Moving to a new house is one of the biggest life stressors for most adults. Part of what makes it difficult is a lack of knowledge on how to pack up items so that they don’t get lost or damaged. While a move poses risks for all your items, kitchenware is the most delicate and complicated to move. But with knowledge and proper planning, moving your kitchen can be stress-free. Keep reading for 4 kitchen packing tips that will simplify your next move.
1. Get Rid of Items That You Don’t Use
House moves are a great opportunity to get rid of items that you don’t like or never use. Once you confirm your move, go through your kitchen and take out everything you haven’t used for over a year. You may want to hold on to some items because they were gift or have sentimental value.
Instead of letting them collect dust in your closets, give or sell them to someone else that will make good use of them. Reducing your kitchen items before moving day will lessen your workload due to the reduced number of things you need to pack and move.
2. Prepare Packing Materials
If you procrastinate and don’t find the right packing materials you will end up with a lot of broken utensils and appliances. Kitchen packing needs several heavy-duty boxes, packing paper or old newspapers, packing tape, marker pens, and bubble wrap.
If you can afford it, buy packing dividers that are used to pack fragile items like wine glasses. You should also get some cling film or plastic wrap which you will use to wrap stacked items to prevent them from moving around.
3. Pack Essentials Separately
As you pack, you will need items from your kitchen because you still need to eat and drink. So, do you pack a kitchen last?
You could do that to have access to your essential items longer. But the best way forward is to pack as much as you can days before the move and leave out a few essential items that you will use. On the day of the move, pack some food, water, basic utensils, dishwashing items and kitchen towels in an easy to reach box.
4. Start Packing the Kitchen Properly
Now that all the preparations for your move are complete, how do you pack your kitchen on moving day? Well, each category of items needs to be packed in a specific way as described below.
Prepare a clear flat space in your kitchen where you can wrap utensils before packing. Also, ensure that the top and bottom of each packing box is padded with two layers of wrapping paper or bubble wrap to prevent breakages.
Food Items
Once you have a moving date you should plan your meals such that you get rid of all your perishable items from your fridge. Don’t buy extra food items unless you need them as this will add to your moving load. Also, consider donating food items that you don’t want to move with to friends, neighbors, or your local soup kitchen.
Pack dry foods together in labeled boxes. Ensure that they are carried in a dry place and kept separate from cleaning chemicals or other toxic substances.
Pots and pans
Due to their weight, you need to find a sturdy box to carry pots and pans in. Also, ensure that they are all clean before packing them. Stack your pots like Russian dolls with the smaller ones nested in bigger ones with dish towels or packing paper separating them.
Pack the pot covers separately with wrapping paper protecting them. You can bundle steel covers together but wrap glass covers individually to reduce the chances of breakage.
Glassware
Wrap glassware individually in double layers of wrapping paper to prevent them from breaking. If you can afford it, buy specialized boxes to pack glasses as these will help reduce the chances of breakages. Never stack anything on top of glasses as that is a sure way to end up with breakages during the move.
Plates and Bowls
Stack sturdy plates and bowls in bundles of four pieces. When packing plates, place the first one in the center of your packing paper. Pull the packing paper over the top of the plate and then place another plate on top.
Add another layer of packing paper and then add another plate. Do the same with study bowls and other utensils.
Cutlery
Bundle similar cutlery or serving spoons together and then tie them with a rubber band or string. Place the bundles of cutlery in a labeled shoe box. Pack cutlery separately from other items such as glasses as they can cause breakages.
Knives
Wrap knives in packing paper and label the direction or location of the blade. This prevents anyone from unpacking them from cutting themselves. After wrapping them in paper, place them in bundles of four with the blades facing the same direction.
Appliances
Kitchen appliances can be tricky to pack as they break easily. Disassemble small appliances like the coffee maker and toaster according to the manufactures instructions and then pack them in their original boxes. Put the heavy part of the appliances at the bottom of the box and place the lighter parts wrapped in paper on top.
If you don’t have the original boxes, place appliances in medium packing boxes. Wrap them in bubble wrap or dish towels to prevent breakages. Pack all appliance parts in the same box to prevent items from getting lost or misplaced. If you take the fridge, make sure that you defrost it and clean it and then disconnect and reconnect it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Foreword Thinking Simplifies Kitchen Packing
Kitchen packing tends to be stressful when we don’t know how to pack each item. Leaving your kitchen packing to the last minute results in broken utensils and appliances due to improper packing. With a bit of planning and usage of the tips provided above, packing a kitchen becomes easy.
If you’re planning a move soon and need help packing your belongings in the safest and securiest way, don’t hesitate to get a free quote today.
