Packing pictures and mirrors for moving can be tricky because of how fragile they are. You’ll need to be extra careful and use proper packing materials to pack fragile items and transport them safely to your new address. Unlike packing basic household items, fragile ones are best taken care of by professional packers and movers. Reliable movers will have the best packing materials and they’ll have the experience necessary to pack efficiently even the most fragile items in your household. However, if you prefer to DIY, you can achieve that with a few tips from professional packers NYC. Our guide will help you learn how to pack pictures and mirrors for moving with ease.
How to pack picture frames and mirrors for moving
Gather necessary packing supplies
Before you move on to the actual packing, you’ll have to get tools for doing the job. If you don’t have the proper equipment, you won’t be able to pack your flat and delicate items properly, and they’ll be more likely to get damaged or broken. These are supplies that you’ll need in order to safely pack your mirrors, picture frames, artwork, or other items of similar shape:
Boxes
The first thing to get when you’re packing pictures and mirrors for moving are boxes. But regular moving boxes won’t cut it. You’ll have to get picture and mirror boxes that are designed specifically for this purpose. There are also boxes with telescopic options, allowing them to be telescoped together with another box. Special boxes are designed to hold heavy items and to accommodate large mirrors or similar items.
Bankers Boxes or Cardboard Tubes
If you also need to move loose photos or prints after you take them out of the picture frames, the bankers boxes or cardboard tubes will be the best option. They’re designed in a way that allows you to roll a loose photo and place it inside for safe transport.
Packing tape
As with packing any other type of household item, packing tape is necessary for packing pictures and mirrors. Don’t try to save on this, rather buy a durable quality tape that will keep things in place.
Glassine
Instead of using regular plastic wrap, invest in Glassine paper that’s designed specifically for protecting your items such as glass, pictures, prints, art pieces, etc. It is air, moisture, and grease resistant, so it makes perfect protection for your pictures and mirrors.
Packing paper and/or bubble wrap
In order to safely transport your mirrors or frames, it’s necessary to fill in all the voids left in the box after placing the item inside. The easiest way to do so is to use crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap and both of these materials will also serve well for cushioning the box before packing mirrors or frames inside.
Corner protectors
You can purchase already made corner protectors or make DIY ones to help your mirrors and frames stay safe while being transported.
Sharpie
Labeling is always helpful when moving, but when you’re moving mirrors and pictures, labeling is necessary, Use a regular sharpie marker to label each box after you place pictures or mirrors inside − this will make it easier to locate these boxes later on when you have to unpack and also serve as a reminder to handle these boxes carefully.
How to pack pictures and frames for moving
Now that you’ve gone through step 1 – gathering supplies, you can move on to the next step, the actual packing. Here’s how to do that:
Secure the glass
Whether it’s a picture or a mirror, use bubble wrap or Glassine to cover the entire surface and secure it in place with packing tape.
Corners
The next step is to use those corner protectors you made or purchased and place them on the corners of pictures or mirrors you’re moving.
Wrap
Once you’ve made the first layer of protection, it’s time to wrap the item. The easiest way to do so is to lay several sheets of packing paper on the ground and place the picture or mirror on it, keeping the glass side down. Wrap the entire item and secure it with packing tape. One layer of wrap is usually not enough, so be more generous if your item is very fragile.
Pack
When your picture or mirror is completely wrapped, go ahead and pack it in a designated box. But before you place it inside, make soft cushioning by using bubble wrap for packing or crumpled paper. After placing the item in the box, don’t forget to fill in any voids to avoid shifting while in transit.
Close and label
The only thing left to do is to close, seal, and label moving boxes. Use quality packing tape with strong adhesive to make sure the box will not open. Also, use a bright-colored sharpie marker to write “FRAGILE” on each side of the box. Writing on all sides is helpful in case boxes get mixed up or something else gets placed on top of the fragile box. Another helpful thing to do is draw an arrow pointing up, to make it easy for people carrying the box to know in which direction they should place the boxes. If you’re hiring movers, let them know which boxes require special attention even if you label them. Notify them that there’re pictures and mirrors in specific boxes so that they know how to handle them properly.
Hire professional movers
Eventually, the safest way to move your pictures and mirrors is to hire one of the best moving companies Brooklyn that has the experience and necessary tools for moving fragile items. Here at Dorothy and Martha Moving, our crew will use specialized materials to pack your breakables and transport them the safest way possible. If you’re looking for a licensed moving company with the best moving quotes Brooklyn, we’re here for you. Contact us to chat about your relocation and get a moving quote free of charge.
