How to pack fragile things so they survive the truck
Plates, glasses and ornaments: the wrapping and boxing habits that stop breakages.
Most moving breakages are not caused by bad driving. They are caused by bad packing — items loose in oversized boxes, nothing between them, weight on top. Fragile things survive when three rules hold: each piece wrapped, each piece separated, and the box full enough that nothing moves inside it.
Start with the box. Small and sturdy beats big and roomy for anything heavy or breakable — books, ceramics, glassware. Line the bottom with crumpled paper or a folded towel. Wrap each piece individually: packing paper for plates and bowls, bubble wrap or towels for glasses and vases. Tape the wrap so it stays on during handling, because wrap that slips off in the box is decoration, not protection.
Plates pack best on edge, like records, with paper between each one — stacked flat, the bottom plate carries the whole pile. Glasses stand upright, never nested without padding, with paper stuffed inside larger ones so they cannot flex. Fill every gap: crumpled paper in the spaces stops the contents shifting, which is what actually breaks things. A box that rattles when shaken needs more fill before it gets taped.
Mark fragile boxes clearly on two sides and keep them off the bottom of stacks. Stemware and ornaments earn their own boxes rather than sharing with books. Electronics want their cables bagged and labelled per device, screens protected with cardboard, and remotes taped to the unit they control. Take a photo of the back of the TV before unplugging — future you will be grateful.
At the truck, fragile boxes ride high and secured, never under the toolbox or the bookshelf. If you are doing your own packing and leaving the lifting to a crew, say which boxes are fragile on arrival so they load in the right order. And if the whole job feels like too much on top of everything else, packing help exists for exactly that — the kitchen, the shelves and the breakables boxed properly while you get on with the rest of your life.
Need a hand with the actual move?
Arthur Paine Removals is based in Halswell, Christchurch, and open seven days from 8 am to 6 pm. If reading about moving day has convinced you to hand the heavy part to someone else, get in touch — tell us what needs shifting and we will plan it with you.