Families seem to have more electronics than ever. Those electronics tend to be essential and often quite pricey. If you’re moving, you will want to be sure that your electronics are protected. Packing electronics properly isn’t too challenging. It merely requires the right packing materials and a careful, detailed approach.
Secure electronics are more likely to survive the move and give you the extended use you paid for.
If you’re not familiar with packing electronics, it’s easier than you think.
Preparing to Secure Electronics
There are several ways to prepare before you pack and move electronics. Start by evaluating whether there are any items you won’t use anymore. If so, there are ways to get rid of them without taking them to the junkyard.
Once you’ve identified the electronics, you plan to keep, back up your data to an external hard drive. While the likelihood of system damage is low, all it takes is one drop for your computer to become damaged beyond repair. This is especially devastating if you use it to store financial records or other sensitive information.
Remove any batteries and loose media. Battery corrosion damages your electronics, and removable objects like DVDs, memory cards, or game cartridges can become deformed if left in a machine for too long.
Before disassembling anything, take pictures of your cable set-up in the back. It may seem obvious now how the cables should be plugged into your various devices, but it may not be obvious when you unpack your things and set out to reassemble everything in your new home.
Next, detach the wires and peripheral accessories. While it may seem easier to keep them connected, prolonged metal-on-metal contact could be harmful. Plus, it will save you the time and frustration of detangling them later on.
To keep track of your cords, use color-coded labels or stickers. Affix one color to the cord and use the same color on the device’s corresponding port.
How to Safely Pack Electronics
Using the original packaging for your electronics is ideal, as other packing materials won’t fit quite as well. However, if you discarded the original material, it’s easy to keep electronics safe using different methods.
Start by gathering essential packing materials: moving boxes, bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, scissors, packing tape, labels, and markers. Look for sturdy, corrugated boxes. If you found them secondhand from friends or family, make sure the box structure is still intact.
Wrap all of your electronics using bubble wrap or other cushioned material. For an eco-friendly alternative, consider using towels or old linens. Remember not to pack screens with newsprint, as the ink can transfer onto the screens and even scratch them.
Once your electronics are wrapped, cushion the top and bottom of the box with layers of additional bubble wrap, crumpled packing paper, or towels. Fill empty spaces with additional packing materials to prevent your electronics from tumbling around.
Consider adding packets of silica gel to the moving boxes, too. These packets help absorb excess moisture before it collects on metal electronic parts.
Label each box and indicate “fragile” so that the movers know to take extra care with those boxes.
Protect Your Electronics During a Move
Once you’re confident that you have secured the electronics, remember to make an inventory list of everything you packed and where you put it. This will make the unpacking process easier and more organized.
Moving is stressful enough as it is. The security of your belongings shouldn’t add to your worries. Reach out to us today for a free moving quote.
