Simple Guidelines to Help you Pack and Store your Electronics for a Move
Electronic gadgets can be expensive to replace or repair; this is why you need to look after them when you relocate to another place. Besides, who wants to be without a TV or computer when you get to the other house? Hence, you should err on the side of caution when packing and storing electronics.
As always in packing and moving, your key concern is to safeguard the equipment so that it is in good working order when you next need to use it. There is nothing worse than unpacking a gadget or equipment only to find that it is no longer working. You have already incurred considerable expenses on moving services so you won’t relish the news that your TV or computer has been damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced.
Keep it Clean
Clean all equipment before packing them. You should wipe everything down with a dry cloth to remove any dust. Special care should be taken for delicate items that scratch easily. For example, when wiping down TV and computer screens, use only suitable cloth plus proper LCD screen cleaners to avoid scratching them. In addition to causing scratches, grime and dust can lead to early deterioration of your equipment. When you unpack the equipment, give it a good wipe too, this is especially necessary if it has been kept in storage for any considerable length of time.
Follow the User’s Guides
Most technology comes with a user’s guide which explains to you how to pack the item. If you don’t have the guide, phone the manufacturer or check their website out for this information. Alternatively you can search on Google for the user’s manual using the filetype PDF operator; simply key in “Your Make and Model Number User’s Guide filetype:PDF” into the search box without the quotation marks. Be sure you replace ”Your Make and Model Number” with the actual make and model number of your equipment.
Use Suitable Boxes (Original Ones if Possible)
Where possible, try to store parts and items in the original packaging. Alternatively, you can get suitable boxes from the mover. Manufacturers may also be able to sell you packaging at affordable rates. Either way, make sure that any loose bits of equipment are packed into boxes that are suitable for the item.
Remove Disk from Players
Check your Bluray, DVD and other players to make sure their trays are empty. If there are disc inside, remove them and place them in their respective disc boxes. This is to prevent scratches on the lens or disc when moving.
Handling Computers and Printers
Back up your data before any move. This is important. Hard disk can be damaged during a move. There are many types of back-up solutions including cloud based ones. Indeed you can even set up your own personal cloud and network drives for backup and other purposes.
Be sure too to remove all disc from trays to avoid damages to the drive or disc.
If you own an old PC, you may be required to park and lock the hard drive before moving. Please ensure you do it.
For printers, be sure to remove the ink cartridge or toner and store it a suitable bag; this will prevent any possible ink spillage. If the printer is loaded with paper, remove them too.
Unplug All Wirings
Wiring can become quite tangled during transportation and storage. It is therefore best to remove all detachable wiring from devices and pack it separately. Failing to do so could result in unnecessary strain on the connection between wire and device during transportation and storage. You will want to be able to plug and play when you need the device, not have to run around looking for spare cabling and plugs.
Keep Parts and Cables Together
Trying to figure out which wire belongs to which device can be difficult, especially if you move many devices all at once. Hence, to help organised things a little better, parts and cables belonging to one device should not be packed together with that of other devices. Instead, coil them up securely with cable ties, placed them together in a smaller bag and clearly label them before packing them into the storage box. It’s a good idea to place a label too on each separate wiring so that you are clear about which device it belongs to.
And if you are not sure how to reconnect the cables after dismantling them, try some colour coding. A simple trick is to use the same coloured stickers to mark both the ends of the wire and socket from which it was unplugged from. This should do the trick and will make your job of setting up the equipment again much easier.
Finally, before closing the storage box, cover the wiring with towels or sheets to protect it from dust. Plastic is not suitable for this purpose as it restricts the circulation of air and can lead to mildew and moisture. It is even worse if you live in a high humid country like Singapore.
If you found the above guidelines useful, why not browse through the rest of our moving blog. There you will find more tips on moving and packing, all brought to you courtesy of Movers Singapore, a website where you can find reliable and honest house movers for all your home moving needs.
Alternatively, if you have some tips on moving electronics, why not share it with us in the comments section below? We know our readers will benefit from your experience as well.
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