If you're looking for recommendations on how to pack glasses for moving, you've come to the right page. You might be skeptical of the good ol' paper technique so let's ask the experts for the proper way to wrap up these delicate items on your packing list.
When packing glassware for moving, you can use clothes, bubble wrap, or foam. Just wrap your glass pieces with these materials before placing them inside the container. You can also buy a box or dish barrel that would fit your vertically-stacked glass dishes perfectly so that they won't move in place while in transit.
Keep on reading to know more about packing your delicate glassware without using paper. We'll also talk about using newspapers for packing. This article also compares the use of newspaper and bubble wrap and foam with bubble wrap. Let's get started!
What can I use instead of packing paper?
Moving to a new house can put a lot of pressure on you and you don't need to add broken glassware to your stress, right? Then you have to pack your stuff the right way.
Glasses need special care all the time, more so when you're moving them from one place to another. Even a slight impact can damage their surface and you'd have to say goodbye to your precious dishes. Aside from the waste and mess, the sharp edges can cause harm to those handling the broken pieces.
That's why it is very important to pack your glasses with care. If you're not comfortable using paper to wrap your fragile items, here are some of the top recommended materials from experts.
Cloth
Yup, let's start with what you already have and what you'll also be bringing with you to your new house - your shirts, socks, towels, and dishcloths. You don't have to spend extra when you're resourceful.
Just wrap your glassware individually using your shirts then place them inside the box. Use your towels to cushion the bottom of the box. Put socks to fill up the spaces in between the glasses and seal the packaging properly.
Vertical Stack
This is very simple to do but quite tricky. You just need to stack your glassware into a neat pile, one on top of the other.
However, for this to work, your box should be the right size. Your glass dishes should exactly fit their dimensions. Look for smaller boxes or dish barrel moving boxes that can accommodate your valuables. If ever there are some spaces in between, you need to put fillers so that they won't move in their place.
Check out this dish barrel moving box on Amazon.
Bubble Wrap
This is a material made of plastic that has regularly spaced air-filled bubbles. It provides a cushion to your fragile items against impact. In effect, it protects your glassware from damage during transit. It is also lightweight so it won't add that much to the total weight of your packaging.
Wrap each piece of your glassware individually with a bubble sheet. Put tape on the seams to ensure that the bubble wrap stays in place.
Click this link to find this bubble wrap on Amazon.
Styrofoam Sheets
You might have styrofoam plates reserved for your kiddie parties or you can buy a roll of this foam for your packing needs. They will serve as an effective barrier against impact. Their thick and spongy texture enables them to absorb shock from bumps during the big move.
Find these foam sheets on Amazon.
You can put these styrofoam sheets in between your glasses, under, and over them for maximum protection.
These are some of the ways that you can pack your glasses without using paper. Choose which one you think will work best to protect your precious and fragile glassware during your move.
Can you use a newspaper as packing paper?
Paper is surprisingly an effective way to protect your fragile items while they are in transit. The best thing about it is that it doesn't cost a thing! Using newspapers is also good for the environment.
You can ask for old newspaper sheets from your friends. Aside from this, you probably have used paper, old books, or magazines just lying around at home.
Put them to good use by using them to wrap your glassware. Just make sure to use more layers since these are thinner than regular packing paper. This is an effective way to prevent scratches on glass surfaces.
When you crumple them together, they are even more durable and can be used to fill empty spaces inside and between glass items and serve as cushions to avoid damage upon collision with other items during transit.
However, when you unpack your glassware, make sure you clean them again to remove the dirt obtained from used paper.
Can I use newspaper instead of bubble wrap?
The simple answer to this question is yes, you can use newspaper instead of bubble wrap.
As mentioned earlier, the newspaper is a cheap and environment-friendly material that is often used for packing fragile items. It would be effective in preventing scratches on the surface of your precious glass items as they come in contact with each other and other stuff that you're bringing to your new home.
However, don't expect the same level of protection that bubble wraps can give. Obviously, there's a huge difference when it comes to the quality of their material.
Paper is thin and can get torn easily while bubble wrap is much thicker and has air-filled pockets that provide cushion to your valuables.
The drawbacks of using bubble wrap are: they take up too much space inside the box, they aren't environment-friendly, and they can be quite expensive.
Bubble wrap is recommended use for larger fragile items while paper can be used for smaller ones such as your plates, cups, and picture frames. Or better yet, you can combine both to provide the best protection to your glass items.
Is foam or bubble wrap better?
Those looking for more protection for their precious glass items are considering these two products but oftentimes do not know the difference. Let's discuss this in detail.
Foam
Foam is made of polymer materials such as latex, plastic, or rubber. It is lightweight but dense. That's why it can absorb shock from impact and provide structural support to fragile items.
There are different types of foam. There are the standard foam, adhesive foam, cohesive foam, and anti-static foam. You can choose which type will best serve your packing needs and which one would make it more convenient for you to accomplish the task without any hassle.
Foam isn't bulky when you use it. You can cut it according to the shape and size that you need. That's why it's great to use for different kinds of glassware that you may have.
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is made of two layers of plastic with air-filled cells in between. The bubbles have different sizes - 3/16", 5/16", and 1/2".
Usually, the 3/16" size is enough to protect your glass items from scratches and damage during the transition but if you have bigger items, get the 5/16" bubble rolls. The 1/2" size is used for types of machinery and equipment.
You can also cut bubble sheets according to the size and shape that you need. They also come in the same types as those of foam packaging so you have the option to choose which one will suit your needs.
Because bubble wraps are thicker, they can fill voids and give enough cushion to your fragile glass pieces. However, they can take up so much space in your moving box.
Experts say that both products are very effective in protecting your valuables while moving. It all boils down to your personal preference and comfort level in using them.
Final Thoughts
It's up to you to decide which product will serve your packing needs best. As you consider which one is more practical to use, think about the level of protection that it can give to your fragile glassware as well.
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