Fragile items cause the most anxiety during a house move. Nobody wants to arrive at their new home to find broken plates, cracked picture frames, or damaged electronics. The good news? With the right technique, you can protect almost anything.

Essential Packing Materials

Before you start, gather: bubble wrap (small and large bubble), packing paper (not newspaper — the ink transfers), strong boxes in various sizes, packing tape, scissors, and markers. Specialty items like dish boxes and wardrobe boxes are worth the investment.

The Golden Rules of Fragile Packing

1. Never pack fragile items in large boxes — they'll shift and break. Use small to medium boxes.

2. Always line the bottom of boxes with bubble wrap or crumpled paper.

3. Wrap each item individually — never let fragile items touch each other.

4. Fill ALL empty spaces in boxes to prevent movement.

5. Mark every box containing fragile items clearly on multiple sides.

Packing Glasses and Stemware

Stuff the inside of each glass with packing paper. Wrap the entire glass in bubble wrap. Place glasses upright in a box with dividers. If you don't have dividers, create a grid with cardboard strips. Never stack glasses — one layer per row with padding between.

Packing Plates and Bowls

Wrap each plate individually in packing paper or bubble wrap. Stack them vertically (like records in a crate) rather than flat. Vertical stacking distributes weight better and reduces cracking risk. Use a dish box if available — the reinforced structure is designed for this.

Electronics

If you still have the original boxes, use them — they're custom-designed for protection. Otherwise, wrap screens in bubble wrap (secure with tape), protect corners with foam or cardboard, and transport upright. Remove ink cartridges from printers and batteries from anything that might turn on.

Art and Pictures

Tape an X across glass picture frames with masking tape — if the glass breaks, the tape holds the shards. Wrap in bubble wrap, then sandwich between two flat cardboard pieces. Transport upright, never flat.

If the thought of packing fragile items stresses you out, our professional packing service handles everything. Call Birmingham Removals on 07561 120818 — our trained packers protect your most precious possessions.

How to Pack Fragile Items Like a Pro