Tips for packing sharp objects

Everyone who’s ever moved knows that packing is basically your worst enemy. Along with worrying about hiring the right movers, moving quotes and other organizational aspects of moving, you have to plan the packing process as well. You can’t just randomly put things in boxes and go. You need to have separate boxes for different categories of things, you have to label the boxes and make sure to get enough packing material. After all, you don’t just need boxes. You need bags, tape, bubble wrap and basically any storage you can find. And, of course, once you’ve moved out and unpacked everything, you inevitably realize that you forgot something or you see that something has been ruined in transit. In order to at least avoid things getting cut or damaged by other items, here are some tips for packing sharp objects.

Categorize before packing sharp objects

First things first, you need to categorize in order to make transporting sharp objects easier. Everything should have its own place, especially if it can damage other belongings of yours. So, here’s how to categorize your sharp objects.

1. Something that will be very helpful to you is making a moving checklist. That way, you will be able to see all of your items on paper and you can cross them off once they’re all packed up. This is a tried and tested way to not forget anything and to stay in control of the move. Also, there’s nothing more satisfying than crossing something off your to-do list.
2. When it comes to knives, the first step is seeing what types of knives you own. Separate your knives into groups by their size and sharpness. Put your large, sharp knives together and group the smaller ones separately. For example, butter knives should be together, the knives you cut vegetables and bread with should be in another group and the huge carving ones are a whole different group along with chef’s knives.
3. Group your other sharp objects such as scissors, staplers, forks, screwdrivers and other tools into categories accordingly.

   

Safety first – wrap your sharp objects

Once everything is in the appropriate group, it’s time for actual packing. Surely, you weren’t planning on throwing all of the sharp items into a box and calling it a day. You could do that as well, but there would be a lot of damage, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

You’re going to need a few different materials in order to safely pack all of your sharp objects. You should get some tape, bubble wrap and packing paper. Wrap the knives with packing paper and possibly tape the paper to the blade so that it doesn’t get cut. Make sure to use extra material for packing up your largest knives.

Another way to wrap sharp objects is by using some type of fabric. You can opt for old shirts, clothes, towels or anything similar. This is a way to keep you sharp belongings safe and covered without using huge amounts of materials that are difficult to recycle.

Get appropriate boxes for packing sharp objects

As mentioned earlier, you can’t just throw all your sharp things into a box and forget about them. Unfortunately, they require a little bit more thought and care. So, a big cardboard box simply won’t do.

Cardboard boxes

You should search your home and find all the shoe boxes that are lying around without any purpose. Get some of those and make them useful again. Use these boxes to pack your knives and tools neatly. Assign each box to one category of sharp items. You should make sure that the boxes are lined with bubble wrap so that the knives are extra protected. When you’re dealing with a shoe box or a different type of cardboard box, consider taping it shut so that the knives don’t escape. It’s important that the boxes are the appropriate size so that your things aren’t flying around in them.

Plastic boxes

Another solution, if you want to avoid cardboard boxes, is to go for plastic boxes. Plastic boxes are, of course, much sturdier and much more secure. Your sharp objects won’t cut or damage them, so you don’t have to worry about that. You can still line them with bubble wrap to protect the things you’re packing, though. These kinds of boxes come with a lid often times. That saves you the trouble of taping them shut or worrying about them potentially opening.

Original packaging

If your knives or tools come with a case or a box of some sort, you’re saved! Simply use the original packaging that’s meant to keep the items secure. You can still use some tape to make sure that the packaging doesn’t open during transportation and that your things won’t go flying everywhere in the moving van.

Label the boxes

Once you’ve categorized, wrapped and packed all of your things, it’s time for the final steps. In order to make it easier for yourself to unpack the boxes later, you should label all of them. So, keep a marker handy while putting your sharper things into boxes and write what’s in each box. This won’t only help you when unpacking, but it will help your movers as they’ll be able to pay extra attention to these boxes.

And with that, you’re done! All of your tools and knives are ready for the relocation and they won’t bother any of your other belongings. If you’re still unsure about the safety of your items, you can ask some professional movers for advice and help. You can start thinking about all the other moving related things such as moving and storage companies, as well as how to have a stress-free move. Once you’ve finished packing sharp objects and other belongings, you’re ready to hire a moving truck, get some movers and get on the road.