Packing up your computer, DVD player, and other electronic devices for an upcoming move requires plenty of care and attention. After all, it's easy to damage your electronics through rough handling or careless packing. To save yourself the trouble and expense of replacing damaged or destroyed electronics, here are a few simple yet important tips to consider.

Use the Original Boxes Whenever Possible

The boxes your electronics originally came in are specifically optimized for protecting those items. If at all possible, you should reuse these boxes during your move, as these boxes offer the best possible protection for your electronics.

If you've already thrown away the original packaging or repurposed it for something else, don't panic. You can simply grab a regular box and pack it carefully to avoid unnecessary damage. For flat-screen TVs, monitors, and other large-yet-fragile items, you may need a specially designed box that offers the proper protection for those electronics.

Make Room for Plenty of Padding

Too much shaking or jarring can loosen certain electronic components and even cause others to break, rendering those devices non-functional. To keep this from happening, you should give your devices as much cushioning as possible.

For instance, you can use packing paper to pad your electronics as much as possible. Bubble wrap and inflatable air pillows can also provide sufficient cushioning against movement. You can also use newspaper as packing if there's nothing else available, but be aware that newspaper can scratch television screens.

Use Anti-Static Materials for Packing

It only takes a little static electricity to ruin your electronics. Unfortunately, certain packing materials can generate a static charge, placing your electronics at risk of serious damage. Anti-static packing materials are specifically formulated to resist static electricity buildup, making them safe for use with your electronic devices.

Don't Leave Your Discs Behind

If you're in a rush to get everything packed up, you're bound to leave a CD or DVD inside of your player. Leaving a disc inside might seem harmless at first, but you'll risk scratching up the disc as it's jostled around inside of the player during your move. You'll also risk damaging the disc tray and throwing the laser reader out of alignment, which could make disc playback impossible.

Before you unplug and pack up your electronics, make sure you've removed all insertable media from those devices. Store your CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs in a clearly marked container or portfolio during the move.

Remove Batteries and Ink Cartridges Before Moving

Batteries often represent a serious safety risk among movers. Lithium-ion batteries are notorious for swelling and catching fire when they fail. Other types of batteries can leak acid or noxious fumes when they fail. Needless to say, keeping your batteries inside of your electronic devices during a move can be dangerous.

All packed electronics should have their batteries and other auxiliary power sources removed temporarily for the big move. Carefully store these batteries in a separate box, and store that box in a relatively cool area. Batteries are commonly listed on various moving companies' non-allowables lists, which means you may end up transporting your big box of batteries by yourself to your new destination.

Toss in a Silica Gel Packet

Excess moisture can also do a number on electronic components. Rusted terminals and corroded wiring can happen if your electronics are stored in a high-humidity environment. Silica gel and other desiccants work by pulling as much moisture away from your electronics as possible, keeping your packaging dry.

Seek Higher Ground During Storage

If you need to give your electronic items a brief pit stop inside of a storage facility, make sure your boxes are stored elevated off the floor of the storage unit. Keeping your devices off the floor will protect them against flooding and condensation.

Contact a local mover for additional advice.