For obvious reasons, packing fragile items for moving will always remain a challenging task. And for better or worse, there are a good number of fragiles in each home – starting from easily breakable kitchen items (dishes, glasses, etc.), going through delicate (antique) furniture and ending with various electronic equipment pieces, (framed) artwork, mirrors, musical instruments, and so on.
One thing you may need to do during your preparation is to pack porcelain figurines for moving. And if you do, then the important thing to remember here is that packing figurines for moving is a complicated task. Why? Because these objects are usually very delicate due to the extra fragile materials they are made of – most often, porcelain or crystal.
And, as in the case of all ceramic or glass items, your figurines or statues will also be especially tricky to pack and protect so that they can arrive in the new home in one piece.
Follow these steps for the best way to pack porcelain figurines for moving.
Step 1. Inventory all your figurines
The very first step you’re recommended to do is to inventory all your ceramic figurines to have a good idea about their number and the packing difficulties you will face soon enough. Arrange the fragile figurines and statues on a flat surface that is quite safe – like the kitchen table, for example, and then expect each delicate object.
This initial inspection is important because it will tell you whether or not you need to pack and move all of the figurines and small statues that you own. It’ll also give you a rough idea about the quantities of packing materials that you’ll need in order to pack your figurines for moving.
Don’t lose precious time and resources in packing any porcelain figurines you no longer want or like.
Step 2. Get hold of the right packing materials
Remember that proper packing will eliminate the risk of damage and will ensure that your porcelain figurines will arrive in the new home perfectly intact. To be able to do that, you are definitely going to need the right type and quantity of packing supplies:
- soft packing paper,
- bubble wrap,
- moving boxes (slightly bigger in size than the figurines you’ll place inside),
- packing peanuts,
- tape.
The dimensions of the boxes you select for your figurines will play a big role in protecting the frail objects on the road.
- Too big. If you pick boxes that are too large, then the fragile objects may move inside the container, thus increasing the chance of being damaged during transport.
- Too small. On the other hand, if you pick boxes that are too small, then the wrapped-up figurines may not fit inside, or if they barely do, then the pressure contact with the sides of the box could damage them.
Keep in mind that as you’re packing your figurines, the packing paper and bubble wrap will increase their individual sizes, sometimes by a lot.
See also: What packing supplies will you need?
Step 3. Identify and safeguard all trouble spots
Porcelain figurines often have small elements that can easily break off if they are not protected well enough. So, it’s your task to identify the areas on each delicate figurine piece that can be easily damaged during the moving process.
Such extra-fragile areas include but at not limited to any protruding areas such as legs, arms, head, and wings. These are the so-called TROUBLE SPOTS and they should be protected in the best possible way to prevent any sort of damage. Read on to learn how to provide that maximum protection for your valuable decorative items.
Step 4. Create the first protective layer: PACKING PAPER
It’s time to protect your porcelain figurines in the best possible way. First and foremost, your very first packing step is to wrap the figurines in soft packing paper. You can buy that type of paper from your local office supply stores or home improvement stores. Also, you can order it online or get from the nearest office of a truck rental agency or a local moving company.
Make sure the packing paper is acid-free and completely blank – don’t ever user newsprint paper as some of its ink can transfer into the delicate surface of your figurines and ruin them.
Step 5. Create the second protective layer: BUBBLE WRAP
After the initial coat of soft paper, bubble wrap should be the second layer of protection for your porcelain statues. So, bubble-wrap each breakable object very cautiously, paying special attention to any trouble spots you have identified earlier. It’s a fact that ceramic objects can get damaged quite easily if they are jostled around during the move.
Make sure each fragile figurine is completely covered in bubble wrap for maximum protection, then seal the newly-formed bundle the help of some packing tape.
NEVER let packing tape come into contact with a porcelain figurine.
Check it out: Bubble wrap vs. Packing paper
Step 6. Transfer the figurines into suitable boxes
ALWAYS pack your figurines separately so that they can’t possibly come into contact with one another. When packing porcelain figurines for shipping, don’t try to save some paper, bubble wrap or other packing material by wrapping breakable things together – it’s a rookie packing mistake you’ll come to regret later.
Then, transfer the protected fragile items into small to medium-sized boxes. For additional padding, those boxes should be pre-lined with crushed paper (using newspaper here is fine) or sheets of bubble wrap, or filled one-third of the empty space with packing peanuts.
If using boxes that are considerably bigger than the size of the figurines, then feel free to use small bath towels as excellent outer wrapping and padding materials.
Good to know: How to pack boxes for moving
Step 7. Do a quick quality packing assurance test
To eliminate the risk of breakage during transit, you’ll need to make sure that nothing should be moving inside the boxes where the delicate figurines are packed.
Do a quick test to verify how well you’ve done your job of packing your figurines for moving: lift each box and shake it very lightly and gently – can you feel anything moving inside? If not, then you’re good to go.
It’s important to finish the packing job well – that is not the right time to rush things. It’s better to spend a bit extra time making sure your valuables breakables are well-protected for the move than to find them broken or damaged in any way after opening up the boxes after the move.
Step 8. Label all boxes containing fragile porcelain figures
Finally, label the boxes containing breakable porcelain figurines – write down FRAGILE and HANDLE WITH CARE on two sides of each box. Hopefully, that will remind your movers to handle the boxes with care during the actual move.
Also, mark the destination room for each box, whether it’s the bedroom or the living room in the new home. Proper box labeling will save you time upon delivery and will prevent any unpleasant post-move mistakes.
More info: What’s the best way to label moving boxes?
Step 9. Follow some basic safety precautions
In its essence, porcelain figures are made of clay that is heated at high temperatures – somewhere in the range of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. And if the heating process was not 100% consistent during production, then weak spots or even tiny cracks may have appeared within the porcelain material.
So, whenever possible, try not to move your porcelain figurines when the weather is extremely hot or cold, especially if those delicate objects are very old (antique). Doing so may damage the figurines forever as they will be subjected to abrupt temperature changes.
Step 10. Consider using special packing techniques
If you happen to own very expensive or even priceless porcelain figurines, then you should make sure they are extremely well-protected during the move.
One way to do that is to use the so-called double-boxing packing method where you first wrap and place an individual figurine into a box, and then you bubble-wrap that box and transfer into a second box for extra protection. This box-in-box packing method offers a much higher level of protection but there’s still some risk of damage to your valuables.
To move your prized porcelain figurines risk-free, contact a top-rated full-service moving company and request custom crating services – the only packing method that guarantees 100% safety for high-value items.
Read also: Should you hire professional packers?
