Moving is a stressful event with so many details to pay attention to and one of the worst parts is packing your stuff. Last year, when we moved to Pennsylvania, one of the biggest nightmares we faced was trying to figure out how to pack so that our stuff would make the trip intact.
Some things are easy, like using small square boxes for books and using bubble wrap to protect glassware, dishes and breakables. If you are trying to save space and money, packing those breakables in your towels and other linens can also help protect them. But then there are the hard things like the flat screen TV or the pictures that are hanging on the walls. When moving, across town or across the country, some stuff just requires special care.
Boxes
For artwork and framed photographs, one of the first priorities is finding the right box. A box to hold you artwork should be wide enough that you can place protective cardboard corners around the edges, but should otherwise be snug. Wrap the art, frame and all, in a single layer of bubble wrap and then place the corners on the edges. this will help keep your frame from getting dinged up as it is moved. Once the artwork is in the box, the box should stand up against the side of the moving truck of against something rigid, like the top of a table. Never lie your artwork flat as other things may be placed on top of it and break the glass or damage the artwork itself.
Finding the right box for your artwork can be difficult. Some moving companies will offer specialty boxes for artwork and flat screen TVs, but often they expect you to pay a premium price for those boxes. One store wanted $79 last year for a flat screen TV moving box! To save money and get the same protection, check with unusual sources for the type of flat boxes you need. Frame stores, including Hobby Lobby, may be willing to keep frame boxes for you to pack your artwork. Best Buy or other electronic retailers may have extra television boxes. If all else fails, wrap the artwork in bubble wrap and then put flat pieces of cardboard on either side. Most craft stores will have the corner protectors you need to keep the frame in good condition.
Storage
While moving, make sure everyone who handles your stuff knows that the artwork or TV should never be laid flat. Prop it up against the wall or slide it into a closet while the big items are being moved into the house.
If you are storing your artwork or television before moving into the new house, make sure you use climate controlled storage. Electronics and artwork are particularly vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and changing humidity, so outdoor storage is not appropriate for either.
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