Due to the fragile nature of a mirror, there is a lot that can go wrong when you pack a large mirror for a move. At worst, the frame can get damaged and the actual mirror scratched or smashed. The good news is that there are five simple steps you can take to prevent this, and pack a large mirror like the experts:
- Designate a packing area.
- Clean the mirror and wrap it in protective materials.
- Pack in a suitable box with care.
- Label mirror and components.
1. Designate a Packing Area
Your first task is to set up an area to prepare the mirror. Clear a table or a large floor area near the mirror and place a thick blanket (or multiple thinner blankets) on the surface. Make sure that the blankets are secured with tape or heavier items so that they don’t slide around when you’re manoeuvring the mirror and yourself around.
On top of the blankets, lay down some thick brown packing paper – this will come in handy later on.
2. Clean the Mirror and Wrap in Protective Materials
Clean
Before you do anything else, give your mirror a thorough clean. You can do this however works best for you, but we recommend that you mix one-part white vinegar with four parts water and pour into a spray bottle or suitable dish. You can put this directly on the mirror or straight onto a microfibre cloth, which you’ll use to wipe it clean. This ensures that the mirror goes in as clean as you’d like it to come out – after all, you don’t want your mirror to bring old dirt and grime into your new home.
Got the Original Box?
If you have the original box and protection that your mirror came in, the mirror should be able to just go back in and be suitably protected. Use your best judgement here though, if you’re not sure then use fresh protective materials and a new box.
Wrap and Protect
Once the mirror is dried, you can carefully transfer it to the packing area. Here, you need to wrap the mirror like a present in the brown paper you put down earlier. This can be secured using painters tape.
For extra protection, you can add a piece of cardboard cut to size on top, or a thin cardboard sleeve, both of which can also be secured with painters tape.
Next, wrap the entire mirror in bubble wrap, ensuring there are no sections left exposed.
You can use cardboard corner protectors on top of the wrap for even more protection. Make sure these aren’t on too tight though, as the pressure can damage the mirror. You can find cardboard protectors in art shops, order them online or make them yourself with a small amount of cardboard – as StateoftheART Gallery shows us in this video:
3. Pack with Care
You can buy a mirror box that is designed for the transportation of fragile mirrors, but a regular box with extra protection in the right hands should be just fine too.
Gently lift the mirror into the box, and ensure it remains vertical the whole time. If there are gaps in the box, fill these with bubble wrap or packing paper.
4. Label Mirror
In marker pen, write FRAGILE and DO NOT LAY FLAT on the box in large and bold letters. This acts as a reminder to yourself, and the people helping you move, that your mirror needs to be moved with extreme care and shouldn’t have anything stacked on top of it.
Do You Have an Antique or Extremely Valuable Mirror? When in Doubt: Hire a Removals Team
If you have a large, antique, valuable or sentimental mirror and you don’t feel confident about moving it, we’d recommend that you hire an experienced removals team like us to help you with your move.
At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your antique or valuable large mirror – and all other items – are moved and kept in perfect condition.
To pick a reliable removals team, we’d recommend that you read up on Google Reviews for movers in your area; these are often a good indicator of how reliable a service is.
At Falconer Removals, we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your goods are moved with expert precision and kept in perfect condition. Get a quote from our team today.
For more expert advice on how to pack, move and store your belongings — or other FAQs on how removals work — check out our blog page.
