Shipping fine China dishes requires foolproof packing so that it does not get damaged in transit. The good news is that packing China dishes is quite easy if you have the right tools.
For proper packing, clear your dining table and place a large thick cloth on it. The soft surface ensures that even if you accidentally tip over a piece, it won’t break.
Create a list of all the items and their accompanying accessories that need to be packed, so that you can buy the proper tools.
Lay down all the items on the table, so that you can have a clear idea of what needs to be packed first and how.
Materials List
• Measuring Tape
• Tape Gun
• Dish Pack Boxes (Double Walled)
• Tissue Paper
• Inner Boxes
• Large Bubble Wrap
• Packing Peanuts
• Small Bubble Wrap
• Pressure-Sensitive Tape
Step #1
Measure the size of each China dish and note it down. Make sure the inner boxes have 1 inch of space left from all sides once the dish is placed inside. As for the dish pack boxes, they must have at least 3 inches of space on all sides. The dish pack box is usually for those items that are too delicate and require double protection. You can also use this box for placing bowls and mugs.
Step #2
Wrap all the dishes in tissue paper and then secure them with scotch tape. (The reason why packing tape is not recommended is that it can cause damage to fine China when they are being unpacked.) Do not use newspaper instead of tissue paper, as China dishes packed in the former material are not qualified for insurance.
Step #3
Wrap the tissue wrapped China dishes with the small bubble wrap. You can now secure this bubble wrap with packing tape as it will no longer come in contact with the China Dish directly. Wrap the dishes once again with the big bubble wrap and secure it with packing tape. This creates a nice padding for the dishes and any hard impact is absorbed by the big bubble wrap.
Step #4
Fill the bottom of the inner box with packing peanuts at least 3 inches high. Place the wrapped package in the box and then create another 3-inch layer of packing peanuts. Repeat the process until the dishes have been pilled till the mouth of the box, leaving 2 inches of space. Lastly, create another layer of packing peanuts and close the flaps. Use packing tape to secure the box.
Step #5
Fill the bottom of the double walled boxes with packing peanuts. Place the packed box inside this box and then fill any void with packing peanuts. Finally, close the flaps and secure them with packing tape. Label the box “FRAGILE” in bold letters with a red marker.
Follow these steps one by one to a T and you will be able to pack and ship your fine China easily. Make sure you get insurance for them before handing the box over to the movers.
china dishes
Safest Method for Packing china Before Shipping
Shipping off items like fragile china dishes holds both, monetary and sentimental value for the receiver as well as the sender. Nothing could pain either of them more, than knowing that it reached its destination in pieces.
Most of the times, china survives through generations as it passes down from grandmothers to daughters — imagine the shame and heartbreak if the dishes and crockery were broken or damaged while being shipped.
To avoid such a situation, let’s learn one of the best ways to pack them:
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Gather Supplies:
Begin by gathering all the right supplies. Get your hands on sheets of some bubble wrap, reinforced double-wall boxes with dividers, tape gun, Styrofoam peanuts, and shipping tapes.
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Wrap them:
Every piece of delicate china should be packed separately so that those with a lid or other accessories do not get lost or break during shipment. Make sure to work on a clean open space and wrap each item neatly. Bubble wrap each piece separately. and Try to add as much of a cushioning effect as you can.
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Boxing:
Boxing is different for different china dishes. In the case of mugs, glassware, and bowls, use cardboard boxes with dividers and put each item separately in the provided space.
In case of flat dishware like plates, make sure to cover the bottom of the box with a layer of protection. It could be crumpled newspaper wrap or Styrofoam guards. Now put the safely wrapped dishes on the cushioned surface. Ensure that plates of similar size lie together. Or go from the biggest to the smallest. Cover the sides of the boxes with Styrofoam peanut as well as the top along with proper wrapping paper. By the time you are done packing all your china, make sure there is no open or free space left in the box. Every empty space should be used to create a pillow of safety.
Where mugs and small bowls are placed flatly and side by side in a box containing dividers, china dishes such as cream pitchers and plates should be placed in narrower boxers and stacked upon each other.
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Label:
Labelling everything neatly will save you lots of time and trouble later. In case the receiver did not intend on opening every box at once, they’ll have a pretty easy time taking out exactly what they need.
If there are some china dishes in the house that you are too scared to ship off, then place your trust in those who know how not to break it (pun definitely intended). It’s about time those china dishes reach those who they were intended for.