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Should the bubbles on bubble wrap face the inside or the outside of the object?
Matthew Stevens
Sydney, Australia
The bubbles should face the object being wrapped. Placing the flat face of the plastic on the outside protects the entire surface of the object from impact. Placing the bubbly side on the outside leaves the channels between the bubbles unprotected from pointy objects. And if the aim is to provide thermal insulation, the bubbles must still face inside, as the flat side minimises the surface area through which heat can be lost or gained, insulating the entire object, not just the parts covered by the bubbles.
Sam Edge
Ringwood, Hampshire, UK
Assuming the bubble wrap isn’t going inside the object, usually it is better to encase the fragile object so that the smooth side of the bubble wrap is outermost, as this reduces both friction when putting it into any containing box and the risk of sudden shocks caused by the bubbles snagging in transit. If the object itself isn’t smooth, this also allows the bubbles to deform into the irregularities.
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Bubble wrap facing the inside is less likely to get popped in transit, so the recipient has the satisfaction of bursting it
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Carol Stevenson
London, UK
When wrapping ceramics, I have been taught to keep the bubbles facing inwards, towards the work, because that way they are protecting the contents. The bubbles are also less likely to get popped in transit, so the recipient has the satisfaction of sitting down and bursting them!
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