Moving to a new home is exciting, but packing puts a damper on the process. Personally, I find the whole packing routine calming. Sure, it takes several hours to complete, but it’s mostly a repetitive and mindless process.
Not when it comes to mason jars, though. I have dozens upon dozens of mason jars (half of which I don’t remember owning), and packing them is a whole thing on its own.
Mason jars are made of glass, so they’re fragile and susceptible to breakage and cracks. Therefore, you have to be extra careful when packing them for moving. Wrapping them in newspapers and putting them away just won’t do.
Read on as I show you how to pack mason jars for moving in the fastest and safest way possible.
Table of Contents
Packing Materials Needed:
- Packing paper or bubble wrap
- Labeling markers
- Moving boxes (small or medium)
- Scissors
- Packing tape
- Special packing containers (optional) or dividers
Step 1: Check Your Inventory
First things first: sort your mason jars. Check your inventory and take out all the mason jars you want to keep and eliminate those you don’t need. If you hired professional movers and are paying per weight, this is a good way to cut back on some costs.
Place the mason jars in an out-of-the-way corner so you can properly work on packing them for your move.
Step 2: Prepare the Box
While it seems counterintuitive, don’t use large boxes when packing your mason jars.
If you use a large box, you’ll have to fill it to its maximum capacity so the jars won’t shift and move around during the move. This makes the box difficult to lift, carry, and move around, which is extremely inconvenient if you’re doing the heavy lifting yourself.
Worse, the box may collapse under the weight of the jars, leaving you with a mess to clean up.
As such, be sure to use small to medium-sized boxes when packing your jars.
Once you’ve gotten your hands on the right box, reinforce it with a lot of packing tape for extra security. This is especially crucial if you’re using a regular box instead of a heavy-duty moving box.
Then, line the bottom of the box with a soft protective layer such as bubble wrap or old towels. This way, your jars won’t slide or move around the bottom of the box during the move.
Step 3: Add Dividers
Used mason jars—whether they’re filled with honey, jam, or vegetable preserves—are heavy. If they bang against each other, there’s a real possibility that they’ll break and spill their contents. As such, you have to arrange them in a way that they won’t come in contact with one another.
You can do this by putting them in special packing containers that are specifically designed to house mason jars of all sizes. You can easily find these packing containers online.
If you don’t have time to shop around for dividers, use cardboard cell boxes or create your own cell dividers with a cardboard box and cutter.
Step 4: Wrap the Mason Jars
Now comes the most important part: preparing and protecting your mason jars!
As with all fragile items, the best way to guarantee the safety of your mason jars is to wrap them in protective materials.
Put the newspapers down—trust me, they don’t work as well as you think (I’ve broken enough mason jars to know). Newspaper ink can also bleed onto the surface of the glass jars. While it can easily be removed, it’s still an inconvenient extra step that can be avoided.
For the ultimate packing protection, use packing paper (three or four sheets per jar) or bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is the safest option of the two, plus it protects jars from vibrations and shocks.
You can get both for cheap or even free from local retail stores and other local businesses. You can also find them on Freecycle (a nonprofit organization that gives out old reusable stuff for free), home improvement stores, and Craigslist.
Wrap the mason jars with the protective wrap of your choice until the jar is fully covered. Then, tuck the ends into the mouth of the mason jar and secure them with tape. For extra protection, use at least two layers of paper/bubble wrap.
Step 5: Place the Wrapped Jars in the Box
Place the wrapped jars in individual dividers so they won’t hit each other during the move. If you don’t have dividers, place the jars next to each other and insert cardboard pieces in between each one.
As much as possible, don’t stack the jars directly on top of each other as doing so may damage the glass containers. Instead, place a divider in between each layer. You can use several layers of bubble wrap, a kitchen towel, oven mitts, a sweater, etc.
Additionally, avoid placing heavy items on top of the mason jars. Mason jars are quite fragile and can’t handle a lot of added weight. The mason jar box must only contain mason jars and nothing else.
Step 6: Finishing Up
You’re almost done! Once you pack up your jars, fill the remaining empty spaces with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or towels. This will prevent the jars from moving during transit. Crumpled paper won’t do as it doesn’t have enough cushioning (unless you use a lot of it).
Gently shake the box and see if any of the jars move. If they hold firm, you’re ready to close it up. If they’re moving, add some more bubble wrap.
Close the box and seal it with tape. Label it with “Mason Jars” or “Fragile” to mark which side is up. And that’s it! You’ve successfully packed your mason jars for moving.
Conclusion
There you have it; how to pack mason jars for moving in six easy-to-follow steps!
When packing your mason jars, make sure to wrap them with packing paper or bubble wrap so they won’t get damaged during transit. Also, add some packing peanuts or towels to stop the jars from clashing against each other before closing the box.
Happy moving!