How to Pack a Dishpack

Keep china and other fragile items protected during your move.

The shortest path between you and a stress-free, do-it-yourself move is learning how to pack well. While packing your kitchen into boxes may not seem to require an advanced degree, it can be deceptively challenging. But with the right materials, patience and tips from expert movers, you can safely transport your china, stemware, dishes and other fragile items to a new house without a single crash. It starts with the well-packed dishpack.

Things You'll Need

• Dishpack boxes
• Utility knife or scissors
• Packing tape
• Newsprint
• Styrofoam peanuts or popcorn
• Sticker labels
• Corrugated box dividers

Instructions

1. 

   Use clean newsprint as a cushion and wrapping material.

   Loosely crumple several sheets of clean newsprint. Spread the crumpled sheets across the bottom of the box to create a cushion for the valuables you'll be packing. The size of the box will dictate how many sheets to use, but generally six to eight individual pieces should do the job.

2. 

   Large flat items make up the first layer of your dishpack.

   Place one dish or piece of china in the middle of several sheets of newsprint. Start with your largest items. Grab several sheets at one corner, and pull them diagonally over the top of the china or dish. Repeat this process on the remaining corners; tuck in and tape loose ends to secure. Repeat with the next item.

3. Stack the first three wrapped dishes or china pieces on top of each other. Place them on the stack of newsprint. Pick up several sheets of newsprint, and pull them over the stack. Tape the newsprint down, and place the stack on its side in the dishpack. Complete the first layer in this fashion.

4. Loosely crumple several more sheets of newsprint to create a second cushion layer. Align them across the box to create a flat surface. Again, the size of the box will determine how many sheets you'll need to crumple.

5. 

   The second layer should consist of bowls.

   Place a bowl or other non-flat item onto several sheets of newsprint. Starting from the inside-out, wrap the newsprint completely around the outside the bowl. Cover the item fully, and tape down the ends to secure.

6. Stack the first three bowls on top of each other. Place the stack in the middle of the newsprint. Pick up three to five sheets of newsprint to wrap around the stack of three bowls. Tuck-in and tape the ends. Place the bundle bowl-side down in a layer in the dishpack.

7. 

   Put cups and glasses on the top layer of a dishpack.

   Crumple just the ends of several individual sheets of newsprint. Place that crumpled end into the drinking area of a wineglass or cup. Roll or wrap the remaining newsprint around the glass or cup. Place the wrapped glasses or cups in a row across the top of the box, with handles facing the same direction.

8. Crumple several more sheets of newsprint. Place them across the top of your dishpack. Close the flaps, and tape the dishpack closed. Place a label on the top to identify its contents. Now, it's on to the next box.

Tips & Warnings

• Include more cushioning than you think you'll need.

• Limit yourself to one box layer per item -- china, bowls, glasses.

• Silverware/other implements can be wrapped individually and fit in and around the glass layer.

• Use clean rather than printed newsprint to avoid staining items.

References

• Sierra Self Storage: Packing Tips & Hints
• United Van Lines: Packing tips
• Realtor.com: Packing Up Your Dining Room