How to Pack Fragile Items So They Actually Survive the Move

Dishes and glassware

Wrap each piece individually rather than stacking bare plates with paper only in between — the goal is that nothing touches bare ceramic-to-ceramic or glass-to-glass. Pack plates on their edge, not flat; a stack of flat plates concentrates weight in a way that cracks the bottom plate. Fill any gaps in the bin with towels or soft items so nothing can shift during transport.

Electronics

Original boxes are ideal if you kept them, since they're built to the exact shape of the device. Without the original box, wrap the item in a towel or blanket and make sure it's snug in the bin — a loose electronic item bouncing around during transport is a common cause of damage that's invisible until you plug it in at the new place.

Mirrors, framed art, and glass tabletops

These need to travel upright, not flat, and padded on both faces. If you don't have proper moving blankets, old bedding or towels work in a pinch — the padding matters more than what it's made of.

The packing principle that matters most

Nothing should be able to move once the bin is closed. A fully-packed bin with no empty space is safer than a half-full one, even if the half-full one has less weight — loose space is what lets items shift, collide, and break during transport. Fill gaps with soft items (towels, linens, clothing) rather than leaving air.