Packing Tips for the Dining Room

The dining room as a general rule contains mostly fragile china and crystal stemware and perhaps other delicate items. It is very important to be sure each item gets wrapped in paper and put in the special dish pack boxes and for the stemware it is recommended to use dividers for the stemware.

Additional Tips for Dining Room Packing

Aside from packing fragile items correctly, you will to be sure to update your so-called "High Value Inventory". This is items that have value exceeding $100 per pound on it. This is just a little protection for you to be compensated in the event something gets damaged or even lost.

New City Moving's Packing Suggestions for the Dining Room

• Using clean paper in a diagonal direction each piece of stemware and china should be individually wrapped making sure to tuck in the edges.
• For all china and glassware be sure to use extra paper and padding to protect the items.
• Newspaper will work very well as an outer wrapping doubled up.
• All cartons should have the room on it and "FRAGILE-THIS SIDE UP" labeled on it.

Flat China and Glassware

• - To begin you first need to place cushioning on the bottom of the carton. Each item should then be wrapped separately with clean paper and wrap three in a bundle using newsprint. When this step is done place bundled items in a row on edge in the carton.
• - Large platters, flat glass plates and any other flat pieces are good to place in the bottom of the dish carton.
• - Without leaving any unfilled spaces, put crushed paper around all items in the carton.
• - After bundled items are placed in carton make a layer of wadded paper (2 or 3 inches thick) on top to protect rims and it will also serve as a base for the next layer.
• - To make the second layer you can use small plates, shallow bowls and cups and saucers that are wrapped the same way as the larger items.

Cups

China cups should always be individually wrapped whether you use a cellular divider or not. Cups should be placed on a double layer of paper upside down (on the rims) and face handles the same direction. When through with that top it off with wadded newsprint. Remember to wrap cups first and place an extra layer in the handles to give them extra protection where delicate.

Flatware and Silver

• Silver pieces should be wrapped completely in plastic wrap or newsprint to prevent it from tarnishing.
• Any items that are hollow in the center such as bowls, tea sets or serving dishes need to be treated as you would fragile items and packed like china.
• Flatware that is loose can either be wrapped alone or in sets in paper, plastic wrap or even small gift boxes that you can tape afterwards.
• Silverware that is usually in a chest would still be better off wrapped separately and then put back. The other option is to be sure to fill any gaps with newsprint and then wrap the chest with a large bath towel.

Curios, Figurines and Delicate Items

• Plenty of cushioning should be used for protecting delicate items.
• Wrap delicate items first in tissue paper, facial tissues or paper towels and when done with that step place very carefully on paper that was first wadded and then flattened out.
• When wrapping plaques, small mirrors and pictures you should use tissue paper and wrap each individually
• Flat items should be placed on the edge of the cartons used.
• If you have a glass item small blankets and towels are good to use.

Fragile Items

Special material will be needed for those items that are extremely delicate and valuable. It would also be recommended to have those items professionally packed, especially those items whose value is over $100 per pound. You should be sure to have these items listed in your "High Value Inventory".

Lamp Bases

Once you have removed the bulb and lamp harp all three items should be wrapped separately in newsprint and placed together in a carton. Any empty spaces should be filled with wadded paper.

Lamp Shades

• When wrapping a lamp shade be sure to use clean tissue paper and never use newsprint as it will stain or soil the shade. A pillowcase or large lightweight towel will also work well.
• You will need a carton for your lamp shade that is minimum 2 inches larger than the biggest shade. Clean paper should then be used to line the box and double as a layer of protection. It is not necessary to wrap the lamp shade itself.
• If you happen to have smaller shades they can be fitted inside the larger ones so long as you don't jam it in to fit.
• If the lamp shade is of the silk variety it needs to be packed alone to avoid stretching the silk.
• Lamp shades should be packed alone, never with other items
• LAMP SHADES-FRAGILE-TOP LOAD ONLY should be written or labeled on all cartons containing these items.

Chandeliers and Leaded Glass Shades

It is recommended that you let your moving professional handle the packing of glass lamp shades, chandeliers or other large items.

Large Mirrors, Paintings, Glass Table Tops, Marble Slabs, Statues and Large Vases

With oil paintings, it is most important to NEVER let paper touch the surface of it. Custom-made crates will most likely be needed for these items to protect them.

Table Leaves

First, never use plastic wrap since the wood can get damaged by trapped in moisture. It is better put in paper pads which is then taped to hold in place and never put tape on wood.

Draperies and Curtains

Draperies and curtains can be packed in two ways. They can be folded and placed in paper or plastic lined cartons or placed on a padded hangar, folded lengthwise and pinned to secure them and placed in a wardrobe carton which works very well for them

Rugs

• - Leave the rugs on the floor for the movers to tend to.
• - A suggestion is to get your area rugs professionally prior to moving and that way you will have clean rugs to unroll at a later date.
• - Make sure that your area rugs are loaded last and that way upon arrival they can be laid out before the furniture comes in.

Furniture

• Large upholstered items will be shrunk wrapped by the packing crew.
• Leather items you need to discuss beforehand with the moving professionals.
• Cardboard placed on table corners helps to protect it.
• Couch pillows can be safely packed in large boxes.

Packing Tips for the Dining Room

To protect your fragile and valuable dining room fine china and other items you need to follow very closely the dining room tips you are provided with.