Sending gifts through the mail sounds simple until something arrives broken, soggy, or crumbled. A little extra care in how you pack makes all the difference. Here are three simple tips to make sure your gifts arrive in perfect condition.
1. Wrap Breakables in Bubble Wrap and Use Nested Boxes
Packing paper alone leaves too much air space between the item and the box, which means movement during shipping. For anything fragile, the right approach is to double-box it.
- Snugly wrap the item in bubble wrap and secure it with tape.
- Place the wrapped item in a box slightly bigger than the item itself.
- Fill the space around the item with crumpled packing paper.
- Place that box inside a slightly larger shipping box and fill the gap with more packing paper.
The nested box method absorbs impact from every direction and keeps the item from shifting no matter how the package gets handled in transit.
2. Tape All Box Edges to Prevent Water Damage
If you’re mailing clothing, fabric, paper, or anything else that moisture can ruin, taping the center seam alone is not enough. Couriers leave packages on doorsteps in the rain, and moisture finds its way in through the edges.
Run tape down the center seam and then along all four edges of the box. That creates a seal on every potential entry point and keeps the contents dry from pickup to delivery.
3. Individually Wrap Cookies and Treats
Homemade cookies and baked goods need a little extra protection to arrive fresh and intact. Here’s how to do it right.
- Wrap each item individually in plastic wrap to cushion it and lock in freshness.
- Place the wrapped items in a rigid plastic container like Tupperware.
- Set the container inside a box and fill the empty space with crumpled packing paper.
- Seal the box carefully with tape on all edges.
Need Help Packing for a Move?
If packing for a move feels just as overwhelming as shipping gifts, You Move Me’s professional packing team can handle it all. From fragile items to full households, we pack everything with the same care you’d give your most valuable belongings.