There’s at least one large mirror in each home, often more than just one: one in the bedroom (of course), one in the hallway (corridor) close to the front door of the house or apartment, and sometimes one in the living room or spare bedroom.
Mirrors play an important role in our daily lives and, without a doubt, they are used every single day. That’s exactly why when it’s time to move out of a place, people often choose to take mirrors with them, especially when those framed reflective surfaces have sentimental value of any sort.
The thing is that you wouldn’t want to see a large mirror broken during a move – not only because mirrors are fairly expensive and you’ll need to buy a new one after the move, but also because you know perfectly well that a broken mirror will, supposedly, bring 7 years of bad luck.
Even if you’re not a superstitious person, you’ll want to find your large mirror in one piece after the move, and never in more than one. Luckily, you should be able to move a large mirror without breaking it thanks to the detailed packing steps explained below. Remember that proper packing is the key to keeping your mirror perfectly intact during the haul.
Here’s how to pack a large mirror for moving:
Step 1. Decide just how much you want to keep the mirror
The very first step to packing a mirror for moving is to decide whether it’s worth the time and effort to pack and transport the home item to the new home. Large mirrors will take space in the moving truck as well, so it’s important to assess the need to move the mirror in the first place.
Is your large-scale mirror in good condition, without any scratches, cracks, or stains on its reflective surface?
Do you know for a fact that there won’t be a single large mirror in the new place?
Is the mirror you intend to move an expensive and high-quality item that would be a shame to leave behind?
Does the mirror hold any sentimental value for you or a member of your family?
Logic says that if the big mirror is not damaged in any way, then you should definitely pack and move it with you. After all, why should you buy a new mirror after the move if you already have one that’s in decent condition?
Step 2. Get the right mirror packing supplies
The next step is to gather the packing materials you will need to protect your large mirror for safe transportation. Bear in mind that the proper packing steps will endure that your framed mirror arrives in one piece, so you’re going to need the right packing supplies before you can reach the actual mirror packing stage.
The materials for packing a large mirror when moving are:
Some mirrors will be a bit trickier to pack safely than others.
A mirror box. You’re going to need to purchase specialized mirror boxes for each mirror you’re taking with you. Read on to learn why a mirror box is the safest bet when it comes to transporting something as fragile as a mirror between two homes.
Kraft paper. It’s a type of wrapping paper that’s thicker and sturdier than standard white, soft packing paper. Kraft paper is usually brown in color and will provide excellent protection for the super-fragile glass item.
Cardboard. You’re going to need a large piece of thick cardboard to protect the reflective surface of the mirror.
Bubble wrap. Bubble wrap will form an excellent protective layer over the wrapping paper.
Painter’s tape. Also known as masking tape, you’ll need this type of tape to protect the breakable glass area of the mirror.
Packing tape. A roll of standard packing tape should do just fine.
A permanent marker. To label the mirror box once you’ve packed it.
Where to Find Free Packing Materials
Step 3. Prepare the mirror box
The bad news is that you’re going to need a special box to pack a large mirror for a move. The good news is that such boxes are easy to find and happen to be affordable too.
All in all, picture and mirror boxes come in 3 sizes:
Standard mirror and picture box. This box has the following dimensions 37” x 4” x 27” (W x L x H) and will fit framed mirrors up to 37’’ x 27‘’. It can hold up framed items up to 65 lbs. and costs approximately $5.
Large mirror and picture box. This box has the following dimensions 48” x 4” x 32” (W x L x H) and will fit framed mirrors up to 48’’ x 32‘’. It can hold up framed items up to 65 lbs. and costs approximately $7.
Four-piece mirror and picture box. If you have a mirror that’s larger than 48’’ x 32‘’, then you’re going to need a mirror box with adjustable sizing. The four pieces slide into one another and the resulted 4-piece box can accommodate mirrors up to 40“ x 60“ x 3-1/2“ in size. It can hold up framed items up to 65 lbs. and costs roughly $8.
Order the mirror boxes you need online or purchase them from a home improvement store, a truck rental company, or a local moving company.
Step 4. Set up your packing station
Now that you have the mirror packing materials ready – including the necessary number and properly sized mirror boxes, it’s time to turn your attention to the actual packing process.
Needless to say, the biggest danger when packing a large mirror for moving is the possibility of breaking the super fragile item. And that’s exactly why each step of the packing task should be aimed at making sure the mirror stays perfectly safe from start to finish.
Now, clear a table that’s large enough to accommodate the framed mirror comfortably – it may be the kitchen table or the one in the living room. Place a blanket over the table to create a soft cushioning layer. This will be your packing station.
However, if you can’t spare a table at that time, lay a blanket on the floor as a backup packing station. Once you’ve packed up the mirror, you should use the table or floor packing area to pack other fragile household items such as kitchen plates, glasses, framed artwork, and so on.
Packing Checklist: Packing Timeline For Moving
Step 5. Clean the mirror and tape an X along the reflective surface
It’s a good idea to clean your mirror before packing it for moving.
The next step is to clean the reflective area of the mirror using a glass cleaning product. Then, clean the frame – made of wood, plastic, or metal – using a universal cleaner. Why should you clean the mirror prior to packing it? The idea is to prevent the introduction of dust into the new place. What’s more, you will be able to hang the mirror to its designated place on the wall right after unpacking it.
After that, take the painter’s tape and tape a big X across the face of the mirror over the reflective surface. Do the X from corner to corner. Why?
In case the mirror gets broken while inside its moving box (unlikely to happen when following these steps), the masking tape should keep the broken glass shards in place, thus containing the damage, not spreading it across the mirror frame and onto the box itself.
Step 6. Cover the reflective surface with cardboard
The front reflective surface of the mirror is its most fragile area, so it’ll need a special type of protection to survive the move.
Flatten out a large empty cardboard box and cut out a piece that’s as wide as the width of the mirror. Position it over the front side of the mirror, then use masking tape to secure it on the edges.
In most cases, one cardboard cut-out won’t be enough to cover the length of the large mirror, so just repeat the same step and place a cardboard piece over the rest of the mirror surface. When done, the reflective part of the mirror should be completely covered by thick cardboard.
Step 7. Wrap the mirror in packing paper and bubble wrap
If packed incorrectly, the frame of the mirror can also get damaged during the move.
Packing a large mirror for moving will require two protective layers for maximum security – one initial layer of wrapping paper, followed by a second layer of bubble wrap that will ensure the safety of the fragile item.
Start wrapping the mirror with brown Kraft paper as if you were wrapping a gift – start from one side and continue until the entire mirror is wrapped up nicely. You shouldn’t lose too much time here – you’re not trying to make the paper bundle look pretty, it’s enough to make sure there are no exposed areas of the mirror frame. Use pieces of tape to secure the paper sheets in place.
When done, repeat the same wrapping step but use bubble wrap instead. The bubble wrap will create the ultimate soft cushion for your delicate item. And no, you’re not overdoing it – you’re just making sure the large mirror will reach the new home unscathed no matter how bumpy the relocation ride may be.
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Step 8. Pack the mirror into the box
If the mirror fits into a standard mirror box, then packing the fragile item is very easy – you just slide the wrapped-up mirror into the cardboard container and shut it close.
However, if the mirror is really big and it can only fit a custom-sized mirror box, then you’ll need to do some adjusting to get it safely inside the container. When using a 4-piece mirror box, slide two of the box sections into one another to create the first half of the custom box. Tuck in some wrapping paper into their joined corners for extra stability. Then, do the same thing with the other two pieces to form the second half portion of the mirror box.
When ready, slide the mirror into the first half box, then fit snugly the second half of the box over the top of the fragile item to close it up. Meet the two half pieces in the middle, then use some tape to secure the top box section. Make fine adjustments whenever necessary.
Step 9. Test, tape, and label the mirror packing box
Packing a large mirror for moving is very similar to packing a framed picture.
Before you tape the mirror box, you have to make sure that the fragile mirror inside it does not move. Shake the box slightly to test it out – can you feel the mirror moving inside it? If yes, then add more wrapping paper to fill in any empty spaces inside the cardboard box. If no, then you’ve done a good job packing your large mirror for moving, so it’s time to tape it shut safely for transport.
Use packing tape to secure well the whole mirror box. Don’t skimp on tape since it’ll be what holds together the entire package.
Use a permanent marker to label the box, write MIRROR, FRAGILE, and HANDLE WITH CARE.
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Step 10. Consider hiring professional packers
Packing a large mirror for moving is not overly complicated. Things will suddenly get easier once you get hold of the right type of moving box. From then on, all you have to remember is to apply the three protective layers one after the other:
a cardboard cut-out taped directly over the super-delicate reflective surface of the mirror,
wrapping paper (brown Kraft paper is recommended but soft packing paper is fine too) covering the entire structure of the mirror, and
bubble wrap as the ultimate outer protection for the bundle.
However, the thing is that you won’t only have one large mirror to pack during the entire house packing marathon – you’ll have tons of household items to protect and most of them will be fragile and breakable like the mirror you’re taking with you.
If you just don’t have the time to pack all of them on your own, or you feel rather nervous about providing the best type of protection for your fragile items, then do consider hiring professional packers to get the job done quickly, and most importantly – safely.
Professional Packers Guide: All You Need to Know
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