The Right Way to Pack with Bubble Cushioning

So you're ready to move and you're preparing to pack up and move your business or personal belongings.  Bubble wrap cushioning is one of the most common protective packaging products to use.  Bubble wrap cushions and protects breakables from damage that can be incurred during the moving process.  Bubble wrap works to absorb bumps and knocks while helping to prevent breakage of goods and packed items.  Businesses often use bubble wrap when packing and shipping customer orders.  Follow the following steps when using bubble wrap to protect your items and shipments.

1. Lay the item you are wrapping on a flat surface.  Cut enough bubble wrap to completely cover the items more than once.  If you are wrapping a highly valuable item or prized possession, do not skimp on the amount of bubble wrap used.  
2. Lay out bubble wrap with bubble side facing upward.  One side of bubble wrap is flat and the other contains all of the bubbles.  A common mistake is to wrap items with the bubbles facing out (away from the item being packed) and the flat side against the item being packed.  While this method does provide some level of cushion, it does not maximize the benefit of the bubble wrap.
3. Place your item on top of the bubble wrap.  The item should be resting on the bubble side of the bubble wrap.  The bubbles serve as cushions for your product.  Each bubble contains an air pocket, which protects your item if it gets knocked around in transit.  When the item is properly wrapped, the bubbles are completely encasing the object and minimizing all damage to it.  If the bubbles are facing away from the object, they may come in contact with sharper or tougher objects and end up popping, thereby removing much of the intended protection for the wrapped object.
4. Wrap up the item entirely in bubble wrap multiple times.  For example, if wrapping a picture frame, gather a rectangular piece of bubble wrap cushioning.  Put the long side of the picture frame up to one of the shorter sides of bubble wrap and hold them together.  Next, roll it up to the opposite short edge while picking up layers of wrapping as you flip the frame over and over to the other end.  The majority of the frame will be wrapped and there should be enough wrap left to cover the gapes on the short sides.  If you are wrapping something especially valuable or prized, use another piece of bubble wrap cushioning to ensure the items is entirely covered.  
5. Pack wrapped item as desired.  You may wish to use tape to hold the bubble wrap in place.  The flat edge of the bubble will be on the outside which protects the bubbles and the wrapped possessions more efficiently.  Popped bubble wrap is the worst outcome when it is being used properly.  

Helpful Tips:

• Do not rely on bubble wrap cushioning alone to protect breakable items.  Use additional packing material, such as kraft paper, newsprint paper, additional bubble wrap cushioning or packing peanuts to fill open space inside of packed boxes. 
• For more highly sensitive, fragile items, select a bubble wrap with a thicker bubble profile.  Do not use less than a 3/16" bubble profile.  Use 5/16" bubble for moderately fragile items.  Use 1/2" bubble wrap cushioning for high value fragile items.  

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