The most heartbreaking moment of any move is opening a box and finding broken glass. It's almost always avoidable. After years of packing wine cellars, china cabinets, art collections, and entire kitchens across Burlington and Oakville, we've boiled it down to a simple truth: good packing is mostly about cushioning and crush resistance, not speed.
Here's how our team approaches fragile packing — and how you can apply the same techniques at home.
Start With the Right Supplies
You can't pack fragile items well with garbage bags and old newspaper. Invest in proper materials — they cost a fraction of what a single broken heirloom would.
- Double-walled or dish-pack boxes for kitchenware and breakables
- Bubble wrap (small bubble for surfaces, large bubble for cushioning)
- Packing paper (unprinted — newspaper ink rubs off)
- Foam pouches for stemware and glasses
- Strong packing tape (not masking tape, not duct tape)
- Permanent marker for clear labels
The Core Principle: Two Inches of Cushion on Every Side
Whatever you're packing, the goal is the same: when the box is sealed, no fragile item should be able to touch another fragile item, the box wall, or the bottom. Two inches of crumpled paper, foam, or bubble wrap on every side is the gold standard.
Step 1: Prep the Box
Tape the bottom seam and the two perpendicular seams. Lay 2–3 inches of crumpled packing paper across the bottom as a shock-absorbing pad.
Step 2: Wrap Each Item Individually
This is the step most people skip and most people regret. Every plate, every glass, every figurine gets wrapped on its own. Items wrapped together rub against each other in transit, and that's how chips and scratches happen.
Step 3: Pack Heavy on the Bottom, Light on the Top
Plates stand vertically like records, never stacked flat — they're far stronger on edge. Glasses go upside down with stems padded. Anything light and fragile (lamp shades, ornaments) sits on top.
Step 4: Fill Every Void
Shake the box gently before sealing. If you hear or feel anything shift, add more padding. A well-packed fragile box should feel solid, not rattly.
Specific Items: How the Pros Pack Them
Wine Glasses & Stemware
Stuff the bowl with crumpled paper, slip a foam pouch over the entire glass, then wrap in bubble wrap and tape closed. Pack upside down in a divided cell box.
Plates
Wrap each plate in two sheets of packing paper, then stack in groups of 3–4 with extra paper between each stack. Stand the bundles vertically in a dish-pack box with crumpled paper between bundles.
Flat-Screen TVs
If you have the original box, use it. Otherwise, wrap the screen in a soft moving blanket, then bubble wrap, then a TV-specific carton. Always transport TVs upright — never flat. Disconnect cables and bag them with a label.
Picture Frames & Mirrors
Tape an X across the glass front (this holds shards together if it cracks), wrap in bubble wrap, and pack vertically in a picture/mirror carton with cardboard corners. Never lay flat with weight on top.
Lamps
Remove the bulb, the harp, and the shade. Wrap each piece separately. Lampshades should never have weight on them — pack them last and on top.
Knives & Sharp Items
Wrap blades in cardboard sleeves, then in paper, then bundle. Label the box SHARP — OPEN CAREFULLY on every side.
Label Like Your Move Depends on It (Because It Does)
Every fragile box gets the same treatment in our trucks: it loads last, it sits on top, and it comes off first. We can only do that if it's labeled. Use a permanent marker and write on at least three sides:
- FRAGILE — large, bold, on the top and two sides
- The room it goes to
- A short list of contents (e.g., "Kitchen — wine glasses, stemware")
- An arrow showing THIS SIDE UP
When to Call in the Pros
Some items are simply not worth packing yourself: irreplaceable artwork, antique china sets, marble tabletops, chandeliers, large mirrors, and grandfather clocks. Our packing crews carry custom crating materials and the experience to know when standard cardboard isn't enough.
If you'd rather hand off the packing entirely, our team offers full and partial packing services across Burlington, Oakville, and the GTA. Call (905) 399-4433 for a free estimate and let us protect what matters most.