How to pack fragile items so nothing breaks

The three-layer rule

• Base layer: two to three inches of soft material — towels, blankets, clothing.
• Isolation: every fragile item wrapped so it never touches another hard surface.
• Fill: soft goods in every gap until nothing moves when you tilt the bin.

Shake test: close the lid, tilt the bin gently. If you hear movement, add more filler.

What to use instead of bubble wrap

You are already moving a house full of soft padding. Tea towels, sweaters, socks, bedding and throw pillows all cushion better than a thin layer of bubble wrap, and you don't pay for them twice.

Mirrors, frames and flat glass

• Tape a large X across the glass to hold shards if it does crack.
• Wrap in a blanket and stand upright on edge — never lay flat under weight.
• Load them last, along the side of the vehicle, not in the middle of a stack.

Electronics

• Photograph the cable layout before unplugging anything.
• Bag and label cables with the device they belong to.
• Wrap screens in a blanket and transport upright.
• Let cold electronics warm to room temperature before powering on in winter.

Loading the vehicle

Heavy bins go on the bottom, fragile bins on top, and everything gets pushed tight so nothing slides. Because bins are the same size and shape, they stack into a solid wall — which is exactly what stops the shifting that breaks things.