Are you getting ready to move house? Or maybe you’ve just had a clear-out and want to store some of your crockery and glassware that you don’t use frequently. To help you be super organised, we’ve combined some of the best tips for packing and storing glassware.
The most important thing to avoid is last-minute packing as you’ll likely forget half your stuff. Think about what you can pack in advance and start clearing out your wardrobe, shelves and cupboards of anything you don’t often use. There may be many things to remember when moving but packing and storing glassware and crockery is among the most important.
Tips For Packing And Storing Glassware
It’s important to use the right techniques to clean, store and transport glassware if you want to increase their lifespan. Taking proper care of glassware not only saves time but it also helps your budget as replacing broken goods can be expensive. As promised, here are some basic instructions on packing and storing glassware.
What You Need For Packing And Storing Glassware
For glasses and other glassware, we recommend using a medium-sized box. If you use a larger box, it may get too heavy and awkward to carry. Other items you need include proper packing paper, newspaper, soft towels or any other soft material that can easily wrap around each glass.
Whilst you can use bubble-wrap, it is harder to recycle and more expensive to buy. If you are using old newspapers, remember to wash the glassware afterwards to remove any black ink that may have rubbed off during transit.
Preparing And Packing Glassware
When using newspaper or special packing paper, crumple enough sheets together to cover the bottom of the box. This will provide extra cushioning to protect the glasses from hitting the bottom. If you are using towels or sheets, make sure there is a thick layer at the bottom to protect the contents.
Remember to wrap and pack the biggest, heaviest glasses first as these will go at the bottom of the box with lighter glasses on top. When packing the box, do so on a flat, clean surface and lay your packing materials on the table or counter.
Take one glass or mug and place it in one corner of the paper or towel at an angle. Start rolling the glassware and stuff the ends of the paper or towel into the opening of the glass as it rolls. Continue wrapping until the glass is fully covered.
Wrapping And Packing Stemmed Glasses
Wine glasses tend to break quite easily as the stems are rather fragile. To ensure they stay intact, follow the steps above but you should wrap the stem first and then the rest of the glass. Use half a sheet for the stem and then place it on the stack of paper before rolling. Remember to only wrap one stemmed glass at a time for added protection.
Stemmed glasses should be packed last while leaving extra room for cushioning at the top of the box. To make this work, don’t stuff the box to the brim and make sure that the amount of paper added to the bottom of the box is the same amount as the top. If you used towels or other packing materials, make to sure you leave enough room to add a thick layer on top.
Check Before Sealing The Box
Before you seal the box, give it a gentle shake back and forth. If you hear glass clicking or feel the content shifting too much, you need to repack otherwise you’ll end up with broken glass at the end of the journey. If all sounds fine, seal the box with packing tape and label it clearly with the contents and which room it belongs in. Mark the box as “fragile” so the moving company knows to be careful when handling it.
What About Preparing Plates For Moving And Storage?
Packing plates and other glassware follows a similar process but with a few minor changes in technique. Here is one simple technique that always works when wrapping plates with newspaper or packing paper. In this example, let’s assume you are packing four plates at a time.
- Use a flat and solid surface when packing and storing plates
- Get paper wide enough for the plate you’ll be packing so that no part of the plate is exposed
- Put the plate at the centre of the packing paper and gently fold one of the corners until you cover the entire plate
- Now, place another plate on top and cover it with one of the remaining edges
- Repeat this 4 times until the whole sheet is used and all four plates are fully wrapped up
How To Pack Plates
The golden rule when it comes to packing plates is to not place them flat inside a box but rather on their sides. This provides more stability during transit and minimises the risk of plates bouncing or moving too much which could easily result in expensive breakages. Here are some additional tips:
- Use a sufficient amount of packing paper or any other soft material at the bottom and sides of the box
- Stack the plates together and lay them on their sides until the box is full
- Don’t leave any free space in the box so there’s no room for them to lean
- If you notice any gaps inside the box, fill it with some newspaper, an old t-shirt or any other soft material
- Seal the box and leave a label at the top and bottom
- Mark the box as “fragile” and set to one side
Recommended: ‘Do’s and Don’ts Of Packing Boxes’
How To use A Dish Barrel When Packing And Storing Glassware
А dish barrel, also known as a dish-pack, is one of the most effective and simplest ways to pack and store plates. You can quickly prepare your dish barrel by following these simple steps:
- Place heavy and solid items at the bottom to form a good foundation to the box protecting items packed on top
- Use the middle section for kitchen appliances and thick glassware, including vases or beer glasses
- Before packing the top layer, leave some space for items like glassware, kitchen utensils and plastic kitchenware by layering it with towels, newspaper or packing paper
- Prepare the top layer by using enough packing paper or bubble-wrap to protect the items on top
- Whatever you pack at the top must be lighter than the items below
- Secure the top of the dish barrel with packing paper or bubble-wrap and then seal it carefully with packing tape or duct tape
Final Thoughts
Remember, the better you pack things at the beginning, the easier the unpacking process will be. Don’t rush packing and storing glassware as it could end up being an expensive move. Take your time and make sure everything is wrapped, packed and stacked correctly.
If you need a clean, dry and secure space for your valuables between moves, visit our website for more information on our wide range of storage units. Our Price and Size Guide will help you choose the right unit and indicate the type of van you might need.