How to pack dishes, glasses and fragile belongings

01Prepare a stable box with a cushioned base

Inspect corners, handles and the base. Reject damp, torn or weakened boxes. Tape the base seam and edges with suitable packing tape, then add crumpled paper or cushioning. Reinforcing the base does not make an overweight box suitable.

Choose a size you can lift comfortably. Use several small boxes instead of one densely packed large box of dishes. Clean textiles can provide additional cushioning, but a tea towel between stacks does not replace individual wrapping.

02Wrap plates individually

Wrap each plate separately, fold paper over the edges and add protection between pieces. Position plates on their edges, like records, inside a well-padded box. Hold them in place without squeezing them; no edge should touch an unpadded box wall.

Place paper between bowls and avoid nesting them tightly. Protect lids, handles and spouts separately. A heavy serving dish may need its own small box; distribute weight so it cannot crush fine pieces.

• Wrap each piece and protect the edges.
• Separate plates and cushion the sides of the box.
• Keep heavy pieces away from delicate objects.

03Separate glasses and protect stems

Wrap each glass, protect the rim and gently fill the hollow with paper without forcing it. Stand glasses upright in suitable compartments and fill the gaps. They should not touch even when the box is moved slightly.

For stemware, cushion the foot and stem with soft paper, then wrap the whole glass without tightening around the stem. Use dividers tall enough for the glass. Do not stack glasses or put one inside another to save space.

For example, pack six wine glasses in suitable dividers and use a separate box for six mugs if their handles prevent proper separation. Two well-prepared small boxes are more suitable than one nearly full box with poor cushioning.

04Pack unusually shaped items separately

Remove detachable parts from vases, lamps and ornaments. Pack lampshades separately with nothing heavy above them, and protect projecting tips and handles. Support a tall vase throughout its height in a suitable box.

For a screen or sensitive appliance, reuse its original packaging and fitted inserts if available. Otherwise ask for protection suited to its dimensions: a blanket alone does not prevent pressure on a screen panel. Label cables and keep them away from the screen surface.

Artwork, antiques, large mirrors and very heavy items need individual assessment. Send dimensions and photographs before the move. Do not assume a standard box or a ‘fragile’ label is enough.

05Fill gaps, close and label clearly

Fill spaces at the sides and top with soft cushioning. Before closing, gently move the box a few centimetres without shaking it. If items clink together, adjust the padding. The lid should close flat without pressing on the contents.

Write the destination room, contents and ‘fragile’ on two faces, adding the required orientation where needed. ‘Kitchen — glasses — this way up’ is more helpful than a number alone. In Biel, bilingual room labels such as ‘Cuisine / Küche’ can help when people assisting speak French and German.

Group fragile boxes together and point them out during loading. At the destination, put them on a stable surface in the right room and open them one at a time. Unfold each piece of paper before discarding it to avoid losing a teaspoon, lid or small decorative part.

• Do not leave gaps that allow objects to slide and collide.
• Do not compress padding until it creates pressure.
• Do not put tools or books on top of glasses.
• Do not lift a fragile box by a damaged handle.