The kitchen is one of the most challenging rooms to pack when making a residential move. Here are some tips to ease the process.
1. Organize and Declutter
The first step to packing any room is to sort through items and find other “homes” for things you no longer need. You can donate pots and pans, sets of silverware, and cooking utensils in good condition. You can also donate or sell used small appliances if you don’t use them anymore or have duplicates.
Once you’ve decided what to keep, take an inventory. Then sort the items by frequency of use and function. Place a detailed label on every box, such as “Dishes,” rather than just using a generic title like “Kitchen.”
2. Limit Purchases
Avoid buying a lot of food in the weeks before your move. Instead, use what you already have in your cupboards. Some moving companies will not transport food items depending on their policies and the distance of your move. Either way, having less food to move will ease the process.
3. Gather Supplies
Determine what packing supplies you’ll need based on your inventory. In general, packing supplies will include:
- Large boxes for small appliances and dry food items
- Dish pack and cell boxes
- Small and medium boxes for odds and ends, pots and pans, and silverware
- Bubble wrap or similar material
- Newspapers or unprinted paper
- Ziploc bags for loose items
- Packing tape
- Marker
- Labels
4. Pack Infrequently Used Items
You can begin packing those items you use infrequently as soon as you know you’ll move. These items might include:
- Crystal
- Vases
- Special occasion serving plates
- Special utensils, such as barbecue tongs
- Cookbooks
- Wall hangings and pictures
- Refrigerator magnets
5. Plan an Essentials Box
Set aside essential items you’ll need for the last two days in your old home and will need immediately in your new home. Pack these items in an appropriately labeled “Kitchen Essentials” box just before leaving your old home.
6. Pack Drawers and Shelves
Begin packing your drawers with the messiest one first. Set aside one place setting per family member and one or two critical pots and pans for your essentials box.
Pack Dishes
Pack dishes in a medium-sized flat box or a dish pack if they are breakable. Wrap each dish to protect it. Always pack stemware using cell boxes and additional protection.
Pack Pots and Pans
Stack pots and pans with the larger one on the bottom and smaller ones nesting inside, with packing paper between them. Put dish towels around them and around openings to prevent them from moving.
Pack any glass tops just as you would plates, putting foam, bubble wrap, or other protective material around each.
Pack Silverware
Silverware is easy to pack if you already have a utensil organizer. Stack each type of utensil nicely, then wrap it in plastic. Secure the wrapped bundle with a rubber band and put it back in the organizer. If you don’t have an organizer, pack each type of utensil in plastic bags.
Sharp knives require special handling. Place each in packing paper, wrap a towel around it, and secure it with a rubber band. Pack knives on their sides.
7. Pack Small Appliances
Pack small appliances in their original boxes if possible. If not, use as small a box as possible, filling gaps with towels or packing paper.
8. Ask for Help
Your professional mover can answer any questions about packing your kitchen.
Contact us for a free quote. We can help get you moved in quickly and comfortably.