Your music, movie, and digital photo collections are important to you, so when moving time comes, all these items that you love are certainly coming along. When it comes to packing media, though, what’s the best method? Here are some suggestions to help you find the best way to move your media.
Clear out the clutter
Before your move, make an effort to eliminate any of your media items that you no longer are interested in. This will help streamline your move. Many of us are reluctant, however, to get rid of the discs we have acquired over the years. Unfortunately, discs present a real moving challenge: they are fragile, heat-sensitive, and very heavy.
Box up your discs
For the media you decide to bring with you, you will need sturdy packing materials to help these items successfully survive a move. Heavy boxes — crush-proof and water-proof, ideally — will be a must, along with heavy-duty packing tape to secure them shut. You will want to do your best to ensure that your plastic-disc or tape-based media are not exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time. (Moving in Summer-time might not be the best idea, if it can be avoided.)
Make room for your boxes
Remember to allot the necessary space in your moving truck for these boxes. While a single compact disc or DVD may not seem very heavy, their weight becomes considerable when dozens are boxed together in their original cases. You will want to label these boxes as fragile and attempt to load them in a way that minimizes impact in transport. Pack each box fully so that items do not move around inside, and use plastic bubble-wrap or newspaper to insulate unfilled spaces. It may help to pack like-sized items together: pack CDs and DVDs in separate boxes, as their cases tend to be different sizes.
If you have precious or irreplaceable media, consider moving these in your car, away from the general bustle of the moving van. You can keep a better eye on it that way, and it is less likely to become damaged or lost.
Your favorite albums, movies, and photos represent powerful memories and emotions, so plan ahead to keep them intact during your next move. If you respect and protect the discs and digital media that you love, these precious items should serve you well for years to come. And you might want to set aside a few favorite CDs to play as you travel from your old home to your new one, with the rest of your precious cargo in tow.
