This document was prepared to give you some valuable and helpful tips on packing your possessions so that they can be safely moved on a truck or moving van.

Small articles such as dishes, table lamps, pictures, and other fragile bric-a-brac must be thoughtfully and carefully packed in boxes if they are to arrive at your destination in as good condition as they were prior to being packed and moved.

Much of the secret of packing, however, is having the right materials with which to work, and the application of some good common sense. If you are going to do your own packing, these tips should help remove some of the mystery.

Materials You Will Need

Wrapping Paper: You are going to need plenty of wrapping paper. Many people save and use their old newspapers. Keep in mind, however, that the ink on newsprint never thoroughly dries. Consequently, the goods you wrap in newspapers are most likely going to be soiled and will require cleaning after unpacking, and before you put them away. For items you prefer to keep clean it would be best to purchase some packing paper from your mover.

Cartons: You'll need many boxes in assorted sizes. All boxes should be in good
condition, and must have covers on them in order that they can be closed up and sealed. You can purchase cartons from your mover, a store, or online. Don't expect your mover
to provide them for free.

You might start collecting cartons from your local grocery and liquor stores. All too often grocery store cartons have the tops removed, but if you have a talk with the store manager he/she  would probably be willing to save you some cartons with the covers still intact. Liquor cartons are excellent packing cartons. They are sturdy, and contain dividers which make them ideal for packing glasses, goblets, vases, etc.  You can also ask friends or
coworkers who've recently moved whether they'd like you to cart away and recycle their boxes.

Sealing Tape: The best tape for this purpose is plastic (packaging) tape. Your rolls of
tape should be at least 1.5 to 2 inches wide. Don't use tape directly on wood or painted furniture, because the sticky residue can ruin the finish. Instead, wrap these items in mover's pads and tie them with rope to secure the pads.

Magic Marker: This is for marking your packed boxes with such information as the
contents of the box, "FRAGILE" "THIS SIDE UP", etc.

Some Things To Consider

     1. Start collecting boxes early. An easy way to store cartons so that they won't require a
         great deal of storage is to open both ends of the cartons and flatten them out. You
         can open them up again and re-seal the bottoms with your plastic tape as you are
         ready to use them.
     2. Pack on a room-by-room basis. That is, don't pack articles from the living room in
         boxes with articles from the kitchen. This will save much confusion later when it's
         time to unpack.
     3. If possible, start packing early. Remember, if you were to pack only a couple of
         boxes a day, in thirty days you would have sixty boxes packed. You could start in
         areas where the goods are not in frequent use - such as the cellar, attic, garage, closet
         shelves, etc.
     4. It will probably be necessary to have your mover do some of your packing for you.
        At the very least, it may be necessary to purchase some of his specialized cartons that
        will be impossible for you to find elsewhere. This category would include such
        cartons as mattress cartons, wardrobe cartons, containers for large pictures and
        mirrors, and possibly some large cartons for tall table lamps.
     5. Dresser drawers need to be empty. Movers usually do not move chests of drawers
         with the contents of drawers left intact. Too much weight in the drawer could cause
         damage to the drawer while your furniture is enroute.
     6. Use small boxes for heavy articles, such as books, records, canned goods, etc.
         Bulkier, but not-so-heavy articles, such as pots and pans, linens, small kitchen
         appliances, etc., would go in somewhat larger boxes. Very bulky, lightweight
         articles, such as blankets, pillows, toys, large lampshades, shoes, etc., would go in
         the largest boxes.
     7. Do not pack any flammables, combustibles, or explosives. The safety of the
         shipment is the primary concern. Movers are not supposed to transport aerosol spray
         cans, paint thinner, gasoline, or anything else of a flammable or explosive nature. If
         you suspect something might be dangerous, use your better judgment and don't pack
         it.