packing peanuts v bubble wrap

[3d]

Is there something wrong with densely packed scrunched up newspapers from the recycle bin?

[Grateful11]

Heavy electronics will just smash Packing Peanuts. We like to clean bag,
triple wrap with large bubble wrap and then surround with 3/4" styrofoam
from Lowe's or Home Depot cut to fit with a razor knife. Occasionally we
use Packing Peanuts as filler around the bubble wrap.

[Grateful11]

Acer wrote:
Starch peanuts are a nice option: very little static, dissolve in water or can be composted.

Store them in your garage and I'll about guarantee you'll get mice in
them, they love'em.

[RAMd®d]

I'd put it in the original box, wrap it in bubble wrap, and box it in a *sturdy* box.

Packing peanuts almost always a pain. Most people don't use enough of them (and shouldn't use any!) so when the box arrives, the contents have almost always settled to the bottom. This exposes an article to potential damage.

The air bags are not messy, and usually even more ineffective. It's often not even possible to put enough is a box to support and protect an item. So again the contents shift and settle, exactly what you don't want.

Foam slices can work well too, but that's a little harder to come by.

Yeah, my vote is for bubble wrap. But crumpled newspaper can work really well too.

But for *heavy* items, the original packaging and packaging peanuts are probably your best bet.

[C(-)ris]

About the only thing the packing peanuts are good for is a buffer when you are double boxing something.

[Kate]

In my 38 years working the front window at a small Post Office, we always suggested popcorn, popped with no oil (like in a hot air popper). They work as well if not better than peanuts , don't build up static electricity and are easily disposed of without a lot of harm to the environment.

Kate

[Stavs]

Wrap the unit in bubble wrap and ensure it is square all the way around. Try to have 2-4 inches of wrap around the unit. Place crumbled up newspaper or something on the bottom. Fill the rest of the voids in the box with the densly packed newspaper and you should be good.