One of the most critical aspects of the moving process is ensuring that all belongings being packed and transported are safely stored away to avoid damage.
During a move, several objects must be carefully transported to prevent damage. This includes glassware, ceramics, and anything else that could be damaged during transit.
But what is the best material for packing up belongings when moving? There are usually two popular options for packing that one may consider: bubble wrap and packing peanuts.
In the battle of bubble wrap vs. packing peanuts, which of these better protects the property in the moving process? There is no definitive answer to this question because each of these materials serves a specific purpose when assisting in keeping items safe.
Just what is the difference between bubble wrap and packing peanuts? Continue reading to find out and see the exact uses for each material!
Bubble Wrap
What is Bubble Wrap?
Bubble wrap is made of a specific plastic material with individual air pockets lined in to offer a cushion to materials that it is wrapped around.
Bubble wrap is available in various forms, including sheets, rolls, etc. Depending on the size and shape, bubble wrap can feature larger varieties of sizing in both size sheets and individual air bubbles.
The key to bubble wrap is to purchase wrapping that has bigger air bubbles. This is because bigger bubbles provide more significant amounts of protection during transit by giving more cushion to the items inside. The bigger the bubbles’ size, the greater protection you can provide for goods during transit.
What is Bubble Wrap Best Used For?
Bubble wrap’s design makes it the best choice for packing fragile items that may easily break.
Examples include:
- Items made of glass or have glass components
- Small Jewelry
- Items that can get scratched easily, such as wood or metal
- Mirrors
- And more
Larger items are also good candidates for bubble wrapping because the sheets can be easily applied to them. This can be an excellent approach when moving large pieces of furniture like dressers, wardrobes, desks, etc.
Bubble wrap can be used on many different objects of different sizes, including small items that can easily be scratched or scuffed when moving. This includes things that may need the additional protection of being placed in a box or plastic storage container.
Benefits of Bubble Wrap
There are some benefits to using bubble wrap instead of packing peanuts when moving. For starters, one of the biggest hassles when working with packing peanuts is the mess they can make.
To keep items safe when packing peanuts are used, many peanuts have to be packed in to protect the items. With bubble wrap, one only needs to unwrap the thing and throw out the entire sheet. Or, wrap it back up and reuse it at a later time.
Due to the material, bubble wrap is also biodegradable and recyclable. Bubble wrap is easy to store after use because it is flexible and can be either rewrapped or folded up.
While packing peanuts may be cheaper overall, bubble wrap is also inexpensive compared to other materials. Also, who doesn’t love popping tiny air bubbles for a bit of stress relief during the moving process?
Packing Peanuts
What Are Packing Peanuts?
Packing peanuts are made of styrofoam. Packing peanuts are used differently from bubble wrap, as packing peanuts are used to fill up space, whereas bubble wrap is used to provide insulation.
Packing peanuts are also meant to be used in boxes, not individually. Styrofoam packing peanut bits are ideally used for filling unfilled space instead of for cushioning (which is the purpose of bubble wrap). That means that people ought to use packing peanuts to prevent goods from shifting around inside big boxes.
Packing peanuts usually come in white but can be purchased in a variety of colors and sizes for organization purposes.
What Are Packing Peanuts Best Used For?
Packing peanuts are best used for fragile items that are smaller and easily packable in boxes. This includes small toys, photo frames, and other items. This can also protect some items packed inside the same package from scraping against one another.
Similarly to bubble wrap, packing peanuts are reusable and can be stored easily in the boxes they were used in. They are also biodegradable options for packing peanuts. The difficulty with this, however, is that you will need more storage space to save them, and they are a bit messy when unpacking.
However, unlike bubble wrap, styrofoam is not recyclable, so if you do not want to keep them after your initial use, it must be thrown away in the garbage. Also, as previously mentioned, packing peanuts is cheaper overall than bubble wrap.
Styrofoam also has a distinct sound when pieces of styrofoam are rubbed together, which could be disturbing or annoying for some people. Ensure items packed in styrofoam are packed away from the listening range if this is a potential problem for you.
However, to use packing peanuts appropriately and effectively, there is a certain way that they must be packed. If you do not use enough packing peanuts, damage may occur to the items packed inside.
Conclusion
While each material is used for a different purpose, using them in conjunction is the best way to protect all items when one is moving.
Some items, such as art, fine glass, or electronics, may require additional packing protection that can only come by wrapping each item in bubble wrap and then placing them in a box with packing peanuts.
There is no definitive answer to which of the two materials is better since they each serve different purposes. It is simply the best to accomplish the goal of keeping items protected and safe.
If you are considering moving to South Carolina or moving to another area of the state, we would like to help! Check out our website to see all we have to offer and how we can assist you in your move.
Have additional questions or want more information? Contact us today for more information!