appropriate slots.
4. If your hanging clothes not that long – you can put shoes at the bottom first.
5. Hang your clothes from the closet onto the wardrobe bar. (Place bottom part of clothes in the box first )
6. DO NOT OVERLOAD! After you filled the wardrobe up – close the top flaps. And tape shut.
Stuff from Dresser drawers and linen closet Use Large and/or Small Linen Box for contents of your drawers.
1. Fold the bottom flaps of the box and tape shut.
2. Fill up the box with loose clothes or other miscellaneous stuff. Two Large Linen boxes usually enough to empty a double dresser.
3. Fold top flaps. Tape shut.
Books, CDs, Video tapes and such: Use only Book Boxes (1.5 c.f.). Do not overload. Do not attempt to load all your tapes in one large box. – it will be too heavy to lift. If you move yourself – you might hurt yourself. If you hire movers – they will insist on repacking it. Weight of moving boxes should not exceed 35-45 lbs.
1. Fold the bottom flaps of the box and tape shut.
2. Fill up the box with tapes or books or other miscellaneous stuff. Stack books vertically.
3. Fold top flaps. Tape shut.
Filing cabinet. Best suitable box is a legal tote.
1. follow instructions on the box to set it up.
2. Place files from the filing cabinet in exactly same order in the box. You will need up to 2 boxes per drawer) depending how full they are. If you have space left in the box – better fill it up with some cushioning material to keep your boxes organized drawer by drawer.
3. Close the box and mark the contents.
Fragile items
Mirrors not over 36” x 24” – should be moved in a picture box,
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of picture box and tape shut.
2. Wrap bubble around the mirror.( bubbles toward the item!)
3. Place the item in the box.
4. Fill up spaces between box and mirror with white paper.
5. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Mirrors over 36” x 24” – you can use a picture box or 4 picture corners.
When using a picture box
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of the box and tape shut.
2. Wrap bubble around the mirror.(bubbles toward the item!)
3. Place mirror in the box.
4. Fill up spaces between walls and mirror with crumbled white paper.
5. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape. If your mirror is too large and picture box can not be closed you can do two things:
a. – leave the flaps open. Wrap some bubble around the exposed top of the mirror and place the box in the truck with care. OR
b. you can make up another picture box, fill it with crumbled white paper, flip it bottom up and fit it on top over the box with the mirror. Push the top box down until fitted. Once the top box is in position – run tape around where two boxes come together shut.
When using Picture corners – can only be used for square mirrors.
1. Wrap mirror in bubble wrap.
2. Fit 4 picture corners on the mirror.
3. Tape everything together.
Glass shelves – should be moved in a picture box,
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of picture box and tape shut.
2. Wrap bubble around the glass shelves.( bubbles toward the shelf!)
3. Place the shelves in the box. You can put 2-3 if fit. Shelves should not rub against each other and should not bulge the sides of the box
4. Fill up spaces between box and shelves with white paper.
5. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
China and dishes – Use china box. China box is double corrugated and extremely durable. Use white paper as a wrapping and cushioning material. You can also use Book boxes for small fragile items.
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of the box and tape shut.
2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box (bubbles down)
3. Wrap pieces of china and dishes with white paper
4. Place items in the box. Stuck them vertically DO NOT LAY FLAT!
5. Fill up spaces between walls and between china items with crumbled white paper.
6. If you packing a lot of small items in a china box – try to load layer by layer. You can put a piece of cardboard in between some layers to create a horizontal partition. DO NOT OVERLOAD! Keep your china boxes light and easy to handle.
7. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Table lamps, china body, – Use china box. China box is double corrugated and extremely durable. Use Styrofoam popcorns or white paper as a cushioning materials. You can also use soft clothes
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of the box and tape shut.
2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box (bubbles down)
3. Wrap bubble around the lamp.( bubbles toward the item!)
4. Place lamp in the box. At the center of the box. DO NOT LAY FLAT!
5. Fill up spaces between walls and between lamp with crumbled white paper or Styrofoam.
6. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape.
Table lamps , thin body, – Use china box. China box is double corrugated and extremely durable. Use Styrofoam popcorn or white paper as cushioning materials
1. Fold the flaps on the bottom of the box and tape shut.
2. Put some bubble wrap on the bottom of the box (bubbles down)
3. Wrap bubble around the lamp, if fragile(bubbles toward the item!), or just place it as is.
4. Place the item in the box. You can put 4 or more if fit. Lamps should not rub against each other and should not bulge the sides of the box
5. Fill up spaces between walls and between lamps with crumbled white paper or Styrofoam.
6. Close the top flaps and seal the box with tape. If the lamps are too tall, which is usually the case – leave the top flaps open, but tape them together upright. You can place a cover, for example made of white paper, and tape it shut.
Kids stuff
Soft and small plastic Toys –Use Large Linen Box .
1. Fold the bottom flaps of the box and tape shut.
2. Fill up the box with loose toys and other miscellaneous stuff.
3. Fold top flaps. Tape shut.
Molded plastic toys – use wardrobe box.
1. Fold the bottom flaps of the box and tape shut.
2. Fill up the box with loose toys and other miscellaneous stuff.
3. Place metal bar that comes with wardrobe in the top slot of the box. ( this makes box stronger)
3. Fold top flaps. Tape shut.