Use only strong, corrugated cartons with covers. We can supply you with specially made cartons, for everything from mattresses to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of mover-provided cartons may avoid damage that results from the use of poor-quality packing materials. Your alternative is to collect boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor store. Save old newspapers for use in 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. Keep this in mind when getting boxes from food stores. Here's a list a packing supplies that will come in handy:

Pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes time to unpack

Pack a couple of cartons a day, starting well ahead of the move.

Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Make a carton identification log to show the number of boxes packed per room, and the total number of cartons packed. It's a good idea to leave space in your log for a special comments section to note carton conditions or location of high value goods. Notify your mover of any high value items.

Be sure to have plenty of "filling" material available.

Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are secured and will hold the weight of the contents.

Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape.

Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. Try to keep a per-box weight of 50 pounds or less; it makes moving a lot easier. A general rule to remember on carton size -- the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.

Packing Dishware

Select a medium-sized carton (or mover provided dish-pack) and line the bottom of the carton 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 packing paper and pull the paper over the plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Stack a second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets 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.

Place the bundle of dish-ware in a medium-size box so that the plates are standing on edge

Packing Cups

With packing paper in place on the work table, position one cup six to eight inches from one of the corners.

Now pull the near corner of the paper up and over the cup.

Nest a second cup directly on top, with handle to left (second cup should "nest" itself in packing paper folded over the bottom cups).

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.

Packing Glasses and Stemware

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.

The list of individual household items is endless. Most can be packed by following our packing pointers. Here are some additional packing tips for major items. If you want a more comprehensive list of how to pack special items, drop us a line.