How to Protect the Your Electronics During Your Move [Infographic]

There are not many things that are more disappointing than getting your computer, television or other electronics unpacked only to find they’ve been damaged during transit. Knowing how to pack electronics for moving can remove the heartache, frustration and repair costs from your move. Whether it’s knowing how to pack a computer or which electronics moving boxes to use in order to keep your electronics protected, it’s important to plan ahead. What keeps your dishes and delicate items safe is not always the same solution when it comes to being confident in how to store electronics for your big move.

General Tips

The most important thing you can do when moving electronics is prepare. Start by using the correct materials. Having the right materials is essential, including:

• Thick-walled cardboard boxes that are specially built for electronics
• Anti-static packing materials like bubble wrap and paper
• Twist ties or elastic bands for cables and cords
• Sealable plastic bags
• Sturdy packing tape

It’s also important to remember to take pictures of your electronics. Before uninstalling any cables, take a picture of all the connections on each device. Pack devices one at a time, and do not pack electronic items next to each other. Devices that rub together can cause static electricity.  Additionally, you should consider the temperature of the moving truck and environment you’re moving to. Some electronics are sensitive to extreme cold or heat and will need to be moved in a climate-controlled container.

Before the Move

Before moving day, you can keep track of important pamphlets and papers to ensure your electronics reach your new home safely. Here are some more tips on how to prep your digital devices:

• Find the Owners Manuals First
  • You never know when you’ll need these! Dig them out of drawers and make sure they are well-marked. If you don’t have them, download or bookmark them from the manufacturer’s website.
• Use Tracking Apps
  • Apps and chips can help you find your electronics after a move. Put these tools to use on your smartphones, too, which are easily misplaced before, during and after a move.
• Insure Your Electronics
  • Temporary insurance that covers your electronics during the packing, moving and unpacking processes is often inexpensive and can help cover losses.

Packing Your Items

If you still have devices that play disks, make sure to hit eject first! Remove CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs from all devices. Tape the drives shut to avoid any in-transit damage. This can also apply to other objects: cartridges, batteries or anything internal should be removed prior to moving. 

Remove toner cartridges from laser printers, and place in a plastic and dust-proof bag. For other printers, eject the printer cartridges and make sure the printheads are secured. Your remote controls and other devices should also be battery-free for the move to prevent overheating and leakage. You can even go one step further and make sure any rechargeable batteries are fully charged a few days before you move.

One of the most important (and annoying) parts of packing? Cables. It helps to label the cables. All those cables and connectors are necessary for your electronics to work. Don’t rely on your memory to figure out where they are and where they go after the move! Here’s a routine you can use to help:

• Get colored stickers and larger white stickers.
• Put a colored sticker on each end of each power, video, audio or other cables as you disconnect them.
• Put the same colored sticker on the sockets of your devices where the cables connect.
• On the white stickers, write the names of the devices the cables connect to, e.g. cable box and DVR, and wrap it around the cable.
• For a power supply cord, write the name of the item it powers on the supply and cord.
• After cables are removed, wrap them in an elastic band and put it in a resealable plastic bag. Label the bag.
• If possible, secure the sealed bags to the item they belong with.

This is also a good way to make sure you don’t have any loose wires during travel.

Packing Your Computer

Your computer is arguably one of the most precious electronics. Protect it by doing these things:

• Back It Up
  • Back up important information to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
• Clean It Up
  • Use a vacuum cleaner attachment or compressed air to clean out the dust that collects inside your desktop computer.
• Remove the Cards
  • If you’re comfortable reinstalling, remove cards from the motherboard.
• Don’t Be Chippy
  • Use packing paper instead of packing chips, which can generate static electricity that is damaging to computer components.

Your electronic devices are some of your most valuable and essential items for how you live and work. Taking some time to make sure they are properly prepared and packed can simplify the unpacking process and reduce the risk of damage. Remember the following:

• Use the right packing materials
• Plan ahead with careful labeling and storage
• Remove items from devices
• Back up computer files

At Tiger Moving & Storage, we take special care in the handling of your electronic devices. Count on our teams of trained and experienced movers to take every step to keep your electronics secure and safe at every stage of your move. To learn more about Tiger Moving & Storage, contact us for a free estimate.