If you are getting ready to move and concerned about safely moving your household goods this series of articles will show in details how to wrap your furniture for any small or large move. I have been in the moving business for over 20 years, moved hundreds of families personally as a foreman and driver, and then thousands more as an owner of a moving company, both moving locally and moving interstate.

We are not trying to cover 100% of the packing supplies, but only the most popular that are used by movers and that you can and should expect to find in a moving truck: Blankets, Boxes, paper, bubble wrap and Shrink wrap, plastic covers. With this set of supplies you can move any type and pack of china, artwork or furniture.

Regardless if you hire professional movers or do it yourself, it is good to know how to wrap the furniture and what to expect. We sell moving supplies and often hear questions: – How many moving blankets do I need? Which moving blanket should I use and how do I wrap my furniture?

The way to wrap furniture for moving depends on specifics of your move. Is it interstate move, across the country, or local moving around the block? Loading PODS or international shipping container, or moving to long term storage?

Another option is paper moving blankets. Most people are not even aware of paper blankets to be used for moving, meanwhile it is a very good alternative to quilted moving blankets, especially if you are moving only once or sending your goods to a long term storage or moving overseas.

Word of caution about shopping for a moving company: If you have valuable furniture to move – do not look for cheap movers, look for good ones. Inexperienced movers or movers with bad reputation compete on price, not on professionalism.

Plastic covers for moving would include Shrink stretch or wrap and Plastic mattress cover, plastic sofa cover or plastic chair covers. It is not at all better than a plastic mattress cover, but it is more profitable for a moving company: it cost much less to buy a roll of shrink wrap, but it takes longer to mover plus wrap can charge more for each item wrapped. Sometimes the color bleeds off the moving blanket onto upholstery.

Moving boxes can be single wall, such as Book boxes, Linen boxes etc. or double wall, such as China Boxes, TV boxes, Wardrobe boxes etc. Movers mostly use 0.5 inch bubble wrap 24 inches wide. Bubble wrap is good for wrapping electronics or large pieces of glass.

SUMMARY: When preparing for the move consider specifics of your move and consider the furniture you want to wrap. – Get space savers or paper blankets, need better protection – get premium quality thick moving blankets.

If you are moving locally and hiring a professional moving company you should expect them to show up with blankets and you should not be charged for it. If you are moving long distance (interstate moving) or to storage, then purchasing your own moving blankets might be a good idea. Moving Blankets can be of two major kinds: Quilted or padded moving blankets and Non-Quilted,, also called Skins or Space Savers.

Economy moving blankets provide adequate protection and do not take much room in the storage. For long distance or interstate moving where interstate carrier charges by weight the advantage is that these blankets are much lighter than regular moving blankets. If you move often, moving blankets with woven outer fabric much more durable moving blankets and will serve much longer.

Contrary to some statements I came across in other articles, Movers do care about your shipment, in most cases foreman is personally responsible to pay for your movers and damages also know that if something gets broken it is unlikely that they get any tips. It is important to make a foreman (moving crew leader) which items require special care.

The movers simply do not have time to consider how delicate each and every item might be. It is true that most damage occurs while carrying, unloading and loading, but it is also true that if movers (or yourself) do not load the truck properly some items will get damaged in transit.