How to Pack a Barrel So Nothing Breaks or Leaks

A barrel gets lifted, stacked, rolled and left in the sun. Pack for that trip, not for a shelf.

The order that works

• Bottom: cans, rice, oil in a sealed bag, the heaviest things you send.
• Middle: boxed food, toiletries in zip bags, shoes.
• Top: clothes, towels, bedding — your cushion layer.
• Glass: wrap each bottle in clothing and keep it away from the walls.
• Liquids: every cap taped, every bottle inside a sealed bag. One leaking bottle can ruin a barrel of clothes.

Names and lists

Write the receiver's name and phone number on the outside, and tape the same note inside the lid. Keep your own list of what is inside — if customs asks, or anything is missing on arrival, the list is your evidence. Photograph the open barrel before you close it.