Your electronic devices are fragile and expensive, so you’ll want to keep them as safe as possible when moving to a new home. While a professional moving company can help you pack your belongings safely, it still pays to take the initiative when it comes to securing your laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles. That said, here are 8 hacks that will help keep your electronics safe until you reach your new home.
1. Back Up All Data
Before packing any electronics, make sure that any data stored on them is backed up. That way, you won’t lose any important data should anything happen to your laptop or desktop en route to your new home.
2. Save All of Your Manuals
If any of your devices come with manuals, store them somewhere safe. They should be easy to gather and pack away when it comes time to move. You’ll never know when you’ll need them, especially since you’ll have to set most of your electronics up again for the first time in months.
3. Remove All Batteries
Removing batteries from electronics sounds like a hassle, but doing so will keep them from overheating and leaking. If you’re worried about losing batteries for a specific device, bundle them with the device when you pack it away.
4. Protect Devices With Fans
Fans are used in computers and game consoles to keep them from overheating. This might keep them safe when you have them set up in your home office or your living room, but it also means that they have vents that are vulnerable to dirt and dust. When you pack these devices, wrap them tightly in bubble wrap to keep their interiors safe.
5. Cushion All Devices
Speaking of bubble wrap, the stuff also comes in handy when cushioning devices. Keep plenty of it on hand when it comes time to pack. If you don’t have any bubble wrap or you don’t have enough, pack your more fragile electronics tightly with blankets, cushions, or other items that will provide them some much-needed protection. Be sure to add an extra layer of padding for devices with screens such as TVs or monitors.
6. Use Padded Moving Blankets for Larger Devices
It’s always best to pack larger electronic devices such as TVs in their original boxes. If you don’t have the original box for a device, don’t bother trying to fit it into an awkward moving box. Instead, wrap it in a padded moving blanket and pack it safely and carefully with your furniture.
7. Store Electronics in a Climate-Controlled Environment
If you must place any of your electronics into storage, place the more delicate items in a climate-controlled storage unit. This will keep moisture to a minimum and prevent damage to your devices.
8. Label All Cables
If you have cables that go with specific devices, be sure to label them. Get some small stickers, tape them to cables after you’ve wrapped them securely, and write where they are supposed to go.