No More Broken Dishes: How to Protect Your Good China During a Move

One of the most fragile objects that people bring with them during a relocation is good china. You can easily break plates and China if a box is set down too hard, not to mention the box can easily get crushed if it’s placed beneath other heavy boxes. 

If you’re packing for an upcoming relocation, there are ways to protect your plates and fine china, but you’ll have to take special precautions and have the right packing materials. 

Here’s what you need to know about protecting your dishes during your upcoming move.

1. Collect Packing Materials

Have the right materials on hand before packing your dishes. You’ll need:

• Sturdy, small to medium-sized boxes
• Packing tape
• “Fragile” stickers or thick markers
• Bubble wrap
• Packing peanuts
• Sheets of flexible packing foam
• Packing tape

Some homeowners also use soft household materials like rags and pillows when packing their dishes. You can decide for yourself whether this is something you would like to do. Using household materials as padding around your dishes is a way to save money, but the safest way to pack is to use the padding that has been designed for that purpose.

2. Protect the Plates

Fill the bottom of your boxes with several layers of crumpled paper. Wrap all plates individually in packing paper. Use several sheets and start from the corner and wrap the plate diagonally. Tuck in the overlapping edges as you go. A double layer of paper helps serve as an outer wrapping. 

For added protection, you can wrap them in bubble wrap. Place the plates on their side in the box and fill in with extra crumpled packing paper. Packing the plates on their sides keeps the pressure off the dishes and prevents the bottom dishes from breaking under the weight of the dishes stacked on top.

Use the same wrapping and stacking process for the bowls and place them in their own box.

3. Fill the Empty Spaces in the Boxes

Empty air in boxes allows the objects inside to slide around. Eliminate all open air in your dish boxes with packing paper, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap. You can also use newspaper, but some ink may rub off on your dishes, so plan to wash your dishes after the move.

4. Control Box Size and Weight

Keep the boxes of dishes small and lightweight. Don’t pack them too full. Heavy boxes are hard to safely move because they tend to get set down heavily and pushed rather than picked up. The smaller the box, the easier it will be to handle it with care.

5. Label Boxes “Fragile”

You should treat all moving boxes with respect, but the boxes with your fragile dishes need extra care. Label your dishes with bold, easy-to-see “fragile” stickers or use markers to mark them as “fragile.” Teach your kids and other members of your family to set down boxes marked “fragile” gently and to always take extra care with them.

6. Make a Separate Pile

Set the boxes containing fragile items into their own pile. Keep that pile relatively short to avoid putting pressure on the boxes at the bottom. When the movers come to move your boxes on moving day, point out which area contains the fragile items.

Hire a Professional Moving Company

The best way you can protect your dishes when you’re moving is by hiring a professional moving company. Contact the pros to ensure that your boxes will be treated with care and moved with efficiency.

Call us for a quote on your move. We can help with your upcoming relocation.