Large
Appliances
Most major gas or electric
appliances such as refrigerators, washers and dryers
require special servicing to ensure safe transportation.
All parts should be professionally secured prior to
transport. Gas appliances, in particular, need
professional disconnection and reconnection.
Pianos
It is best to ask your
mover if the moving crew is able to handle the
disassembly/reassembly of your piano or if a specialist
should be hired to do this. Crating of this item is also
recommended.
Clocks
Large clocks, such as
grandfather clocks, often require special disassembly
and possibly crating, which your mover can provide. With
any clock, it is important to remove the pendulum.
Waterbeds
Your mover may provide
special servicing for your waterbed including draining
and filling. If you choose to drain and fill the bed
yourself, it is best to follow your manufacturer's
instructions. You will want to pack your waterbed
mattress/bladder very carefully. Pack in a carton with
only soft items such as comforters and linen.
Bureaus and Dressers
Clothing may
remain in drawers for transport. Ensure the drawers are
not overloaded as this may cause damage to the drawers
themselves. Also, remove any fragile or small loose
items from the drawers and pack separately. During the
loading process, your driver will pad the entire piece
to ensure the drawers remain in place.
Computers
Make backups of all
files on the computer. Remove disks from their drives
and replace with the original cardboard disks. It is
best to park your system, that is, remove the recording
heads from the data area. If you are unfamiliar as to
how to do so, and it isn't mentioned in your computer
manual, contact the manufacturer for advice. Once this
is done, all cables should be removed and individually
wrapped. Any non-detachable cords should also be
wrapped. If possible, it is best to pack these items in
their original cartons with the original packing
material provided. If you don't have the original
cartons, make sure you use plenty of padding to protect
each item in the carton.
Printers should also be packed in their original
cartons. Make sure you remove the ink cartridges and
pack them separately.
Small Kitchen Appliances
It is
most convenient to pack small kitchen appliances such as
your toaster, can opener, and blender together in one or
several cartons. Each item should be wrapped
individually in several pieces of packing paper and
placed in a pre-filled carton of wadded packing paper.
Spaces in the cartons may be filled with smaller items
such as pots and pans.
Dry or Canned Food
Dry foods that
have been opened should be securely sealed with tape to
avoid spillage. Lids to any jars, such as spices should
be securely closed. Dry food items in breakable
containers should be wrapped with several sheets of
packing paper. Sealed cans may be placed in the carton
without wrapping.
Glasses, Cups and Stemware
Pack
each glass with 2 pieces of packing paper. Take the 4
corners of the paper and fold into the glass. This
creates a protective lining for the next glass to be
inserted. Wrap the third cup as you did the first one
and place into the stack. A fourth glass may then be
added. Finally, completely wrap the stack with several
pieces of packing paper, taping the paper securely to
the bundle. Place the bundles upright in the carton,
pre-filled with wadded packing paper in the bottom, and
ensure they are separated with plenty of packing paper.
Stemware must be packed individually with plenty of
paper and packed stem up in the carton. Place wadded
packing paper onto the top of the contents and tape the
carton securely. Mark "Fragile - Glassware".
Plates and Dishware
Place wadded
packing paper along the bottom, sides and corners of the
carton. Place your first plate in the center of a stack
of packing paper; wrap two sheets of paper over the
plate. Place the second plate on top and use two more
pieces of paper to enfold the plate. Continue until you
have a bundle of 4 plates. Place the bundle on edge
rather than flat in the carton. Mark "Fragile -
Dishware".
Lamps
Line the carton with a
generous amount of packing paper or bedding and linen.
Remove the shades, bulbs, harps and finials (metal
attachments). The harps and finials may be wrapped in
packing paper and taped to the inside of the carton.
Roll the lamp cord and secure with a twist tie or wrap
around the base of the lamp. Place the lamp on several
pieces of paper and wrap around the lamp, tucking or
taping the paper into the base of the lamp. Tape any
loose ends of the paper to the lamp and secure the top
with tape. If you are packing more than one lamp in a
carton, separate with bedding, pillows, linen, etc. Mark
"Fragile - Lamps".
Lamp Shades
Lamp shades can be
nested together provided there is a sufficient amount of
clean packing paper placed in between each shade. No
other items should be packed with lampshades. Some
shades such as those made of silk should be packed
separately. Pad the carton with plenty of wadded packing
paper.
Pictures/Paintings
Small pictures
or paintings should be individually wrapped in bubble
wrap and placed upright - not flat -in the carton. These
can be placed in cartons with other items such as towels
or bedding. Larger framed items, including mirrors, can
be specially packed by your mover. If you choose to pack
these items yourself, the following guidelines may be
followed. Place an "x" of masking tape across the glass
to help protect the picture against damage should the
glass be broken. Place your picture face down on several
sheets of packing paper. Wrap the picture completely
with the paper and seal the wrapping with tape. Line the
bottom of your picture carton with packing paper and
slide the picture into the carton. If there is
sufficient space, more than one picture can be placed in
a carton. Ensure the pictures are buffered with plenty
of packing paper or bubble wrap. Once all pictures are
placed into the carton, place wadded packing paper on
top of the pictures and seal the carton. Mark "Fragile -
Paintings/Pictures".
Garage Items and Tools
All
gasoline and oil must be drained from any tools or
machinery that is to be transported, such as lawn
mowers, chain saws and snow/leaf blowers. Batteries must
also be disconnected. Arrange for disposal of propane
tanks as your mover will not transport them. Long
handled garden tools may be bundled and taped together
for transport. This is also applicable to curtain rods.
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