I don't know if this is good for everything, I use hard candies as packing material. I pour candies in the box after I pack it. Then I shake the bos to distribute the candies in every nook and coenor, I keep putting the candies til I feel the box. Let me know if you think this is a good idea or not?

Thank

szrudy

The candies might work when the weather is not hot, but one contact mentioned that a box that he received that was done that way in the hot of summer had melted candies on books and other items.  You would have to be certain that the candies are well sealed and not just wrapped in "twisted" wrap.  We are also encouraged to double wrap most foods or liquids to prevent any danger of bursting of the original packaging whenever the packages are thrown about as they are transferred multiple times in transit.

Gran

I use washcloths or the sunday comics to pack things...

 why?  becuase they are both reuseable. 

I always seem to forget to bag my body wash...i pray it doesn't 'axe' the whole gift.

I've used washcloths, but hadn't thought of using the comics. Good idea. Thanks. I have used Swiffer cloths--hope they know what they are. Also, you can get individually packed advil, motrin, etc at Sam's Club and sift them into small spaces. A little expensive to do too much. I wonder if those big, individually wrapped lifesavers in peppermint or wintergreen would hold up since they're not sticky. Thanks for all the good ideas that show up in these forums. Mellie

You know those coffee table puzzle brain teasers where you have to fit all the pieces together to make a cube?  That's how I approach package packing- I am a FANATIC about packing as much stuff as I can in a box.  It takes me a long time and I will pack and repack a box several times over (I know- I said I was a fanatic!) but I really enjoy the challenge and I justify it because some people work just as hard to put a dumb old jigsaw puzzle together and who benefits from that!?  I keep a variety of items that can fit in odd size spaces which appear-  when packed-  an item which is cylindrical has four tiny triangular spaces around it - that could easily fit 4 sharpies!  I have had rare moments when I needed to fill space with something soft for good shipping and I usually use a pair of ankle socks or washcloths. 

Sarah,

Good idea about the Sharpies.  I have to tell you that when I started to read your post, my mind jumped forward and I thought you were going to say that you took one of those brain teaser puzzles all apart and then used the pieces to pack in the odd spaces!  HAHAHA!  It could be quite the challenge.

Kathy

I also use the stuff out of my paper shredder for packing,

I use those plastic bags you get from the grocery store if I have nothing else to fill a space up with.  These work well especially if you are sending a box that is going by weight because they weight practically nothing. They'll conform to any shape space you need to fill.   I figure they can always find a use for them, especially in remote areas where they don't have much to work with in the first place.

rosemary

I use the plastic grocery bags, too.  I always use one at the very top of the package so they will at least have something to carry some of the stuff in besides the box when they unpack it.  Like Sarah, I'm a totally obsessed fiend when it comes to filling every nook and cranny.  I've gotten lots of comments about that from my contacts.  They tell me I should give packing lessons!  That always makes me smile. 

I also like to use individually wrapped Slim Jims and Smarties candies in the spaces around cylindrical items. 

Ok, I'm glad to know about the possibilities of the hard candy melting. I have had another idea, a friend bought some pecans in shell from a nut processing plant, here in Fresno, California. I am thinking that buying bulk nuts from the grocery store and using them as packing material. I know they won't melt. I can send all kinds of nuts from here and they are good nutrition. Just adding a nut cracker, in the box. The nuts in shell can be cracked without a tool also. I just wonder if there is a problem with the Post Office though. The nuts are processed. Let me know, what you think.

 

szrudy3

proud mom of 2 military sons

It seems to me that if you can send trail mix, then putting nuts in shouldn't be any problem.

Gran