When it comes to moving, the one aspect that people seem to dread the most is none other than packing; and when it comes to packing, the kitchen is the one room that can truly make or break the experience. There’s no question that packing up a kitchen is a fairly difficult undertaking. So if you have no choice but to tackle the task yourself, then be sure to employ a degree of strategy.
Bobby Hughes is the marketing coordinator at Hughes Relocation Services, Inc., a full service moving and storage business serving the Philadelphia area since 1973, and he’ll be the first to admit that even the smallest of kitchens can easily pose a challenge on the packing front. He therefore offers the following tips on how to pack up a kitchen:
Leave yourself plenty of time
Generally speaking, people tend to underestimate the amount of time it takes to properly pack a kitchen. To avoid having to resort to a rush job that could put your belongings in jeopardy, make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to pack up your kitchen appropriately. Depending on the amount of stuff you have, the act of packing up your entire kitchen could take anywhere from one to several days, so don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’ll somehow be able to get it done the night before you’re scheduled to move.
Start with the stuff you don’t use
The challenge of packing up your kitchen is doing so while finding a way to keep it relatively functional at the same time. A good way to approach the process is to start by packing up the stuff you don’t tend to use often. Fine china, crystal glassware, serving pieces, and unessential gadgets should all be packed up well in advance of your actual moving date. Then, as you get closer to your actual move, you can tackle items you use daily such as plates, silverware, glasses, and cookware one area at a time.
Be generous with newspaper or bubble wrap
The tricky thing about packing up a kitchen is that kitchen items tend to be fragile. To ensure that your belongings stay safe while in transit, get your hands on plenty of newspaper or bubble wrap and use it to wrap up those items in need of protection. Remember, in most cases, a single coat of paper or bubble wrap will not be enough to keep your possessions free of scratches and cracks. So stock up on these packing supplies so you can use them generously.
Stuff your boxes
The more room your kitchen items have to shift within their boxes, the more likely they are to break while they are in transit. To avoid a mess, pack your boxes as tightly as possible, especially if their contents are fragile. To this end, you can use balled-up newspaper to fill corners within boxes and serve as additional padding for your belongings.
Pad your plates and fine china
The more padding you have around your expensive dishes, the better off you’ll be. One packing trick involves using padded shipping envelopes to store your pricier belongings. Most dishes will fit nicely inside these envelopes, and while you might have to pay for this added dose of protection, it’s better than facing replacing your fine china because it shattered during your move.
Sock it to those glasses
Glassware can be extremely tricky to pack – especially if your collection contains items that vary in shape and size. To keep your glasses protected, try using old socks as glass covers, as they are less likely to rip apart than newspaper.
Keep your essentials together
Certain kitchen items you’ll want to have on hand as soon as you arrive at your new home. To make your life easier, dedicate one or two boxes to items such as can openers, microwave safe containers, and coffee mugs.
Packing up a kitchen is no easy feat, but with proper planning and timing, you can make the process go as smoothly as possible.
