Two products essential to the moving industry that Mytee carries are moving blankets and moving pads. Due to their varied uses, they are popular with individual, non-commercial customers as well as professional movers. If you are new to the moving business , it would be a wise move to invest in enough blankets and pads to get things going. They are indispensable to packing and protecting the cargo that is transported for the company’s customers.
It is surprising to know how many consumers tend to shy away from renting blankets and pads for a DIY move. They invest thousands of dollars in furniture and electronics, only to take a chance at damaging those items during their move. However, DIY movers have that freedom of choice because they own what they move. Moving companies do not have such a luxury. The ethics of good business require them to take every possible step necessary to protect customer property.
The Difference with using Moving Blankets
Moving blankets and pads can be used interchangeably in most cases. A mover could exclusively use one over the other rather than using both. Nonetheless, blankets and pads do have different properties that make them better options for certain uses. Let’s look at both in more detail.
A moving blanket is generally made of a lightweight but tightly woven material that is both soft and cushioning. The primary purpose of the moving blanket is to protect furniture from scratches and nicks. For example, a dining room table would be covered in a blanket so that nothing scratches it during transit. Covering furniture with blankets also allows boxes and other items to be stacked on top.
A moving pad is a thinner product, usually made of a non-woven polyester fabric. It is thinner and lighter because it is intended to be folded or rolled prior to being positioned in the empty space between objects on the truck. Using our previous example of the dining room table, movers may decide to remove the legs in order to place the tabletop on its side. A moving blanket protects the top of the table while pad is placed in between it and a second piece of furniture placed next to it. The pad prevents the two pieces from knocking into one another during transit.
Efficiently Using Moving Blankets and Pads
For moving blankets and pads to perform their intended role, they need to be used efficiently and properly. This includes packing the truck in such a way that it minimizes damage from road vibration and load shifts. It all begins with loading the heaviest items first.
Most movers will cover extremely fragile items with blankets even as they are carrying them out of the house. However, once on the truck, blankets will have to be readjusted. A blanket should cover all exposed surfaces that could come in contact with the back or side of the truck box and other items in the truck. With each successive layer packed up and out, moving pads should be inserted to take up empty space between fragile pieces.
The average move in a 14-foot truck should be manageable with two dozen or so blankets and pads. It always helps to have an extra dozen at hand in case they are needed. The good news for a new moving company is that both blankets and pads are pretty inexpensive. For a couple of hundred dollars, you could get enough blankets and pads to get started. They will pay for themselves with just a few moving jobs.
