How To Pack Books Before Moving
Posted on: 19 May 2017
Most people don't give a lot of thought to how they will pack their books before a move. But believe it or not, there's a right way and a wrong way to pack up your literature. Whether your library is full of leather-bound classics or you love indulging in the latest paperback mystery, here are some easy tips for boxing up your books so they arrive safe and unharmed.
Sort Your Books
There are basically two ways to sort and pack your books. If you have an extensive library and your books are in a particular order, you may not want to disrupt that system. If that's the case, simply pack your books by the shelf. However, if keeping your books in order isn't important, you'll get more mileage out of sorting them by size, with the smallest going in one box and the largest in another. Doing it this way prevents wasted space within the boxes.
Gather the Boxes and Packing Supplies
Books should be packed in small to medium boxes to avoid back strain and other issues that arise from overly heavy boxes. Some moving companies offer "book boxes" for sale, but you can use any box, so long as it's clean and dry. You can also use suitcases if there are any that aren't being used for clothes.
Once you have all the boxes you need, get plenty of packing paper that you can use to line the boxes with. This will help insulate the books if you're moving in extreme weather conditions. Also, if there's any chance the boxes will come in contact with water, you should add a layer of plastic or bubble wrap to prevent moisture from seeping in and damaging the paper.
Other supplies you'll need include plenty of packing tape and a pen for marking the boxes.
Start Packing
The best way to pack your books is upright or flat. Placing hardbacks spines down can cause the accumulated weight to damage the bindings. And packing paperbacks this way can allow the books to fall open, leading to bent or crumpled individual pages.
Pack your books so there's as little remaining space as possible without squeezing them in too tightly. If there's space on top when you put on the lid or lower the flaps, add some crumpled paper to prevent the books from bouncing around inside the box.
Double tape your boxes on the top and bottom for added reinforcement, and you should be ready to go. For more information on movers in your area, click here!
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