Finding all your items in one piece after a move is the goal of anyone moving house. But packing items like wine glasses makes the goal seem impossible. These classy glasses are not only delicate, they also have long stems that are easily broken and odd shapes that make them difficult to pack. This is why wine glasses are one of the most commonly broken items during a move.
You don’t need to panic. There are correct ways to pack your wine glasses to avoid damage. Here are three ways to protect your wine glasses during a move.
Buying The Correct Packing Materials For Wine Glasses
Before you start packing, ensure you have suitable packing materials. Getting used boxes to move items like pillows or furniture is not bad. But when packing wine glasses for a move, you will need new, sturdy boxes.
- Double-layered cardboard packing boxes
- Dish Barrel
- Cardboard glass and bottle dividers or cell kits
- Packing peanuts (when shipping)
- Packing paper — newspaper is an alternative but can stain the glasses
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Scotch tape for holding paper and bubble wrap
- Scissors
- Marker for Labeling
4 Ways To Pack Wine Glasses For Moving
There are four ways to pack your wine glasses, depending on the materials you can lay your hands on. You can pack the glasses directly in standard boxes, utilize boxes that come with dividers, or assemble the cell kits by yourself. There are also unique bags made for moving wine glasses.
Method 1: Moving Wine Glasses in Regular Boxes
- Small boxes are the best. Packing wine glasses in a small box makes it difficult for glasses to shift, making them less likely to break. Besides, with your glasses in small boxes, you can easily carry them to the truck and into your new home without hassle.
- Cushion the bottom of the box. Before you start placing the glasses in the box, you may need to add additional packing to the bottom and sides of the box. Lay bubble wraps or packing paper at the bottom of the box and use scotch tape to line bubble wraps on the sides.
- Add plenty of shock-absorbing materials. Packing your glasses directly in the box requires a lot of shock-absorbing materials to protect the wine glasses against any bumps and dumps. Be lavish with the soft packing materials. You can use towels and other soft clothes if you don’t have enough packing materials.
- Keep more oversized wine glasses at the bottom. Because smaller lightweight wine glasses can break under the weight of heavier ones, it is always helpful to stack them hierarchically, starting with the heaviest at the bottom.
- Leave space for cushioning. When packing without cell kits, avoid stacking boxes to the brim, and this will take up the space needed for extra shock-absorbing materials at the top. Leaving adequate space will enable you to place a thick layer of protective packaging materials before sealing the box.
- Shake the box gently before sealing. This is the best way to check if the wine glasses are well-packed and cushioned. You shouldn’t feel any movement if you did everything right. Then, you can seal the box tightly to secure your wine glasses.
Method 2: Moving Wine Glasses with Cell Kits
Using cell kits to arrange your wine glasses inside boxes is a bit complex. You have to assemble the cardboard in a particular manner for the best results. The protection it offers is worth the time and effort. Follow these steps:
- Start from the base level. The tallest partitions typically make up the base, which comes with cutaways. Assemble the four partitions using the cutaways. Ensure they are firm before you continue.
- Secure the bottoms with packing papers. To protect your wine glasses, lay packing papers or other cushioning materials at the bottom, and it provides a shock absorption against accidental drops and bumps on the road.
- Customize the compartments to the height of your wine glasses. After assembling the base level, you can create more spaces on the base level depending on the kind of wine glasses you are moving. Most wine glasses fit better in the outer corner cells.
- Pack level by level. Arrange the wine glasses from the heaviest items at the base with light and more fragile items at the top. Pack gradually, ensuring you place well-padded cardboard above each section.
- Seal the box properly. The third section is typically the last uncovered at the top for most cell kits. Before sealing the box tightly, stuff the box with packing paper, bubble wrap, peanuts, or any other cushioning materials.
Method 3: Moving Wine Glasses with Divider Boxes
Divider Boxes are designed mainly for moving kitchen items, and these boxes have default dividers that typically form 24 compartments for holding glasses. Though each wine glass stays in separate compartments, you still need to wrap the glasses properly before storing them.
You don’t need to assemble these boxes. Once your wine glasses are wrapped, you can place each compartment. It is a good option for people with fewer than 24 wine glasses, and they also have default handles for easy carrying. You can purchase quality boxes with dividers from Banker Box Store on Amazon.
Method 4: Moving Wine Glasses In Quilted Bags
Quilted Bags are unique bags for moving wine glasses. They are fabricated with premium-grade, extra-thick microfiber material. The hard exteriors prevent wine glasses from squashing in storage or transport.
The soft dividers protect the glasses against breakage and chips, and the padded & quilted interiors cushion drops and bumps. They are typically made up of 12 compartments.
You don’t need to wrap the wine glasses or add cushioning materials inside the bags. Once you have cleaned the classes, you can place them directly in these bags. The bags come with two handles for easy transport.
The extra benefit of moving your wine glasses with quilted bags is their reusability. You can use them for camping or any outdoor events that require moving your wine glasses. Sakuchi offers high-quality quilted bags on Amazon.
However, these bags have two downsides: They are costly, and you’ll need more than one if you have more than twelve pieces of wine glasses.
How to Wrap Wine Glasses
Wrap The Glasses
Wine glasses are the most fragile of all Wine Glasses. Though they are wrapped similarly to the others, you need to pay extra attention to the stems.
- Prepare a clean flat surface like your table or counter
- Spread your packing papers or towels on the table.
- Wrap the stem separately to the glass globe. You can add bubble wraps to the stem for extra protection
- Place the wine glass on the packing paper and wrap the entire glass until the glass is well-covered.
- Cushion the wine glasses with the ends of the wrapping material.
Helpful Tip: When using newspaper for packing glasses, make sure you wash the glasses immediately when you unpack them to avoid stains.
How to Transport Wine Glasses
Label Boxes “Fragile”
Regardless of the box type or packing method, ensure you label the boxes, and this will serve as a warning sign to anyone handling them..
Use The Mom’s Attic
To prevent your wine glasses from colliding with other items in the back of the truck, Mom’s Attic is the ideal place to keep them. It is the smallest space in the truck hanging over the driver’s cab. Because of the size, boxes in this truck section are resistant to shocks.
Move Them To The Passenger Seat
If you have enough space in your car, keeping the box where you can see it will be helpful. With the boxes on the passenger seat of your car, you can watch how it moves as you transport it to your new home.
