Shrink wrap comes on a spool and is available in several widths. When wrapped around items, it can be stretched. As it stretches, the springiness helps holds loose items together. Use this to go around a number of boxes to keep them from toppling during transit. You don't need any special cutting device, because you can tear shrink wrap with your hands. The tighter you pull the shrink wrap, the better it holds things together.
Bubble wrap is a plastic product filled with tiny pockets of air. These air pockets help cushion lightweight items. Use bubble wrap on things you want to protect from vibration and then place them in a box. You can get bubble wrap that has small bubbles or with large bubbles. If you have a few items in a box and the box isn't quite full, fill the empty space with bubble wrap to minimize shifting.
Use packing paper to wrap all fragile or breakable items including dishes. The paper needs to go around each individual dish and then pack them together. The paper minimizes vibration between ceramic and glass dishware. Packing paper works best for wrapping small items that can be placed inside each other. Bowls and cups benefit best from packing paper. You can also crumple up pieces of packing paper and use it as cushioning between glass panes or mirrors.
Cardboard boxes serve for packing small and large items. The shape of a box allows for better organization in the cargo vehicle. After packing items in the box, the flaps must be brought together and sealed with packing tape. You can get thin and thick cardboard boxes depending on what you're packing. Set the heavier, larger boxes on the floor and the lighter, smaller boxes on top. Wardrobe boxes have a bar across the middle that allows for hanging up clothing.
A packing blanket is a dense pad that is placed between furniture items. When transporting wooden furniture, the bumps en route cause shifting and vibration. As the furniture vibrates, the packing blankets protect them from damaging one another. If you lean anything up against a cargo vehicle's walls, place packing blankets on the wall-side to protect it from damage. Use packing tape to help keep the blankets on the items during transit.
After you've packed the small stuff and need to pack the large stuff, use ratchet straps and bungees to hold them to the floor and wall of the cargo vehicle. Tie down straps are made of woven nylon and the ratchets make it easy to tighten large items down. Bungee cords and strap have hooks that need to be attached to D-rings or cargo rings fastened to the cargo trailer. Keep the straps and cords away from areas where they can chafe during transit. Chaffing can result in breakage and damage to falling cargo.
Use fiber-reinforced packing tape to keep box flaps securely fastened. This tape is stronger than regular packing tape and won't tear as easily. Use it to wrap bubble wrap around items such as picture frames. This tape comes in 1-inch and 2-inch widths and has to be cut with a carpet knife. Use a tape roll dispenser to make it easy to apply the tape. Most tape roll dispensers come with a serrated cutting edge.
