Packing Tape: Use heavy-duty tape (not masking or scotch) for the cartons as well as for taping things together (like broom handles, etc.). Safe storage sells inexpensive, clear sealing tape for all your packing needs.

Another "can't do without" during packing is a few good marking pens to label the cartons. We also recommend cord or rope to further secure cartons and doors on appliances and dressers, a padlock for the truck's rear door (if you want), and gloves to protect your hands. To help you move large appliances, we recommend renting an appliance dolly. Furniture pads are also extremely important for your move and can be rented inexpensively. They will allow you to pack your belongings and protect your furniture without ruining your own linens.

Attics & Lofts: Our moving team are not allowed to enter a loft unless it is properly illuminated, floored, with fixed ladder, and has a safe point of entry, if this is not the case the contents of attics/lofts should be sorted and placed in a convenient area prior to the arrival of our moving team.

Bedding: Linen and bedding on the morning of the removal should be placed in black plastic liners. If beds are big beds can be disassembled, disassemble the bed frame. Tie rails and crosspieces together with rope or tape. Be sure to mark on tape where pieces fit together for reassembly. Use mattress protection bags to keep mattress clean.

Books & Records: re deceptively heavy; use the small boxes for these, as an alternative, half fill the larger cartons and put light things on top. Alternatively, pack books spine down, or pack books flat, alternating bindings, and fill empty spaces with wadded paper.

Carpets, Rugs and Pads: After vacuuming rugs and pads, sprinkle with moth flakes. Roll up and tie in three places with twine. Tacks should be removed and the carpet then rolled up, try to avoid bending the carpet as this will make it more difficult to relay.

Cartons: Mark the top and sides of all cartons / on the tape and tape it accordingly, with contents and destination location (such as bedroom, kitchen, or basement). This will make identifying where things are easy when they are stacked on top of each other. If the box is reused, then using fresh tape over marked taped easily eliminates old markings.

Chairs: Wrap arms and legs to prevent scratches. Bundle armless chairs in pairs, seat to seat with a folded blanket or other padding between and tie seats together.

Clothes: Dresses, coats, suits - anything hanging in closets - travel best in special, reusable wardrobe cartons, which can be used seasonally as "extra closets" for storage. Other clothes can remain folded in their regular dresser drawers.

Cookers: should be cleaned thoroughly as grease can lead to a nasty accident. Gas and Electric cookers can be disconnected by the householder but, if in doubt, seek professional advice. Clean off all grease, particularly from the exterior of all appliances, as this can lead to a nasty accident. Remove any loose fittings from the cooker and pack separately. The glass base plate from your microwave oven should also be removed and packed separately.

Curtain/Shower Rods: Remove the hardware from the walls and put in small plastic bag. Tape bag around rod and place in dresser drawer.

Cycles & Baby Carriages: Loosen, lower and turn handlebars at right angles to save space. Clean and cover chains and pedals to protect other items from being snagged or soiled. Pedals can also be removed with a simple wrench on most bikes.

Dishes: Individually wrap each piece. If you use newspaper, wrap first in plastic bags to save dish washing later. Place saucers, plates and platters on edge - do not stack flat. Cups and bowls can be placed inside each other with wrapped paper on all and wrapped three or four in a bundle.

Drawers: in chests can be left filled with linen and clothes but ensure that any heavy, fragile or valuable items are emptied. Drawers in divan beds should be emptied. Plastic bags can be provided for linen and clothes. If possible, try to secure drawers with string or tape.

Electronic Equipment, Computer, Hi-Fi, DVD, Radios and TVs: should be padded and boxed so that knobs are not broken off and the finish is not scratched. The drawers should be empty of all disks, as when they are re-started they may jam. Record players should have the turntable and playing arm secured. Box upright in carton well padded on all sides. Mark with and arrow pointing up and write UP on all sides. For console equipment, surround with furniture pads and then move and load upright.

ELECTRICAL/GAS SUPPLIES: You should arrange for these items to be disconnected from mains supply by an appropriate professional, prior to removal. Refer to the manufacturers instructions (check with local dealer).

Fragile: Thoroughly wrap fragile items individually with paper, bubble wrap or foam wrap depending on the item (newspaper print residue must be hand washed off of all things it touches, dishwasher washing will not take it off). Special care must be taken with small items so as not to lose them in the packing materials. Taping over the wrapping is a good technique to highlight a small item as not being merely a bunched up piece of paper. Glassware and china should be wrapped so as not to clatter within the box. Use plenty of paper to line the top, bottom and side of each box. Plates should be individually wrapped and then stood on their side in the box- NEVER lay them flat; all the weight would be on the bottom plate, and if the box is set down too strongly the bottom plate could break. Glasses should also be individually wrapped and packed standing up; they're stronger when standing than if laid on their side All staples in boxes should be removed so as to safeguard surfaces such as wood floors, counter tops, and furniture where cartons may be stacked prior to pickup and after delivery. Do not interlock box flaps together - always tape bottoms and tops with at least three strips of tape and at least halfway up or down the sides of the box for strength. Remember that taping reinforces the strength of the box, and yet can be easily cut with a blade later when unpacking.

Fridges & Freezers: should be emptied and defrosted. Fridges and freezers should be washed out with detergent and dried thoroughly inside. If any of the items are not cleaned and dried thoroughly, mildew will form during long-term storage. After the move fridge or freezers should be turned on next day (be sure to let the unit stand upright for at least 24 hours before plugging it back in.), you must let the liquid settle properly before it is used again. Contents may be left in freezers provided they are bagged and the journey is short. The bags will be taken out immediately prior to the freezer being moved and replaced when the freezer is in the van. Whilst freezers can be plugged in overnight at our depot, the contents are not covered by our insurance. Please also read manufacturer’s manual.

Garden Tools: and equipment should be cleaned, as they will be going in the same van as your furniture. Note, we normally load these last to keep them as far away from your household items as possible.

Glasses: Wrap each glass separately in paper or bubble wrap. Wrap first in plastic to save dishwashing later! Pack in sturdy carton with dividers. Dish packs are perfect for glassware as well as dishes. They may cost a bit more than regular boxes, but it doesn't take many pieces of "saved" glassware to make up for the cost.

Gas Dryers: Have the gas company disconnect. (Most will do this for free.)

Irons, Fryers, Tea/Coffee Makers: Empty, drain and dry out prior to your removal.

Items Not Moving: Please use 'Do not Move' stickers on items that you are leaving behind or are taking with you in the car, they should be clearly marked with the coloured stickers or use marker pen to write on the items. This is particularly important where storage is involved.

Kettle: You may not want to pack the kettle, cups etc, as removal men often work a lot more efficiently when supplied with tea or coffee at regular intervals, even energy drinks like Lucozade, Supermalt, Red Bull etc. would speed up the work and save you money when hourly rate is quoted by any company.

Knives: Place knives and other sharp objects inside a container, such as an old biscuit tin.

Lamp Shades: should be removed and packed separately. You can leave normal light bulbs.

Mirrors: Small mirrors can be well wrapped in paper and packed in cartons. For a large mirror, make a cardboard case by cutting pieces of corrugated cardboard about the same size as the mirror. Mark GLASS on the outside in several places to prevent mishandling. If you have other paintings, mirror, framed items that are roughly the same size, you can put all these together in your custom box.

Pets: Please use a cat basket for your pet, dogs, for example, may well think that the removal men are stealing your furniture, please keep them out of the way. Fish tanks should be drained to the gravel and the fish taken in the car in a seal-able bucket half-filled with water.

Pictures: Oil pictures should be covered over with a no acidic clear wrap and then bubble wrapped or wrapped in blankets, and then placed in a picture box or a flattened out box with the ends taped. Pictures in glass frames or mirrors should be wrapped in blankets and packed in picture cartons or flattened out cartons. Lamps and lampshades should each be placed in separate boxes. If two lamp shades are put together a piece of plain paper should be put between them so that they can be easily pulled apart. Do not use newspapers with print or it will permanently mark the shades.

Plants: pack 5/6 smaller plants into a carton with packing material between the pots, so they won't fall. Seal the box with the flaps up to give extra protection. Leave larger plants for us to deal with. Whilst we will take every care of your plants, they are not covered by insurance. In winter on longer journeys frost can be a problem for more delicate plants. Garden plants/shrubs can be taken but make sure the roots are well bagged-up to avoid loose soil in the back of the van.

Self Assembly Furniture (wardrobes / beds / sheds / greenhouse etc) It is Customers responsibility to dismantle and re-assemble this type of furniture. However should you require assistance please advice the move consultant during the visit as well as House to Home. Please note, due to the nature of this type of furniture insurance cannot be provided for the assistance in dismantling and re-assembling this furniture.

Sheds & Greenhouses: should be dismantled in advance. Wrap the glass individually and tie in manageable bundles. Furniture is highly inflammable and so no fuel or gas bottles can be loaded. See the storage section page for details of items that cannot be stored.

Sofa Beds: Please ensure that you secure your sofa beds so it will not spring out while moving. Unsecured sofa bed can cause terrible and serious accidents and can also harm the persons carrying it. For large tables, remove legs (if possible) and tie together. Put hardware in small plastic bag and tape around one of the legs or to underside of table top. Pad tabletop all around and position it upright against the side of the truck. Pad and tie spare table leaves. For smaller tables, pad top and strap legs to prevent scratching.