Professional guidelines for packing porcelain figurines

We all have our hobbies. Some of us watch a lot of movies, some of us go hiking, and some of us collect things. One of the most beautiful things you can collect is porcelain figurines. Delicate and colorful, they will make any shelf or mantle in your home look better. But they have one huge downside: they’re very, very fragile. So when you need to use self storage Seattle or move to a new home, you need to be careful with them. Otherwise, they won’t survive the trip. And that is precisely why packing porcelain figurines properly is important – it is the only way to protect them from damage during transport.

The ultimate guide for packing porcelain figurines

If you’re a collector, then you’ve probably broken a couple of figurines before. It’s incredibly easy to do – all it takes is a moment of inattention and they slip through your fingers or you knock them off their shelf and that’s all it takes. And this happens all the time in your own home where your collection is well cared for. Now imagine what would happen in even the safest Bellevue self storage or during transportation! To prevent disaster, you’ll need to protect your figurines by packing them well.

Step 1: Clean the figurines and identify trouble spots as you go

The first thing you need to do before packing your figurines is to make sure they’re in good condition. So take the time to clean your figurines of any dust or stains. This will also give you an opportunity to examine them for cracks and other vulnerable spots. If your figurines are already damaged, they’re more likely to shatter during transportation. And even if they’re in perfect condition, you’ll probably find places where they can easily break – protruding pieces and spots where the ceramic is very thin. Keep track of those because you’ll need to pay extra attention to them when wrapping the figurines.

Step 2: Wrap figurines in packing paper

The first layer of protection for your figurines will be packing paper. Cut sheets to size, then wrap each figurine individually. Pay special attention to areas you identified as most fragile and pad them with the extra paper if necessary. Only use soft packing paper with no print. If you use alternatives, like newspapers, the porcelain might get stained or scratched.

Step 3: Use bubble wrap

Paper alone is not enough to protect fragile and expensive things like porcelain figurines. So you’ll want to add another layer of protection – bubble wrap. Wrap it carefully around your figurines, once again paying special attention to vulnerable spots. Then tape the bubble wrap in place. Make sure that every part of the figurine is covered in paper and bubble pack before you use tape – tape should never come into contact with the figurine itself.

Step 4: Pack in suitable boxes

Once your figurines are properly wrapped and protected, you can transfer them into boxes. You want to pack each figurine separately. This will minimize the chance of damage. But it also means you’ll need as many boxes as you have figurines. Ideally, the box should be lined with bubble pack or paper and the same size as the figurine. If the box is too big, fill it with cushioning materials like shredded or crumpled paper, bubble pack, or fabric. Finally, transfer the smaller boxes into a medium-size box to make transportation and storage easier.

Step 5: Label the boxes

Whenever you’re storing or moving items, you should always label the boxes you pack. It’s just easier to find the right box in storage and easier to unpack after a move that way. But it also serves another purpose: it lets others who handle those boxes know what’s inside. In the case of door to door storage Seattle, where movers and packers pack, transfer, and store your belongings, multiple people might need to move your boxes. You can’t just hope they’ll all know that your boxes contain very fragile items. So write FRAGILE in capital print on every box, preferably on multiple sides. You should also mark which side of the box goes up so the figurines inside don’t get jostled too much.

Additional tips for packing porcelain figurines

If you follow these steps, you can pack any porcelain figurine properly. But there are other things you can do as well, things which will make packing fragile items easier.

Take inventory before packing

There’s no point wasting time and supplies on figurines you don’t really like. So go through your collection before packing. Is there anything you might be willing to part with? Something you can sell for a bit of extra cash? An item you want to gift to someone who will appreciate it more? The fewer figurines you have, the easier it’ll be to pack. Taking inventory will also help with the unpacking – it’ll be easier to see if there are any figurines missing or broken.

Use high-quality packing materials

When packing something as fragile as porcelain, it is imperative to use good packing materials. Soft and clean paper, dense bubble pack, and sturdy boxes are a must. You can also buy pre-lined boxes that offer extra protection. Second-hand boxes, free boxes you find lying around, and alternatives are not a good idea because most of them won’t be as sturdy as new moving boxes. If you want to save money, look for deals with your movers or storage providers and supermarkets.

When packing porcelain figurines goes wrong

Sometimes, all the preparation you do is not enough. Even when you do everything right, packing porcelain figurines carefully and doing everything you can to protect them, things can go wrong. It is simply an option you’ll have to make peace with whenever moving your figurines somewhere. And while it can be very upsetting to see some of your favorites broken, especially if they have a lot of monetary or sentimental value, don’t despair if you find one of your figurines in pieces.

There are ways to salvage this: the Japanese art of kintsugi is a way to repair broken ceramics using gold. This creates an entirely new and completely unique pieces of art. It might be worth looking into if some of your broken figurines were very important to you.