Wrapping breakable items - no newspaper!!

[Minnie_me]

I'm moving soon, and just now starting to pack breakables - knickknacks and picture frames, etc.

I used to wrap these items in newspaper, but we haven't gotten the paper delivered in YEARS!

What else can I use to wrap these things?? I can't really afford to buy a bunch of bubble wrap.......

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Plain brown art paper works but that is probably going to be as expensive as bubble wrap. Can you get some papers at the recycling center or ask someone to save the paper for you?

 

[Kies99]

Do you have any local "free" newspapers? We have a few here in Pittsburgh. You could look for those and snag a bunch.

Or just buy a bunch of newspapers. Cheaper than bubble wrap.

 

[thebeesknees]

I used all my linens to wrap things. The towels have to be packed, anyway, so you might as well use them to wrap around breakable items! BTW, nothing broke. I just made sure to pack the boxes carefully and mark them "Fragile" so they would get put on the top layer of the truck. We also had a lot of documents to shred before we moved, so I used the shredded paper to pack things in, as well. When I finally ran out of that, I went to UHaul and bought a box of paper to pack with. It was a huge box and only cost about $7, if I recall correctly.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

I've always used towels - kitchen towels, bathroom towels, etc. I've not have anything broken, yet.

 

[Panna]

Ditto the pp. I used as many towels, washcloths and sheets as I could to cushion my breakables. Also, if you purchase One newspaper out of a vending maching, you can root around at the bottom of the vending machine where they throw the old papers. I would go down on Monday's, pay for one paper, and take the extra's from the very bottom where they dump them.

Good luck!

 

[Sorsha]

I used all my linens to wrap things. The towels have to be packed, anyway, so you might as well use them to wrap around breakable items!

Ditto the pp. I used as many towels, washcloths and sheets as I could to cushion my breakables.

I've always used towels - kitchen towels, bathroom towels, etc. I've not have anything broken, yet.

Yup! What they said! Towels, washrags, pillowcases, etc.

I have also used clothes... t-shirts, etc. You would be amazed how well socks work for packing glasses, vases, etc. They slide right inside and all the way into the foot of the sock, then push the top of the sock down inside the item.

 

[Minnie_me]

OMG, you guys are BRILLIANT!!!!

I'm wrapping right now with placemats, cloth napkins, wash cloths and hand towels. Going to use the bigger towels for my big items -- BRILLIANT!

THANK YOU!!!

 

[Panna]

Oh and just in case...Color Code all of your boxes! Even just writing the room where the box belongs in a different color made a huge help later when unloading.

 

[Minnie_me]

Oh and just in case...Color Code all of your boxes! Even just writing the room where the box belongs in a different color made a huge help later when unloading.

Yup -- we're already doing this, and it's awesome! Got this tip from a website, and the kids are really having fun with it. DD has made a color-matching sign to go over the doorway of the corresponding rooms -- hoping this will all go smoothly!

Any more tips from you geniuses?!? I love this!

 

[Bren's Mom]

You can also ask any of your friends who work to check their recycle bins at the office. Ours is always full of paper, and I'd be happy to grab it for a friend.

You can ask for newspapers on freecycle too if you have one in your area.

 

[Princess Nancy]

My local newspaper will give you the end of the paper rolls.

They save them and are your for the asking. It is great for moving and what is left I give to teachers at the preschool!

 

[disykat]

You can also ask any of your friends who work to check their recycle bins at the office. Ours is always full of paper, and I'd be happy to grab it for a friend.

You can ask for newspapers on freecycle too if you have one in your area.

Right - my thought was just plain "ask your friends!" I still get a paper and know quite a few folks who do. My parents still get several papers a day. (check with retired people!) You should be able to tell by your neighbor's mailboxes if they get papers and then you could ask them too.

At our local newspaper, they throw out the ends of the paper rolls regularly. There's still lots of usable paper on them with NO INK! They won't save any for any organization, but you can grab them by the dumpster. I've gone by and picked some up several times for teaching and/or PTA stuff. Our paper prints overnight, so they're there in the morning.

 

[bettymae1121]

My DH works for a major paper...so I don't have that problem!

I tend to buy a lot of gift wraping tissue on clearance after Xmas, I've been known to use that if I need to wrap a breakable item for shiping. If you have a lot of that laying around, you may as well use it up rather than pack it!

 

[cglaura]

Also check the recycle bin at the post office. Mine is always full of circulars that the PO Box folks toss on their way out the door.

 

[Mom2m&k]

I used paper towels. It is easy to take them off the roll and just use what you need. Then we put them in a spare box when we unpack and use them for cleaning as we need them! Worked great for us!

 

[irisesareblue]

If you use linens and towels, you don't! A Simple decision for me, cause I don't want to be washing dishes as I put them away if I don't have to.....maybe I'm lazy.

Another solution is to use plastic bags as wrap. It's a great way to recycle them.

 

[Samar]

Instead of bubble wrap, I inflated some plastic bags and tied a knot at the bottom to surround some of my breakables.

 

[brennicksmom]

We put in a laminate floor about a year ago and had bought too much of it. The flooring store bought back the laminate, but not the blue foam stuff to go under it. I am using that to wrap in. I will use towels and linens when I run out of the foam.

 

[jgates]

My fav free packing item is walmart bags. When I am shipping a lot on eBay I just go to the recycle bin they have in the entryway at the stores. I have asked & they said they are happy if someone can use the bags. They may not hold up well with a load of groceries, but if you crumple them they make fantastic packing material.