A chest of drawers can be cumbersome to ship because of its bulk, weight, and pesky drawers that seem to roll out every chance they get. Antiques and ornate ones are even riskier to ship unless they are properly packaged to avoid scratches, dents, and other damages. However, knowing the right way to pack and ship a chest of drawers can help eliminate the apprehension associated with sending out valuable and bulky items such as furniture. Here are some helpful tips on how to properly pack and ship a chest of drawers to ensure that it arrives intact and in great shape.
Measure the chest of drawers to get an idea of the size of the shipping box you need. Once you have the dimensions, go to a shipping supply store and get a box that is at least 3 inches larger on all sides of the furniture.
Remove all detachable knobs or pulls on the drawers especially the protruding ones. If they are permanently attached to the drawer, don’t force them to remove them as it might cause damages. Instead, leave them attached and just wrap each pull with bubble wrap and secure with tape. Place all knobs and screws in a Ziploc bag, seal, and tape securely inside one of the drawers.
Some chest of drawers come with fancy or decorative legs that might get broken during transit. It is a good idea to remove them if they are detachable, bubble wrap, and attach with packing tape inside one of the drawers. If the legs are not removable, let them be.
Secure the drawers in place. This can be easily done if the drawers come with locks, otherwise, you can simply use pieces of cardboard to wedge between the drawers and the chest openings to prevent them from sliding out. Do not use packing tape to seal the drawers shut as the adhesive on the tape can ruin the finish of the furniture.
Wrap the entire dresser generously with Kraft paper. Secure the paper in place with packing tape.
The most stable part of a chest of drawers is usually its top, and thus, it is best to ship this kind of furniture on its top rather than on its legs. To do this, cut to size a piece of 2-inch foam sheet and place it on the top of the chest. The foam should be 2 to 3 inches wider on all sides of the chest’s top. Fold over the excess foam and attach it to the side of the furniture using packing tape. Wrap the entire chest of drawers in shrink wrap to secure all the wraps and the foam in place.
Flip the chest upside-down, such that it sits on its top and bubble wrap the legs if they were irremovable.
Get the shipping box and line the bottom with at least 3 inches of packing peanuts. The heavier the furniture, the more packing peanuts you need to provide optimum padding and protection.
Carefully place the chest of drawers inside the box, still in its upside-down position. It should be in the center of the box. Fill all sides with more packing peanuts up to the top of the box. Shake the box a bit to help the peanuts settle in void spaces. Add more packing peanuts to fill spaces. The idea is to pack the furniture with at least 2 inches of material on each side to prevent it from moving. Check by closing the box and shaking. If you feel no movement from within, you may now close and seal the box. Otherwise, add more packing materials.
Address and label the package and take to a reputable shipping company. Consider buying insurance when you ship a chest of drawers especially if it’s an antique one.