How to pack without bubble wrap

One thing is clear – you won’t be able to pack up your things for moving without using the proper packing materials to protect those belongings until they reach the new home. And you’re likely to spend good money on those packing supplies simply because you want your possessions to survive the move in one piece, especially when it comes to rather fragile and easily breakable items.

When you’re moving on a tight budget, the idea of spending too much money on packing materials won’t appeal to you at all. So far, we’ve covered the important topics of Where to find free moving boxes (easier than you think) and even How to pack and move without boxes (yes, it’s quite possible). These two cost-saving packing strategies will really help you bring down your packing expenses – something that you wouldn’t really mind, would you?

Now let’s go one step further and show you how to pack without bubble wrap – the air-filled plastic material that is used exclusively for packing fragile items. Find below some great substitutes for bubble wrap you’ll have in your home FOR FREE, protect your breakables WITHOUT using bubble wrap and save MONEY during the home packing process.

Advantages of using BUBLE WRAP

The big question here is Why not just use BUBBLE WRAP?

First of all, let’s say that bubble wrap is AWESOME!

In fact, the advantages of using bubble wrap when packing for a move are so many that you may be wondering why you should look for bubble wrap substitutes in the first place.

You’ll get that answer in a minute but now let’s take a quick look at why bubble wrap is one of the most widely used packing material ever.

• Unrivaled protection. Bubble wrap was initially designed as a three-dimensional plastic wallpaper but the idea never took off, so its creators soon realized its enormous potential as packing material. The unmatched protection of bubble wrap comes from the tiny air-filled hemispheres (it’s just air trapped between two plastic sheets) that have excellent cushioning qualities against harmful outside forces like direct hits, shocks, vibrations, etc. Once wrapped up around those small air pockets, all your extra-fragile and sensitive items will also be protected from moisture, dust, and dirt.
• Ease of use. Bubble wrap is super easy to use thanks to its flexibility and versatility. Regardless of the shapes and sizes of the items you want to protect, the ultimate cushioning material will envelop snugly their surfaces and turn them into safe bundles ready to withstand the brute forces that come with a house move. In reality, there won’t be a thing in your home that can’t be wrapped up safely using enough bubble wrap.
• Lightweight. Bubble wrap is super light and will not increase noticeably the weight of the items wrapped in it. And this is a big plus because professional movers calculate the moving priced based on the total shipment weight as well.
• Bio-degradable. Note that not all bubble wrap is environmentally-friendly. To minimize your negative impact on nature, do consider re-using undamaged bubble wrap from previous moves or purchasing recyclable bubble wrap (for example, Enviro-Bubble).
• Fun. Everybody knows that popping bubble wrap can be great fun for kids and adults alike. Busting those air bubbles helps reduce the feeling of stress too.

Read also: 10 Things to do with bubble wrap after moving

Disadvantages of using BUBBLE WRAP

So, with so many benefits of using bubble wrap, why should you even consider looking for good substitutes for that top-notch packing material? The answer is the price.

• A Small Roll of Enviro-Bubble (15’ h 16’’) costs around $5.
• A box of small Enviro-Bubble (150’ x 12’’) costs roughly $20.
• A Bulk Roll of Enviro-Bubble (100’ x 24’’) costs roughly $25.
• A Bulk Roll of Enviro-Bubble (250’ x 12’’) costs around $30.
• Bubble bags (60 pcs) cost approximately $25.

Now, these approximate prices of bubble wrap may not seem excessively expensive, but you should take into account the large number of fragile items in your home that will need to be protected by that bubbly plastic material. Such items include but are not limited to

• Chinaware;
• Glasses;
• Vases;
• Artwork pieces;
• Figurines;
• Mirrors;
• Sensitive electronic devices;
• Sentimental items;
• Delicate furniture pieces;
• Anything else you have in your home that is fragile and easily breakable.

Must-read: Should you hire professional packers?

How to pack without bubble wrap: The alternatives

Here’s the list of bubble wrap alternatives that will enable you to save money when moving to a new home:

• Packing paper. Packing paper is a great substitute for bubble wrap because it is soft, wraps closely around the item, and offers good protection against scratches, dust, and dirt. However, because wrapping paper is much thinner than bubble wrap, you’ll need to use several paper sheets at once to achieve the padding protection of a single bubble wrap sheet.
  In general, packing paper is much cheaper than bubble wrap – 200 sheets of clean white wrapping paper sell for about $10.
• Newspapers and magazines. Old newspapers and magazines cost virtually nothing, so you can use as much newsprint as you want to provide enough padding for your fragile things.
  However, there are limitations here: you can use newspapers and magazines to fill in empty spaces in boxes or as second layers but not as initial layers due to the fact that hard-to-remove ink can transfer easily to your delicate items and ruin them.
• Old clothes. Old clothes can be great alternatives to bubble wrap as most of them are thick enough to provide sufficient protection for the road. Don’t be quick to throw away unwanted clothes but use them as space fillers, as well as padding and wrapping materials for your breakables.
  Just take a look around your home and you’ll suddenly see many pieces of clothing that can substitute costly bubble wrap at no extra charge for you.
• Bed sheets. Don’t use brand new bed sheets to protect your fragile items during a move as there’s a high chance you’ll ruin them in the process. Instead, use the protective qualities of bed covers that are already old enough to be used as originally intended.
• Towels. Most bath towels are pretty thick so they can be the best bubble wrap alternative that you have in your home. Whether you use towels to cushion breakables inside a box or to wrap delicate items as the initial layer, you’ll still get the padding and wrapping protection you need.
  Keep in mind that unlike bubble wrap, towels are somewhat heavy and will increase the total weight of a box.
• Blankets. Similar to hand towels, ordinary household blankets provide excellent protection for breakable items but they will add to the overall weight.
  If you already have the specialized blue-colored furniture blankets from a previous move, that’s even better. If not, any regular blankets you can spare in your house can do the trick of being the great bubble wrap alternative you are after.
• Socks. Believe it or not, thick socks can be used to protect glasses, most often stemware glasses. Make sure the socks are clean as you won’t want to have to spend too much time cleaning those glassware pieces after the move.

We’re not saying that you should never buy bubble wrap again. Without a doubt, the air-filled plastic materials provide the best possible protection for your fragile, delicate and sensitive items. If you can afford to purchase all the bubble wrap that you’ll need during the packing process, then go ahead and do it as you won’t be sorry.

But when your moving budget is rather tight, you should definitely make an effort to save money by not purchasing bubble wrap but rather by using alternative packing materials for protecting your breakables.

See also: Bubble Wrap VS Packing Paper