Between appliances, fragile dishware and glasses, packing the kitchen before a move can be an overwhelming task. The kitchen contains many items, small and large, that must be properly packed to avoid breakage and other damage. Along with packing kitchen items, you’ll need to figure out what items should be thrown away, such as perishable foods and household chemicals.
Using The Right Packing Supplies
To help pack your kitchen for a move we can provide packing services and offer helpful tips and recommendations. Before you begin packing, you’ll want to make sure you have the right packing supplies on hand. At a minimum, your packing supply list should include:
Small Boxes
These boxes are mostly used for those delicate things or heavy objects like books or statues. These are also the boxes that your silverware can be packed in. If you haven’t entirely cleaned out all the nonperishable food in your panty, small boxes are good to use for that too.
Medium Boxes
- These are the most common boxes that are used in moving and can be use for a multitude of things; glass items, small appliances, silverware, etc.
Large Boxes
- Large boxes should be use for things that aren't super heavy but take up a good amount of space. You don't want to overload these boxes because their size can make them hard to carry around.
Wardrobe Boxes
- These usually come with a rod to hang clothes in them but when you remove that they can be used for lots of different things. Brooms, mops, awkwardly shaped items, linens, towels, etc. These aren't particularly good for very fragile items due to their size but can help you with all the leftover clutter that won't fit into the smaller boxes.
Dish Pack Kits
- These box kits come in several different sizes for all kinds of dishes and compartments that are insulated to keep the contents safe. Although these have separate compartment for dishes and glassware, you still want to make sure that you wrap each piece indivisually in bubble wrap or packing paper.
Glass Pack Kits
- These are a lot like the dish packs, but the only real difference is they are a bit more sturdy and have smaller compartments for glass and stemware.
Large boxes are ideal for lightweight items that may otherwise be difficult to pack due to their shape and size. Plastic kitchenware, small appliances, baking tins/sheets, and dish racks are some kitchen items commonly packed into large boxes.
Medium boxes are well-suited for heavier items such as pantry staples, small appliances, pots and pans, silverware, cook books, and the miscellaneous content of your kitchen drawers. For convenience, you may want to put items from the drawers into separate plastic bags, such as regular tape, staples, thumbtacks, and pens.
Newspaper Comes in Handy
Unprinted news-wrap paper is available in a four-pound or five-pound bundle. This paper can be used to carefully wrap fragile items such as breakable dishes, food items, and some small appliances before packing them into boxes. You can also use bubble wrap for added protection.
Packing Dishes
Packing dishes & china from your kitchen might take some time because they need to be carefully wrapped to avoid breaking. If you don’t have the time to pack all the fragile dishes in your kitchen or if you’re not sure how to properly pack the dish-ware, we can provide assitance for you. Most of our partial packing services that we offer are just for fragile kitchen items.
If you’re packing the dishes on your own, start by putting a layer or two of bubble wrap on the bottom of your box. Then, pack each dish individually by wrapping it in a layer of packing paper. The dishes should be stacked one by one into the box. Make sure to add in a layer of bubble wrap every three dishes for added protection. Fragile items such as coffee mugs and wine glasses should be handled with extra care. To save money and provide fragile items with the most protection, wrap each delicate item in a t-shirt, kitchen towels or linens.
Silverware
Silverware can be packed along with dishes or placed in a separate box. If you’re trying to save space, be aware that silverware should only be packed with sturdy dish-ware and not with fragile items. You can bundle the silverware together with rubberbands and then wrap them separately to avoid any unnecessary damage. Also, it's good to separate each type of utensil to save space.
Small Appliances & Cookware
As you’re packing the kitchen before a move, check to see if you have the original boxes that your appliances came with. The original boxes are ideal, as they are the right size and weight to safely transport your appliances. If you do not have the original boxes, small appliances and cookware can be packed in a similar manner to the dishes. To protect items from breaking and moving around, begin by adding two or three layers of bubble wrap to the bottom of your box. A medium-sized box is best for your kitchen appliances.
Pots & Pans
Pots and pans can be packed into medium or large boxes. Minimal protective wrapping paper is required for pots and pans, as they are naturally durable. However, if you have any glass cookware or lids, make sure it’s wrapped with protective bubble wrap or linens. Pots and pans can typically be placed into your packing box horizontally and diagonally. You can stack them into boxes with the largest and heaviest items on the bottom and the smaller, more delicate pieces of cookware on top. If various parts go together, use labels to indicate that they are a set.
Food
You will also need to deal with the food when packing your kitchen for a move. Perishable Items should ideally be consumed before you leave or thrown away. Other staples, however, such as spices and non-perishable goods, can be packed into boxes and bags for transportation. Depending on how much room is left, you may be able to pack pantry items such as rice, flour, spices, and dry beans in with the pots and pans.
You should be able to pack the items into the box, close the lid, and seal it with tape. If you can’t, put the pantry items into a separate box. A small to medium-sized box will be fine, depending on how many pantry items you have and how heavy they are. Be sure to label the box of pantry items. Pack any essential items that you will use in the last few days prior to the move or when you arrive at your new house into a separate box for easy access.
Final Tips
As you’re preparing to move, keep these extra tips in mind for a smooth and seamless transition:
Prepare an essentials box
Keep frequently used items in reach
Label your boxes
Donate or toss unwanted items
Your essentials box should include items that you’ll need right away when you arrive at your new home, such as the coffee maker and basic cutlery. As you’re packing the kitchen for moving, put items that you don’t use often towards the back of the moving truck. Remember to label all your bags and boxes to make unpacking easier at your new home. Moving is the perfect time to get rid of any kitchen items that you don’t want or need anymore, such as pantry staples, dishes, and appliances. Consider offering unwanted items to friends and family members, or take a bag of unwanted items down to the local food bank or donation center.
Remember, we are here to help you along the way. Whether it be tips or advice on packing certain items or if you choose to have our movers do all the packing for you professionally. Let us know what you need from us in order to make this the most successful move you've had to date!