Packing Dish-ware

Select a dish pack or a comparable tri-walled carton and line the bottom of the carton with crumpled packing paper.

With your packing paper stacked neatly on your work table center one plate on the paper. Take the corners of several sheets of packing paper and pull the papers over the plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Take a second plate and stack it on the first than, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets over the second plate. Stack the third plate on top of the bundle and grasp the remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the plate. Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper. Finally, re-wrap the entire bundle: start with one corner of packing paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover bundle with next corner, then the third corner; and finally, the fourth. Seal the bundle with packing tape. Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes, and other dishware.

Place the bundle of dish-ware into your cartons so that the plates are standing on edge. The tensile strength of your plates is stronger when placed on edge.

Delicate cups and stemware should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass, china or stemware should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.

Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it two full rotations; pull sides of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner. Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier items (dish-ware, pitchers, etc.) should be placed toward the bottom of the box.

Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its side. You should always use crumpled packing paper in between each layer to assure a snug fit wherever there is space. All boxes with breakable items should be marked with the word "fragile" on the outside.

Silverware -- Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur content paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.

Additional Packing Instructions

Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert servicemen.

Lamps should have the bulbs, harps and shades removed. Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob at the top of the harp) with packing paper. Wrap the shades in tissue, not newspaper and place upright into a large, tissue-lined carton.

Mirrors and pictures should be wrapped in paper and placed on edge in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons or pad wrapped by the mover. For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against paintings as this can cause damage.

Tools -- Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.

Waterbed Mattresses -- Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your owner's manual for special instructions concerning the care and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects. If you're going to be storing your waterbed mattress for more than 30 days, add a recommended all-purpose waterbed cleaner to reduce bacterial growth and maintain freshness.

Lawn Equipment shipped on the moving van should be drained nearly empty of fuel and batteries should be disconnected.

Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks -- Wrap grates and briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents. Propane tanks cannot be moved on the household goods van. Consult your local gas grill distributor for the safest method of disposal.

Firearms, along with their respective serial numbers must be registered with your van line representative before the move. It is against US Federal law to mark the carton on the outside indicating the presence of such items.