If you're packing up your electronics for a move, you need to know how to properly do so to prevent damage. Tech gadgets tend to be more fragile than most of your things, which is why it's important to know certain tips on how to put them away for transport.
Remove Batteries
A lot of electronics come with batteries, especially wireless devices. Depending on your location, the vehicle it will be placed in might not have the ideal temperatures. Being placed in a hot metal box could damage the battery which can extend to the main device.
If you're using a moving service, you can choose to bring the batteries with you to your vehicle. If your car's temperature is good enough for you, then it will be good enough for the batteries as well. Just remember to label them so you know where they go.
Get Organizers and Labels for Cords
You'll have an easier time unpacking and setting back up if you organize your electronics properly. Detachable cords should be removed from electronics so they won't dangle as you carry them or get tangled with the device itself.
If they can't be removed, you should still try to tie up the cords. You can purchase velcro cable ties so you won't have to cut them out as opposed to zip ties. There are several size variations for them as well for thick, thin, long, and short cords.
Labels will mostly be for the cords that you have detached. It will be less stressful to find them if they are all in the same box. Even though some cords are obviously for certain devices only, some are every similar so it's hard to tell which device they are paired to. Labels can fix that.
For Larger Electronics
When you're relocating, you'll likely bring a couple of appliances and other electronics with you such as your TV or your refrigerator. Before you pack them, try to dig up the user manual or documents that came with the devices and appliances to see if there are specific packing instructions.
If there are none, you can call customer service just to be sure. If there are no given instructions, then try to use styrofoam or bubble wrap in case the ride gets bumpy. Refrigerators are sturdy and heavy enough that all you really need to worry about are scratches.
TVs, on the other hand, are more prone to breakage because of the screen. One of the things you need to do first is place styrofoam at the corner edges of the TV, preferably the one it came with when you bought it.
If you already threw those out, you can purchase thick styrofoam cubes and carve out a portion that's as thick as your TV. This could soften the impact of the TV on other surfaces when you place them on the ground or when they bounce around in the vehicle.
Don't place the cord in front of the screen as well. With the right amount of pressure, it can damage the screen. Once the styrofoam has been placed and the cord is tucked behind the TV, cover it with a thick layer of bubble wrap and place it in a box of the same size.
Read Also: 5 Tech Items You Need to Avoid, Prevent House Fires
For Smaller Electronics
Smaller devices are much easier to pack. Desktop PCs, for instance, have various parts that can be separately wrapped. You can do the same packing process with the TV to your monitor just to be safe. As for your PC accessories like your mouse and keyboard, bubble wrap will suffice.
If you can, don't place the accessories in the same box as the monitor. The rule of thumb is that medium to large devices with screens should have their own boxes. This also applies to your PC tower, especially if some sides of it are made of glass.
The best practice would be to place a sheet of styrofoam at the bottom of the PC tower to soften the impact and wrap it in bubble wrap. Do not use styrofoam peanuts to pack the box. Some PC cases have holes big enough where they can enter, and that can cause a whole new set of problems.
For other appliances like coffee makers or panini presses, it's also best to use the box and styrofoam inserts it came with. If you don't have them anymore, bubble wrap would suffice. You can even place them in the same box and pack them with styrofoam peanuts to prevent them from moving around too much.
Related: 5 Electronic Devices That Will Do Your Chores For You
