The air-filled packing material will give your moving needs the most convenient method for packing and securing your goods, as well as the best possible protection for your belongings during shipment – it will prevent scratching and breaking, will absorb any undesirable shocks and vibrations, and will allow you to receive your goods safe and intact. And also, it also looks pretty cool, especially if you are the addict to popping it.

What are the benefits of bubble wrap?

Bubble wrap is one of the most practical packing materials there is. It provides perfect cushioning, fits any shape, and can be easily secured with packing tape. Ever since its invention in the late 1950s, bubble wrap has been widely used for protecting delicate items and all dimension – shaped pieces during shipment. The reasons for that is listed bellow:

1) Safety. Bubble wrap is created by sealing together two sheets of plastic in such a manner that plenty of air is trapped in the middle to form a pattern of bubbles. The evenly distributed air-filled hemispheres offer excellent protection against shocks and vibrations and can even prevent an item from breaking in case it accidentally falls downs and hits the floor. The articles wrapped in this highly-effective packing material are also well protected from scratching and chipping, as well as from dirt and dust.

2) Convenience. Bubble wrap is very easy to use, because all you need to do is wrap an item and seal the protective covering securely in place with packing tape. The advantage of bubble wrap is that it can snugly fit the surface of whatever object is inside, regardless of its shape and size – so, you can wrap anything in the air-filled material, no matter how awkwardly shaped a certain item may be.Also, bubble wrap comes in variety of forms,  shapes (sheets, bags, envelopes) and sizes (large bubbles, small bubbles), so you can easily pick the type that best suits your needs;

3) Financially and environmentally friendly material. Bubble wrap provides perfect cushioning, so you’re not going to need many more packing supplies for ensuring the safety of your items. This will, of course, lower the final cost of your move. Also the advantage is that bubble wrap is lightweight and does not increase the overall weight of your shipment.And most importantly, it is not as expensive as other specialty cushioning materials, and can be reused (reusing undamaged bubble wrap will not only help you save money, but will also help the environment – you can even opt for bio-degradable bubble wrap which will degrade easily when discarded and will cause no harm to the nature);

4) Fun. Bubble wrap is an excellent source of entertainment – bursting the air bubbles, creating fun bubbly contraptions, and making eco-friendly costumes are just a few examples of the various enjoyable applications of bubble wrap you can come up with after the relocation. Just be careful that you don,t become the addict. Then there will be no help for you because you will use bubble wrap for everything other than packing.

Using bubble wrap !

Does bubbles go in or out?

Should the bubbles be facing in or out when using bubble wrap? You may hear reason for pros and cons on the matter, but practice has proven the right answer to this bothersome question to be “inwards”. The air pockets should face the item they are intended to protect. And that ways of packing comes with several strong reasons:

1. the bubbled pattern helps hold the article in place;
2. the protruding air-filled hemispheres provide excellent cushioning and prevent damage to the item;
3. the bubbled side can adapt to the exact shape of the object wrapped inside;
4. the flat side is much more durable for added protection against external impact.

Types of bubble wrap

As already mentioned, you can choose from a variety of bubble wrap types for your packing needs:

• Large size bubble wrap – the air pockets can be as big as 1’’ (26 mm) in diameter. Large bubble wrap is typically used for packing larger household items, such as furniture pieces, and padding large moving boxes – the protective material will easily fill in lots of empty space to add a significant amount of cushioning for your items;
• Smaller size bubble wrap – the most common bubble size is 3/8’’ (10 mm), but you can find air pockets with a diameter of about 1/8’’ (3 mm) as well. Smaller size bubble wrap provides less protection against shock or impact, but better protection against scratches and other superficial damage. It is generally used for electronics, glassware and other sensitive or delicate items;
• Anti-static bubble wrap – regardless of its size and grade, anti-static bubble wrap is designed to protect electronic items, like cell phones, computers and TVs. It dissipates static charge, protecting the sensitive electronic chips;
• Bubble wrap envelopes – CDs, books, small framed pictures and other flat items are best packed into envelopes padded with bubble wrap. They are easy to seal and provide maximum protection for your precious breakables. If you have delicate small items of various shapes, you can use bubble wrap bags (pouches lined with bubbles) instead of envelopes.

There exist other types of specialized bubble wrap as well – Temperature controlled bubble wrap, FDA grade bubble wrap, etc. The different types of bubble wrap are meant for different purposes, so you should be careful to select the ones that are right for your needs.

You can asquire bubble wrap if you just check at the local post office, any local moving company, or large chain stores. You can also order the air-filled material online, especially if you are looking for larger quantities or specialized types of bubble wrap.

Of course, it is always a good idea to reuse clean and undamaged bubble wrap you or your relatives, friends, neighbors, colleagues, etc. may have from previous relocations. Just ask them, but if they already become addict then think twice.

Securing bubble wrap!

Bubble wrap absorbs shock very well and provides reliable protection in case an item is dropped or other articles shift and slam against it. To ensure the efficiency of the air-filled material, however, you need to make sure it will stay securely in place throughout the entire relocation process. So, when packing with bubble wrap, do not simply attach some tape along the ends – the wrapped item may easily slip out during the transportation. Secure the packaging with tape on all sides instead to eliminate any chances of slipping and save yourself lots of headaches and frustrations.

When wrapping with bubble wrap, have in mind that a single layer serves just as a surface protective coating. It is advisable to use multiple layers in order to provide efficient shock and vibration isolation (especially for very valuable or extremely fragile items). Also, it,s recommended to secure each and every layer with packing tape on all sides.

Add extra securety when dealing with bubble wrap!

You can hardly find a more efficient cushioning material than bubble wrap. Yet, it alone may not be enough to provide sufficient protection when you’re packing for a move. Even if you have wrapped your items very securely in bubble wrap, you need to make sure that they won’t shift and bounce inside the moving boxes. To achieve this, you are recommended to fill in any remaining space inside the box with extra padding – crumpled paper, packing peanuts or clothing. The bottom and the sides of the box should also be lined with adequate padding materials, especially if you are packing fragile items.

It is a good idea to close the top of the container and shake it a bit before sealing the box. Then the items will fit with each other in the space of the box. But, if they are still moving you will now on which side of the box you need extra protection..

What you will pack with bubble wrap!

You can wrap virtually anything with bubble wrap, but certain items require additional protection than others and will benefit most from the protective qualities of the bubble wrap material.

Fragile items!

There is no such thing as too much protection for your extremely fragile items. The more securely you wrap them for shipping, the greater the chance to receive them in one piece. So, the bubble wrap is ideal for protecting your delicate and fragile items. Bellow is a list of the items that must be protected by bubble wrap that Intermove has made for you, with advices on ways how to protect them:

1. Chinaware – for protecting each and every fragile chinaware item you possess, you need to wrap them in clean packing paper first and then in a protective layer of bubble wrap. Place some bubble wrap inside the cups (or bowls) for support and wedge some of the air-filled material between the cup’s handle and the body of the cup to prevent the handle from breaking. Secure with packing tape. Don’t forget to line the box holding your chinaware with crumpled paper or packing peanuts for extra cushioning and add an extra layer of bubble wrap on the top. In that way you will be certain that you items will come to the end of transport in one piece.
2. Glasses – glasses top the list of the most easily damaged items during relocation, so you need to be extra careful when packing them. Glasses that have long, thin stems (such as wine glasses) and very valuable glasses (crystal ones, for example) should be wrapped individually with bubble wrap and arranged in celled boxes. Needless to say, you need to cover the glasses with another layer of bubble wrap before sealing the box;
3. Vases –Vases are very susceptible to damage because of their off the box shape, but the bubble wrap provides the best possible protection. To wrap a vase, set it on its side on a sheet of bubble wrap, roll it until it’s thoroughly covered, and secure the protective layer in place with packing tape (pay special attention to the top and bottom of the vase to make sure they are safely wrapped and taped as well). Consider packing your tall, elongated vases in specialty boxes to ensure it;

1. Artwork –Pieces of art need maximum protection when being relocated from one place to another. To prevent damage during transportation, you are advised to wrap them in packing paper first (to protect the delicate surface from the plastic bubble wrap that may get stuck on the item if it is left under direct sunlight or near a heat source for a long period), and then in several layers of bubble wrap. Then secure the bundle with packing tape;

1. Mirrors – mirrors can easily crack and break during shipment, so they are wery delicate to pack and ship for your relocation purposes. You are recommended to place a layer of packing paper on the glass surface, coat the mirror in bubble wrap with large air pockets, and wrap a few circles of packing tape around it. Both mirrors and framed paintings are best transported in specialty picture/mirror boxes for maximum protection. So that you don,t get the opportunity to bang your head against the wall.

Make sure your delicate items won’t shift inside the boxes during transportation (you can always use some more bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or crumpled paper to provide additionsl protection). Secure the boxes with packing tape and mark them on the visible side as “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE”.

Bubble wraped the sensitive items!

Bubble wrap can ensure the safety of your most sensitive possessions – expensive ones, as well as ones with a precious sentimental value.

1. Sensitive electronics – electronics are extremely delicate and can be easily damaged– even the slightest impact may result in irreversible damage, not to mention the effect of static-induced electric charge. Anti-static bubble wrap will help cushion any accidental impacts and will protect your ESD (electro-static discharge) sensitive electronic products;
2. Sentimental items – Wrapping family heirlooms, precious old books, exquisite toys, and any other delicate objects and keepsakes you hold dear for one reason or another, with bubble wrap is your safest, easiest and most efficient packing option. And you won,t be sorry.

Bubble wraped your furniture!

While wrapping an entire piece of furniture with the air-filled material may not be worth it (unless it is a valuable antique or highly treasured family heirloom), certain furniture parts are best packed in bubble wrap.

1. Glass elements – glass tabletops, glass shelves, glass cabinet doors and any other glass furniture parts are all very fragileand sensitive. To ensure the best possible protection for these items, you need to remove them from the rest of the furniture piece, wrap them in packing paper, and use several layers of bubble wrap to provide sufficient cushioning against shocks and vibrations. Secure the coverings with packing tape and wrap the bundles in moving blankets (or any old blankets) or place them in specialty boxes for additional protection;
2. Protruding parts – furniture legs, door handles, drawer knobs, and other protruding parts can easily break off during transit. To prevent such incidents, you should wrap these protruding elements in bubble wrap and wedge some of the air-filled material between them and the main furniture body (if applicable). You’ll need packing tape to hold the bubble wrap in place. Also, have in mind that furniture edges are quite vulnerable to scratching and chipping during relocation and consider having them wrapped in bubble wrap as well.

Bubble wrap is your best friend when packing anything delicate, fragile, valuable or oddly-shaped. On top of it, bubble wrap is a great moving stress reliever – the popping sound that can be heard when the air-filled pockets burst is believed to work miracles for your nerves and your mood. So, you have stress free and secure packing material in your hands. Intermove recommend that you use professional packing help so that your possetion will be in good hands, and Intermove says- god bless bubble wrap.