Category: Packing tips

If you’re moving house and you don’t want to leave your cherished musical instrument behind, then you’ll need to plan in advance and create the best strategy for taking a harp from one home to another. It may seem difficult at first since harps are not only delicate but also bulky. Still, if you follow a few easy steps and approach the task with the utmost care and some handy tools, you’ll be set up for success and you’ll have your harp arrive safely at your new house. Carry on reading to learn how to move a harp. So your precious musical instrument goes through relocation safe and intact.

Preparing a harp for moving

Before you get to the actual moving part, you’ll need to make sure that you properly prepare a harp. The first step is to provide protection and prevent any damages from happening. When it comes to protective gear, you’ll want to use padded covers. These are designed in a way that provides durability on the outside and soft material on the inside. That means the fabric will absorb any accidental hits. But, it will be soft enough on the inside and affect the delicate finish of your harp. It will also be easy to carry since most models come with a zipper. And, they have a handle for you to carry the harp comfortably.

Depending on which type of harp you’re moving – lever harp or pedal harp, you’ll want to get the right type of cover for your model and you’ll need to fold up all the pedals or make sure all levers are down before placing the harp into its cover.

Alternatively, you could also use moving blankets or soft blankets you have in your home. Wrap your harp, then follow by using packing tape or plastic wrap to secure the blankets in place. This approach is certainly better than no protection at all. However, using covers specifically designed for the purpose will always give you better results.

Packing a harp for moving

Depending on how complex your relocation is and how far away you’re moving, using a harp cover may be enough or you may need to go an extra mile – in which case you’ll want to pack a harp in a sturdy moving box. However, simply placing your delicate musical instrument into a box and calling it a day will not do the trick. You’ll first need to get a sturdy box that’s big enough and you will have to use plenty of soft padding inside the box. Packing peanuts or similar material will give you the best results. Once there’s plenty of cushioning inside, you’ll go ahead and place the harp inside. But, only after you packed it in a wood or fiberglass crate first.

Both these steps are necessary because they’ll provide necessary protection when your harp needs to be transported long-distance and it will keep your precious instrument from any damage during transit.

Transporting a harp to a moving vehicle

Regardless of whether you’re moving with your own car or you have a rental truck, you’ll need to figure out a way to get your harp to the moving vehicle. The method depends on the size and the type you’re transporting. So if you’re moving a smaller one, you may be able to just use straps on the covers and carry the harp to your car. However, this is rarely the case since most harps are big and bulky. Plus, their delicate nature requires some extra careful approach. The easiest way to transport the harp from your home to the moving vehicle is to use a harp trolley. It’s similar to your regular furniture dolly but it’s designed specifically for harps.

You don’t have to purchase a dolly. Just reach out to your local movers and check if they have one for rent. Using a harp dolly aka a harp trolley will make the process much easier for you and much safer for your precious instrument.

The process of loading the harp onto a dolly is pretty simple and looks the same as loading other items. You’ll tilt the dolly slightly forward so the front part could slide under the back side of the harp. Then you’ll bring the dolly back to its original position and the leverage will help you get the harp on a dolly. It’s important to note that you should always have a helper when using a dolly. Especially when loading heavy and valuable items. So, go ahead and hire moving labor if none of your friends are able to help on your moving day.

Loading a harp in a moving vehicle

If you’re moving with your car and your harp is small enough to fit inside, then you’ll simply want to place it across your back seats and then secure it with a seat belt. In case the space is almost enough but not quite so, you can lower your back seats to create more space for placing a harp. On the other hand, in most cases, you’ll need a moving truck or at least a moving van to fit your harp safely. The easiest approach is to rent a truck that has a built-in ramp so you can just leave the harp on a dolly and push it inside the truck. Once it’s inside, you’ll want to offload it from the dolly and place it in the upright position but make sure it’s against something soft, for example, a mattress.

You should then use ratchet straps to secure the harp and prevent it from shifting during transit. Even with all of these steps, you should still follow one more measure of precaution and that’s to drive carefully and slowly – avoid bumps and sudden moves so you wouldn’t cause your delicate and valuable harp to move around and potentially get damaged. Instruments require expert handling for safe transport, so do not hesitate to reach out if you need any art shipping NYC.

Moving can take a big toll on your belongings, especially on delicate ones. Luckily, there are things you can do to minimize the risk of damage and have your items arrive safely at your new home. Read on to find tips for packing and moving delicate furniture.

Don’t move delicate furniture alone

The first and probably most important thing about moving fragile furniture is that you should never do it completely alone. Not only do you risk damaging an already fragile item but a DIY move also poses a high risk of injuries. Just imagine yourself trying to lift that vintage chest of drawers alone! After all, have you ever seen a single mover carrying something alone? Chances are you haven’t, and there’s a good reason for it – safety! So for your own safety and safety of your goods, always find help when moving, especially when dealing with sensitive items. Your first option is to ask a couple of friends to help you out. You can, later on, treat them to dinner, some drinks, or anything else you find suitable to show your appreciation for their hard work.

Your next option is to hire professional antique furniture movers NYC such as Dorothy and Martha Movers. They’ll bring quality packing supplies, prepare your fragile furniture for moving, and have it transported safely to your new home. This is usually the most expensive option but it’s usually worth it, considering you don’t risk damaging your belongings. In case you don’t want to hire full-service movers and you can’t find any friends available, you could also go for moving labor services. In this case, you’ll pay an hourly rate and you’ll get help for only a part of your moving process. For example, for lifting or hoisting your furniture piece.

Pack like a pro

Another extremely important thing about packing and moving your delicate furniture is that you can’t rush it. In order to get the best results, you must take as much time as you need to pack each piece properly. Find a guide for packing your household like a pro and follow professional tips for efficient packing. Use proper packing strategy and quality packing materials. Invest in some quality bubble wrap, packing paper, packing tape, and other materials necessary. That depends on the type of furniture you’re moving. Some items may even require special moving containers. So, do take the time to understand what’s needed to keep your delicate item protected during the move.

Waterproof materials may also be beneficial in some cases. So, look into that if you’re moving off-season or you expect bad weather conditions on your moving day. You should also use plenty of packing materials to create soft padding inside the box before you pack items inside. Also, add a bit of extra padding inside before you close and seal the box.

Disassemble

Once you have your packing materials and you’re ready to start packing, take a moment to see if your furniture piece can be disassembled. If you wonder how to disassemble furniture when moving, that’s usually an easy task. Take your furniture apart as much as possible. Moving smaller pieces is much easier and faster than moving one bulky and fragile piece of furniture. Sometimes, only a few inches and a couple of screws can make all the difference and keep your item and your property away from getting damaged. So check if furniture legs can be removed, carefully remove the doors, shelves, drawers, and anything else that could make the item lighter and your job easier. While you’re doing so, be sure you keep all the tiny parts in a separate bag so they wouldn’t get lost in the process.

Make space

When taking your delicate furniture out, you may find that it’s too big or too awkward to fit through the doors. In this case, you may feel like forcing just a little bit is the right thing to do, but you’d be wrong as even the tiniest pressure can make a delicate item permanently damaged. So the right thing to do in this scenario is to be extra cautious and find an alternative way to carry your item out. That may be by removing doors of the hinges or removing the glass from windows, as long as it allows you to pass with an item without forcing anything.

Use sliders

One great tip for packing and moving delicate furniture is to use furniture sliders. They’ll help you protect floors when moving and avoid damaging your moving items. You can find plastic ones or soft ones or you can make your own using plastic container covers, even bedspreads and towels could do the trick. The main idea is to slide your delicate furniture instead of carrying it, making the process easier, not to mention safer for your back.

Label

Once you’re finished packing, you should make sure that each box with delicate items is labeled accordingly. You can use a red sharpie marker and write “FRAGILE” on several sides of the box, and then add an arrow pointing upwards so the boxes wouldn’t be placed horizontally. You can also use premade labels to label moving boxes but make sure you mark each fragile box. This may seem unnecessary and you may think that you’ll remember that specific box with your favorite antique lamp, however, moves are notoriously stressful and busy, and identifying one box among the pile of other boxes can be more difficult than you think. So save yourself the trouble and label boxes before loading them.

Load delicate furniture carefully

Whether you’re moving mirrors, artwork, antique furniture, or any other type of delicate furniture, you should follow a general rule and not place anything on top if. When loading a moving truck, make sure your delicate items are top-loaded and there is no risk of something crushing or damaging them. Once you pack everything that’s being moved, continue to pack your delicate belongings last. That being said, there are some delicate things that should be left out of your moving vehicle entirely so if you’re moving things like small electronics make sure you move them yourself, preferably by car.

Before you start packing your household items for moving, you’ll have to get the necessary packing supplies. Of course, cardboard moving boxes Brooklyn or plastic containers are a must but you’ll also need bubble wrap for packing, tape, perhaps packing peanuts, and packing paper. If you’re not sure whether you should purchase packing paper, the answer is yes – it’s one of the most resourceful materials and it’s super easy to use. It’s the easiest way to wrap your fragile items and it’s long-lasting as well as durable. Furthermore, packing paper is recyclable, so you don’t have to worry about what to do with packing paper after the move. In the following text, you’ll learn how to use packing paper for moving and everything else you need to know about it.

Can I just use regular paper instead of packing paper?

You may want to avoid spending extra money on packing supplies and that’s totally understandable considering how expensive relocation can get. While trying to have the most affordable move possible, you have to prioritize and understand which cost to cut and on which to splurge. For example, decluttering home and moving fewer things is one of the great ways to save money when moving. Next, you can find free moving boxes instead of purchasing new ones. Eventually, you’ll come to deciding whether to buy professional packing materials or use stuff you have in your home instead.

Well, the answer depends on the priorities – if you’re only moving clothes, mostly soft goods and items that are not sensitive, then you may be fine with improvising and finding creative ways to pack. On the other hand, if you’re moving fragile or valuable items that you don’t want to risk damaging, then you’ll definitely want to go for high-quality supplies, including packing paper. Here’s why – packing paper is not the same as regular paper. Packing paper is ink-free and it’s designed specifically for protecting your items from damage. You can use it to wrap your fragile belongings or fill in empty spaces after packing the box.

How to use packing paper for moving?

The process is pretty straightforward when it comes to using packing paper for moving. You’ll want to wrap your items and add padding for best results and you can also combine it with other packing materials. Here’s how to use packing paper:

For packing

Use scissors to cut or tear the needed amount of paper from the rolls for each item you want to pack. Then lay it down on a flat surface and place the item on top. Wrap each item individually and use several layers if needed. Stuff the inside of your item (if you’re packing cups, mugs, vases, etc.) with extra crumpled paper for more protection. You may also want to use tape and make sure that packing paper stays in place. This step is optional, as it depends on the shape and size of the item that’s being packed.

For extra protection

Packing paper will also serve for creating the first layer of protection. You will simply line the bottom and the sides of the moving box with a few sheets of paper – that will create a soft cushioning so your items wouldn’t get damaged in transit. For the purpose of lining and padding, you can also use brown packing paper. After you pack everything inside the moving box, fill in any empty spaces with additional paper so you would prevent items from shifting while in transit. You can also add a few layers on top to add one final layer of protection.

Which items will benefit from packing paper?

You’ll get the most out of packing paper if you use it to protect small or medium-sized items, such as dishes, glassware, collectibles, pots and pans, etc. It also comes quite handy when you’re moving electronics or anything else that could scratch.

Do I need packing paper if I hire professional packers?

Professional packers will take care of all packing-related tasks, meaning they’ll bring their materials and tools as well. So, you won’t have to worry about getting moving boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, etc. because they’ll do all of that for you.

Common questions about the use of packing paper for moving

Is packing paper cost-effective?

Yes, packing paper is definitely cost-effective, considering that you can find a bundle for as low as $10. Of course, the price can be higher depending on the size of the pack, but in general, packing paper will not cost you too much. Plus, you can always save it and use it later on to save some money in the long run.

Where can I buy packing paper?

The good news is that you can find packing paper pretty much anywhere. Most local stores will have packing paper available for sale, such as Walmart, Target, The Home Depot, Home Improvement, etc. You can also find it online on Amazon, eBay, and so on. Any store that sells moving supplies should have packing paper.

What can I use instead of packing paper?

Packing paper is usually super easy to find but in case you have to use other materials for any reason, bubble rolls, foam paper, packing peanuts, and stretch wrap may work. Be careful about using newspapers because the ink can damage some items.

Now that you’ve got all your packing supplies, you’re ready to start packing. The only thing left to do is to find licensed and reliable Brooklyn movers to assist with your upcoming move − Dorothy and Martha may be just what you’re looking for. Whether you’re about to move to another state or just want to move to a different neighborhood, we’ve got your back. We’re at your service for commercial moves and residential moves, so let’s get in touch to start creating a customized plan for your relocation. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have and provide moving quotes Brooklyn completely free of charge. Let’s connect!