Stretch wrapping furniture is a crucial step in protecting your belongings from scratches, scuffs, and dirt during a move. It also helps keep drawers, doors, and loose parts securely in place.
Effectively stretch wrapping furniture involves a few key steps to ensure items are protected and secure for transport.
Essential Steps for Wrapping Furniture
Proper preparation and technique are vital when using stretch wrap. Follow these steps for the best results:
- Prepare Your Furniture: Begin by ensuring your items are clean and dry. This simple first step helps prevent trapping moisture or dirt under the wrap during the move. If applicable, remove extra pieces or parts like cushions, legs, or knobs. This makes the wrapping process easier and protects smaller components from getting lost or damaged.
- Start Wrapping: Hold the end of the stretch wrap roll against a stable part of the furniture, like a leg or corner.
- Wrap Tightly: Begin circling the furniture with the stretch wrap, pulling the film taut as you go. Wrap tightly around the item. This tension is essential for securing the furniture and ensuring the wrap doesn't loosen or shift during handling and transport.
- Ensure Overlap: As you continue wrapping, make sure each new layer of film overlaps the previous one by about 50%. Leave some overlap so the wrap sticks to itself and stays in place. This self-adhering quality of stretch wrap is what allows it to cling securely to the furniture and to itself.
- Cover All Necessary Surfaces: Continue wrapping until all the areas you want to protect, such as tabletops, arms, legs, and upholstered sections, are covered. Pay extra attention to vulnerable corners and edges.
- Secure the End: Once you've covered the desired area, cut or tear the stretch wrap from the roll and press the end firmly against the wrapped surface. The overlap ensures it will stick securely.
Tips for Effective Furniture Wrapping
- For items with delicate finishes or intricate carvings, consider wrapping them first in a soft moving blanket or paper padding before applying the stretch wrap. The stretch wrap will then help hold this protective layer in place.
- Wrap drawers and cabinet doors closed to prevent them from opening during transit.
- Use stretch wrap with an extended core or handle for easier application, especially on larger pieces.
- While stretch wrap protects surfaces from abrasions and dirt, it does not provide significant cushioning against impacts.
Following these steps will help ensure your furniture arrives at your new location in the same condition it left.
