How to Pack Kitchen Items for a Move

The kitchen is the one room in the house that contains the most breakable items. This means that if you need to move to a new home, packing kitchen items would require a considerable amount of time and effort. Nevertheless, the time and effort will all be worth it when you discover that all your fine china and teacups arrived at their destination safe and sound. Here are the steps for packing kitchen items for a move.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Heavy-duty packing tape
• Marking pens
• Recycled paper
• White tissue paper
• Bubble wrap
• Plastic bags
• Boxes and cartons
• Foam peanuts, Styrofoam pellets
• Cardboard dividers

1. Be ready with rolls of bubble wrap, recycled paper, tissue paper, filling material and assorted boxes.

2. Wrap each piece of china in bubble wrap or at least two sheets of recycled paper. Stack them on their sides in a sturdy, medium-sized box lined with bubble wrap or filling material. Add filling material to cushion the plates on all sides. Seal the box with packing tape and label as "FRAGILE."

3. Wrap cups and mugs individually in bubble wrap or recycled paper and place them on their sides, one layer at a time, in a sturdy, medium-sized box lined with bubble wrap or filling material. Add filling material over each layer or place a cardboard divider to separate the layers. Insert cups into each other when possible, making sure the handles are not in a vulnerable position. Seal the box and label as "FRAGILE."

4. Wrap drinking glasses in bubble wrap or tissue paper. To save on dishwashing later, place each glass in a clean plastic bag. Insert glasses into each other and stack them in a sturdy, medium-sized box lined with bubble wrap or filling material. Seal the box and label as "FRAGILE."

5. Stack breakable pans, bowls and servers (separated by recycled paper or tissue paper) in sturdy, medium-sized boxes lined with bubble wrap or filling material. Seal the box and label as "FRAGILE."

6. Place the boxes of china, glassware, mugs and other dishes in big cartons with the heaviest box at the bottom. Strive to balance light and heavy items, so that each carton does not weigh more than 50 lbs. Use heavy-duty packing tape to secure the big cartons.

7. Pack pots and pans and other utensils with sheets of recycled paper in between to keep them from scratching each other.

8. Pack goods from the pantry in plastic bags, making sure the bottles do not knock each other. Alternate cans or plastic containers with glass bottles. Pack in filler-cushioned cartons and label clearly.

Tips & Warnings

• Stack bowls with bubble wrap or recycled paper in between. Wrap them in sets of four or five for stability.
• Consider using specialized packing boxes designed for transporting china and glassware. These are available from moving supplies vendors.
• If you anticipate moving to a new home in the near future, save the original packaging of delicate kitchen items like china and glassware. The original packaging is designed to protect the items in transport.
• By making sure that each moving carton is no heavier than 50 lbs., you lessen the risk that it will be accidentally dropped for being too heavy.
• Label each moving box or carton clearly to minimize inconveniences when unpacking.

Resources

• How to Pack for a Move

[geemare]

on 8/22/2009 Great tips,

[cygnetbrown]

on 4/16/2009 Looks like I'm going to to be doing this in a couple months. Thanks for the tips. (Looks like you just moved, too.)

[tachic]

on 3/23/2009 This is the most time-consuming room to move- great tips!