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Careful
packing is an important aspect of your move.
Well-packed household belongings stand
little chance of being damaged. Also,
packing room by room can help to make
unpacking and storage an easier chore.
Whether you have National Van Lines do the
packing or you do it yourself depends upon
your circumstances. Some people simply do
not have the time to devote to such a time
consuming task. In such cases, National
provides the finest in safe and professional
packing services. But for families on a
budget, self-packing can mean considerable
savings.
Whether you choose to do the packing
yourself, you still might consider having
National pack the more delicate of fragile
items--items such as dishes, crystal, lamps,
etc. You then can enjoy the security of
having these more costly items
professionally packed while reducing your
costs by doing the majority of the job
yourself.
Your National agent can even provide
wardrobe cartons to hang your clothes in, so
they don't get wrinkled during your move. |
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Dish Packs
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These are "extra thick walled" cartons
specifically designed for dishes and other
fragile items. |
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Cell-Packs |
Optional separators for china or glassware
with individual compartments for the items
being packed. |
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Large
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Very light, bulky articles, such as pillows,
comforters and lamp shades. |
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Medium
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Non-fragile and moderately heavy items, such
as pots, pans, games and folded clothing. |
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Book
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Smaller cartons designed for very heavy
items, such as books, CD’s and canned goods. |
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Wardrobe Cartons |
Equipped with metal bar so that clothes hang
naturally. |
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Mirror or Picture Cartons |
Narrow cartons which adjust in length and
width to accommodate different sized
mirrors, pictures and other fragile, flat
items. |
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Mattress Cartons:
Sized for various mattresses. |
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Tape:
Movers
use either a plastic tape called "PVC"
(approximately 1 1/2-inches wide) or "strapping
tape." For best results, make a shallow "X" over the
long seams with the tape extending four inches over
the side of the carton.
The above professional moving cartons may be
purchased from your local National Agent. You also
may be able to obtain cartons from your local
grocery store. However, grocers usually slit cartons
open along the sides instead of at the seams making
them unusable for packing. In any case, be certain
the cartons you use are of adequate size and
strength.
The
most important aspect of packing is good wrapping
and cushioning material. DO NOT USE NEWSPAPERS!
Newspaper ink has a tendency to rub off on
everything it touches and can be almost impossible
to remove from items like fine china.
Professional packers like National's use
"newsprint" (unprinted newspaper) as cushioning
material. You can get newsprint from your local
National Agent or, in many instances, from your
local newspaper.
Of course, towels or sheets in a carton
require no packing material at all. For dishes or
fragile items, a layer of crumpled paper should be
used to line the bottom of the carton to a depth of
approximately four inches. Each item should be
individually wrapped-with crushed paper between
items as needed.
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Packing Specific Items |
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Plates, Saucers, Flat China:
Wrap individually and then bundle three or
four together.
Stand on
end in carton. Never lay flat.
Use the larger items as the bottom layer and
place crumpled paper as cushioning between
each layer.
Bowls:
Fragile items and bowls,
individually wrapped, should constitute the
upper layers. Place
on edge
in carton with bottom facing up.
Cups and
Glasses: Cups and glasses
should go on top,
rim down
and individually wrapped.
Glassware
and Crystal: Always individually
wrap as top layer.
Do not put
one piece inside another. If
items are particularly fragile, pack first
in smaller carton, then in large one with
cushioning all around.
Books:
Pack upright with open edges and
bound ends alternating. If any have fragile
covers, wrap in paper.
Clothing:
Hanging items should go into
wardrobe cartons. Clothing may stay in
dresser drawers if dressers are sturdy. All
other folded clothing should be packed in
medium
(3.0 cu. ft.) cartons.
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Hats:
If in hat box, pack in larger carton. If
not, loosely stuff with crushed paper and
pack in smallest carton.
Lamps:
Lamp bases should be wrapped,
cushioned and packed in Dish-Pack cartons.
Lampshades should be packed in appropriate
sized carton. Be careful not to put too much
paper in lampshade carton as they dent
easily. Cushion loosely.
Flowers:
Dry flowers should be packed
alone in appropriate sized carton loosely
cushioned with paper. Live plants will
probably not survive on a long distance move
and mover cannot accept responsibility.
Stereos,
Radios, etc.: Components and
small electronics should be well wrapped and
cushioned in either medium
(3.0 cu.
ft.) or large
(4.5 cu.
ft.) cartons. Large console
stereo and televisions should not be packed.
They will be padded by driver and moved as
furniture.
Mirrors,
Marble Tops, Glass Tops, Pictures:
All mirrors, pictures, marble or glass
tops should be packed in picture-mirror
cartons, unless they are very small. The
small items may be wrapped and packed in
dish-pack cartons
on edge.
Large marble or glass tops should be
crated
by professional packers. Their
weight makes them impractical to be moved by
carton.
Food:
Boxed dry food should be packed
in medium
(3.0 cu.
ft.) cartons with openings taped
shut. Jars or canned goods should be packed
in book
(1.5 cu. ft.) cartons with all
jars wrapped and cushioned.
Never pack
or move perishable or frozen food. |
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Packing Checklist
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Use cartons of
adequate size and strength.
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Cushion bottom of carton and between layers
when packing fragile items.
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Wrap all fragile items individually.
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Pack heavier
items in lower layers, lighter items in
upper layers.
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Paper
cushioning absorbs shock. Be generous.
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Loose packing
creates damage. Make sure items are firmly
packed.
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Do not overfill
carton. Top should close easily without
bulging.
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Use "PVC" or
"strapping tape" to guard against carton
bursting open in transit.
Labeling
Use a heavy marking pen for easy reading. On
carton top, list major items such as "GOOD
CHINA" or "CRYSTAL." On carton side near the
top, mark which room carton goes into. If
carton contains fragile items, mark
"FRAGILE" on all four sides. On cartons
containing fragile items or liquids, mark
"THIS END UP" on carton top and put arrows
pointing up on all four sides.
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