Packing Services For Moving in NY, DC, CT, NJ, Boston, Greenwich, White Plains and Miami
Prohibited Items | Packing Materials | General Packing Tips | How to Safely Pack Your Belongings
Tri-state One Rate Movers offers both packing and unpacking services with your move.
If you choose to do your own packing, read these helpful packing tips.
Prohibited Items – What NOT to pack
Generally speaking, we cannot transport flammable items and liquids, perishable foods, and anything that can deteriorate in transit. If you have a question about anything, please don’t hesitate to call 888-693-0009 and ask.
Prohibited items:
- Flammable fluids such as lighter fluid or gasoline (empty fuel from mowers, clippers, trimmers, etc)
- Chemicals including auto maintenance fluids
- Fireworks
- Paints and paint thinner
- Combustible objects such as oxygen bottles or propane tanks
- Firearms
We can supply you with specially made boxes, for everything from mattresses to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of mover-provided boxes may avoid damage. Or you can collect your own boxes, such as ones from grocery or liquor stores. Save old newspapers for packing, but remember that ink may rub off and stain clothing or other items.
*WARNING: Insect eggs and insects such as roaches can travel in food boxes from grocery stores.
Here’s a list a packing supplies that will come in handy:
- Foam peanuts, Styrofoam pellets or popcorn.
- Tissue or craft paper, and corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items.
- Packing or gummed tapes (1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) are better than masking tape.
- Markers and labels for identifying contents of boxes.
- Notebook and pencil for carton identification log.
- Scissors and/or sharp knife.
- Prepare a move plan, pace yourself, pack a couple of boxes a day, starting well ahead of the move. Don’t underestimate how long it takes to pack.
- Stay organized, pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes time to unpack.
- Mark all boxes, labeling room and box number. Keep a log to show the number of boxes per room, and the total number of boxes packed. Clearly mark boxes with fragile items.
- Be sure that the bottoms of all boxes are secured and will hold the weight of the contents.
- Keep a per-box weight of 50 pounds or less. A general rule to remember is the heavier the item, the smaller the box.
- Be sure to have plenty of “filling” material available.
- Select a medium-sized carton (or mover provided dishpack) and line the bottom with crumpled packing paper.
- With packing paper stacked neatly in place on a work table, center one plate on the paper.
- Grasp a corner on several sheets of paper and fold them over the plate so it completely covers it.
- Stack a second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets completely over the second plate.
- Stack a third plate, grasp 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.
- 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. When packing smaller dishes, you may choose to stack in greater quantity.
- With packing paper in place on the work table, position one cup six to eight inches from one of the corners.
- Pull the near corner of the paper up and over the cup.
- Nest a second cup directly on top, with handle to left.
- Pull the two side corners up and over, one at a time, and tuck corners inside the top cup.
- Hold the bottom and top cup in position and roll cups to the remaining corner.
- Fragile mixing bowls may be rolled in the same manner.
- Delicate cups, like china, should be wrapped one at a time.
- Antique glass or china should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.
- Stuff glasses and stemware with crumpled tissue or packing paper before wrapping
- Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it one or two full rotations (depending on size); pull sides of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner.
- Corrugated paper rolls or cellular boxes may be used for added protection
- 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.
- 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.
- Because of the delicate and perishable nature of these items, your mover is prohibited from accepting these items if transported more than 150 miles and/or delivery will not be accomplished within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of loading.
- Frozen food shipped within these guidelines must be packed in a freezer which at time of loading is at normal deep-freeze temperature.
- Pack upright with no more than 24-30 cans per carton.
- Don’t attempt to move perishables.
- Wrap glass containers and boxed foods individually and pack in small cartons.
- Wine collections can be valuable personal items and require special care.
- Large, high-value collections should be moved in climate-controlled vehicles.
- Small collections can be transported in a car or van.
- Professional movers are experienced at packing wine correctly, including storing the wine on its side.
- If you are packing wine yourself, obtain specially designed wine-packing boxes.
- Remove bulbs, harps and shades. Roll up cord.
- Pack lamps with bedding or wrap separately and place upright in clean, tissue-lined carton.
- Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob) with packing paper and tape to inside wall of carton that contains shade.
- Wrap shades in tissue, not newspaper.
- Place upright in large, tissue lined boxes.
Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures
- You must notify Tri-state One Rate Movers if you have valuable paintings that need special care.
- Wrap small mirrors, pictures and paintings, and place on edge in boxes.
- 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 boxes.
- For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage.
- Do not place newspaper directly against paintings.
- Remove or secure pendulum in large clocks.
- Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert servicemen.
- Hang drapes over crossbars in wardrobe cartons, or pack folded in clean cartons.
- Remove curtains from rods, fold and pack in cartons or bureau drawers.
- Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time.
- 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.
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 must be drained before the move.
- Consult your local gas grill distributor for the safest method.
- Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship Flammables under any circumstances).
- Pack tools in small, strong cartons.
- Wrap separately if valuable.