Protect Your China, Flatware and Other Fragile Items

Meaningful and expensive wares like china and heirloom utensils are given the utmost care when they’re in use or on display. Because of their sentimental values, to say nothing of their monetary worth, it’s important to take the same degree of caution when they’re being stored or packed away until the next time.

If your special china and flatware is used fairly regularly, protective foam rubber sheets are an excellent investment to prevent scratches and chips when they go back into their packaging and get stored away. Thin pieces of foam or durable sections of fabric large enough to cover the contact area can keep can keep them accessible and ready to use but still protected. If you have limited storage space and keep your nicer, less-frequently used wares in the same space as your everyday-use items, more substantial padding materials can be used to guard against accidents that can occur from the frequent ins-and-outs of the everyday stuff. Materials like economical foam for shipping with an eggcrate pattern or plastic bubble wrap can offer protection that rags or paper towels can’t.

For long-term storage or moves, taking another step and using even more durable foams, like the high-density type used to cushion furniture, can absorb impact and help keep everything in one piece. Microfiber cloths are a particularly useful product for wrapping utensils, as they won’t leave dust or lint behind that needs to be cleaned off when you decide to use them.

Taking any of these protection steps mentioned is very affordable, and considering the value of what you’re protecting, to both you and your wallet, packaging materials are worth the minor investment.