How to Protect Your Hands While You Pack
Most of the time, the best tool you have for packing is your hands.
The trick is to keep your hands in good condition throughout the packing and moving process. There are a lot of things about packing that can put them at risk.
With these tips, you can make sure that you don’t put your hands at risk of injury or fatigue.
Use a Variety of Protective Gear
As you pack, you’ll encounter lots of dust, dirt, and strange things. The best way to protect your hands is to prevent contact with anything unusual. You’ll probably need more than one type of gloves:
- Nitrile, vinyl, or plastic gloves for light or delicate work
- Lightly protective gloves, like those you use for gardening
- Heavy-duty gloves for loading and unloading, especially appliances
If you’re not sure what makes a good pair of work gloves, do a little research. And don’t forget to try them on. Gloves that don’t fit are less effective.
Handle Items With Care
Gloves are helpful, but they’re not bulletproof. If you’re reaching into random boxes without looking, you might end up puncturing the glove (or your skin).
When you’re packing things like knives or sharp tools, wrap the end in plastic or bubble wrap first. Set aside a time that you can focus on the task.
Extra care also applies to staging boxes or appliances. If you don’t look where you are going, you might crush your hand against a wall.
Moisturize Regularly
Your hands might feel dry, cracked, or sore. Moisturizing them can help to cut down on the damage. It also keeps your fingers limber.
If you’re not used to taking care of your hands, now’s a good time to build a routine. Every time you wash your hands, add a little moisturizer.
Remember that moisturizers might add oils to your hands. That’s another good reason to put on gloves afterward.
Attend to Cuts and Scrapes
Moving isn’t always the safest activity. As the main tools for the job, your hands can take a beating. By the end of the day, you might have a few cuts and scrapes you need to attend to.
It’s tempting to push through it, but you need your hands. Take time to clean your wounds. Add an antibacterial ointment and a light bandage.
Look for Reactions
Sorting, packing, and cleaning stir up all kinds of things, especially allergens. If you have contact allergies, you’ll want to protect yourself in advance.
Even if you don’t know of any allergies, it’s wise to look for signs of a reaction. Sometimes overexposure can turn a slight intolerance into an allergy.
Allergies cause redness, itching, and swelling. If you experience any of these, stop the activity and take a break. If the reaction spreads or gets worse quickly, consult a doctor.
Moving Help
Protecting your hands makes it easier for you to unpack when you get to your new home. Request a quote to learn how you can save yourself a lot of work during the moving process.
