Reference
Reference
Talk about moving keeps throwing up words you rarely need in everyday life: cam lock, confirmat screw, stretch film, inventory. Below they are explained briefly and to the point, grouped under three headings: packing, furniture and loading. The definitions are simplified for convenience; if you are dealing with a specific model of furniture or appliance, check its instructions.
Knowing a couple of terms saves time beside a dismantled wardrobe. Once you know what a part is called and what it does, it is easier to find, keep and put back in place.
Packing
- Bubble wrap
- Plastic film with air bubbles that cushions impacts. Good for glass, mirrors and screens; it holds better with the bubbles facing inwards.
- Stretch film
- Stretchy film with no adhesive. It is wrapped around doors and fronts, chest-of-drawers drawers and bundles of small items so that nothing opens or spills.
- Corner protectors
- Cardboard or foam caps for the corners of furniture, frames and worktops. They protect the corners when carrying items through doors and on the stairs.
- First-night box
- A box with the essentials for the first 24 hours: bedding, chargers, a first-aid kit, documents, a kettle and tools. It goes on last and comes off first.
Furniture
- Confirmat screw
- A furniture screw that joins the panels of cabinet furniture. It is unscrewed when dismantling and put in a bag labelled with the item's name.
- Cam lock
- A round mechanism set into a panel that pulls two panels together. It is released by turning it with a screwdriver, and the mechanism itself often stays in the panel.
- Dowel
- A wooden peg that holds parts in position relative to each other. Keep it when dismantling: without it the structure may wobble.
- Assembly diagram
- The drawings in the manufacturer's instructions. If the instructions are lost, photograph the item from all sides before dismantling and number the parts.
Loading
- Centre of gravity
- The point where an item's weight is concentrated. The closer it is to your body when carrying, the less strain on your back.
- Carrying straps
- Straps that share the weight of a large item between two people and free up your hands. Use them once you have agreed on the pace and the commands.
- Load securing
- Ratchet straps and soft padding in the cargo area that stop furniture and boxes from shifting when braking and on bends.
- Inventory
- A list of items with notes on their condition, sometimes with photos. Useful for valuables and for arrangements with helpers.
Where these words come in handy
- Practical
How to pack a kitchen step by step, plus a catalogue of practical moving articles.
- Questions
Short answers on preparation, moving day, helpers and what to do with things you no longer need.
- Collections
Reading paths: a one-bedroom flat, moving with children and pets, closing a country house for winter.
- Topics
Four groups of topics: preparation, packing, furniture and appliances, safety.
Read next
Based on
- Furniture manufacturers' assembly and disassembly instructions (general recommendations)
- Occupational safety rules for loading and unloading work (general provisions)
This guide offers general advice on preparing for a move and handling your belongings with care. Rules for carrying particular items are set by the carriers themselves, and furniture assembly by the manufacturer's instructions, so in any specific case follow those first.