The Incredible Guide to Pack Kitchen for Moving Home

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Kitchen is one of the most important rooms or areas of your home. It is the place where you truly enjoy the art of cooking and spend many hours to prepare delicious food for you and your family members. More often than not, a modern residential kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, a microwave oven, a sink with the hot and cold water running, a mixer-grinder, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, and kitchen cabinets to store kitchen utensils & raw food materials. Crockery sets, cutlery sets, glassware, blender, toaster, and other small electrical appliances are also usually found in a residential kitchen.

Undoubtedly, the kitchen is the busiest, most happening, most important, and most delightful room in the home. You can say it as the epicenter of family life, or the symbol of a happy home and happy family. For good reasons, you always prefer to keep your kitchen organized. You always take care of making this place neat and clean, maintaining good hygiene standards. You will never like a higgledy-piggledy kitchen. It is more likely that you love your kitchen for good reasons.

Think about moving your home from one place to another. When moving to a new house, you need to transfer all your household effects. The circumstance of a home shifting will also force you to root out your well-established kitchen, whether you like it or not, for transferring kitchen items into your new home.

What if you need to shift into a new home with all your household belongings including the items of the kitchen? I know it can be a very hard time for you. But, you must accept it. Don’t give up or try to postpone your move. It might be a new and bright life is waiting for you. Let reality be a reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. Keep in mind, life is a series of natural and unprompted changes. And your move might be one of them.

You have to pack your kitchen for moving. It’s not going to be a fun chore at all. It is more likely that you will find difficulties when it comes to packing kitchen items. It is because packing up fragile kitchen items like chinaware and glassware can be a very complicated and tricky job. You will never like to see damages of your favorite crockery sets in transit. You may also find difficulties in packing up kitchen electrical appliances like refrigerator, mixer grinder, toaster, microwave oven, dishware, and coffee maker. There can be also several items in your kitchen including stove and storage units.

Packing up fragile items, kitchen furniture and awkwardly-shaped electrical appliances will consume your precious time and efforts. It can be a very challenging affair to pack kitchen safely for house moving. But you need not worry at all. I have already discussed that you should accept the challenge and take it as an opportunity. You can overcome the challenge of packing and transporting kitchen. To streamline the procedure of kitchen packing, you need to avoid silly mistakes, and start packing items a few days ahead of moving day. Use a practical kitchen packing cheat sheet that will keep everything organized and can save you a lot of time and efforts.

A Practical Cheat Sheet for Kitchen Packing and Moving

  • Gathering right packing supplies
  • Organizing items in the kitchen
  • Packing of kitchen items, utensils and appliances
  • Kitchen moving tips

Gather all the required packing supplies of good quality

Packing household items for a move is something that can be a challenging and time-consuming task. But with right techniques and using the right packing supplies you can accomplish it efficiently. To ensure the safety of your kitchen items during the moving process, you will need an assortment of quality packing supplies. Make sure to gather adequate amounts of the essential packing material well in advance. It is because you will never like to bear an extra burden of rushing into stores for extra supplies. Last minute shopping for packing supplies may cost you dearly. You will need the following packing supplies.

Essential packing materials

Moving Boxes

In the case of the standard size of a kitchen, you will need the following types of boxes and cartons.

  • 15-20 strong medium-sized moving boxes for items like cutlery sets, pots & pans, small appliances and various other cooking utensils.
  • 5-7 dish-pack boxes for packing your breakables like chinaware, dishes, plates and crockery sets
  • A few dish barrels for packing glasses, bottles and stemware

If you cannot afford the cost of specialty boxes then at least make sure that you get some small and sturdy boxes that can provide the appropriate protection for your breakables.

Wrapping sheet (packing paper)

Gather plenty of clean paper or wrapping sheet. You will need a wrapping sheet or paper to wrap your delicate items. Proper wrapping will provide the appropriate protection between individual pieces and layers. You will also need wrapping sheets or papers to fill the remaining empty spaces in the boxes. If you cannot afford the cost of expensive wrapping sheet or packing paper then you can use old newspapers for wrapping and shredded paper for cushioning. But keep in mind, newspaper ink can give an ugly mark on the delicate surfaces of your items like plates, glasses and crockery sets. So, it is a wise decision to wrap items in unprinted paper first.

Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap is the best material used for packing fragile items. Regularly spaced, swollen air-filled hemispheres (bubbles) provide the best cushioning for fragile items like chinaware, glasses, stemware and silverware. You will also need bubble wrap for wrapping and cushioning furniture parts such as table legs, chair legs, and other awkwardly-shaped pieces. To save money on bubble wrap, purchase it in bulk.

Moving blankets

Moving blankets are often used by professional moving companies to protect furniture pieces and kitchen appliances against scratching, denting and other damages during the moving process. Purchase some professional-quality blankets for the right purposes. To save money on professional moving blankets, you can use any old blankets, linens, large towels or curtains available in your home.

Box-sealing tape

Also called heavy-duty shipping packaging tape, it is used for closing and sealing corrugated moving boxes. It provides sturdiness to boxes that need to be shipped. Purchase it in bulk as you will need lots of quality packaging tape. Seal every box properly using the right amount of packaging tape. For better and efficiency, have a tape dispenser.

Colorful labeling stickers

Purchase the required amount of colorful labeling stickers depending upon the number of your boxes. It is because you will always like to mark your boxes with the appropriate tags such as FRAGILE ITEMS, DISHWARE, GLASSES, etc.

Permanent Markers

While labeling your boxes you will need permanent markers. You will need them because you will have to write the appropriate tags on labeling stickers. You will also need to write handling instructions such as – HANDLE WITH CARE, THIS SIDE UP, etc.).

By gathering all the required packing materials and boxes, you will have finished a major responsibility. The next step you need to involve yourself is sorting out and organizing the various items in your kitchen room. Without organizing items in the kitchen, you can face a lot of difficulties in the actual packing process.


How to Sort out and Organize Kitchen Items

Undoubtedly, the process of packing and moving is stressful. But if you are thinking positively and accepting the challenge as an opportunity then the process can be less stressful. Remember, moving into a new home is a good opportunity to live a clutter-free life ahead. On your move, you will get a good opportunity to get rid of junk, useless, broken, unwanted, and damaged items. You can also get rid of old belongings or surplus items that you rarely use.

For example, if you have an extra coffee maker in your kitchen then it does not make any sense to pack and move it. You can either donate it or sell it. If you have some broken kitchen utensils, crockery sets and other useless items then you must get rid of them before the moving day. This will also save you money because the fewer items you will have to pack and move the less money you will have to spend. It is a simple funda.

So, invest your time in sorting out and organizing your kitchen items. Look into each and every corner of your kitchen including every kitchen cabinet & drawer, above the shelves and under the sink. You may need to involve yourself in the following actions.

Tips for organizing a kitchen for moving

Declutter your kitchen

Explore your kitchen area. Put aside those items you don’t use or don’t intend to use in your new residence. There can be some items which can be replaced with new ones because of the cost of new ones and the cost of packing & moving are almost the same. So, it’s better to replace such items. There can be some items in your current kitchen that cannot fit in the kitchen of your new home. Again you need to replace such items. If you are willing to improvise your new kitchen with newer models of kitchen appliances again you don’t need to pack the same. Put all these items aside. You can sell these items online or at a garage sale at your current residence. This will pocket you some extra money. You can also donate to charity, or give them away to your neighbours and friends.

Set aside the kitchen essentials

You will need some items during a couple of days in your old home and the first couple of days in your new home. Set aside such essential kitchen items. Such items can be plates, glasses, bottles, a multi-purpose pot, towels, tissue papers, basic cleaning supplies, etc. Keep in mind, you should never pack these items earlier. These items should be the last ones you will pack for your move. Clearly mark the box with an appropriate tag like “KITCHEN ESSENTIALS – OPEN ME FIRST”.

Pack items first you won’t need before moving day

It’s likely that your kitchen contains some items that you use very rarely on special occasions. Such items can be expensive silverware, crystal glasses, barbecue tongs, cookie cutters, cake plates, ice-cream cups, condiment dishes, extra dishes, extra crockery sets, storage containers, etc. You can also consider small appliances on the list because you don’t use your mixer-grinder, blender or electric coffee maker on a daily basis. You must pack these items a couple of days ahead of moving day because last-minute packing may result in severe mistake and lots of headaches.

Sort out your food

You know well that it is not a sensible decision to transport perishable items such as fresh fruits & vegetables and dairy products. You should start consuming food items earlier so that you cannot have remaining food on your moving day. Most moving companies don’t transport perishable items. So, it is better to consume them. If you cannot consume all your food then consider donating them. You can donate food items to nearby shelters, charity, orphanage or other important establishments that accept the same.

There are some movers and packers that can consider for transporting some types of food items such as canned food, unopened food packages, canned grocery items, bottled & seal oil, etc. But in my point of view, you should not consider relocating such items. It is because these items are quite heavy and hence can increase the total weight of the shipment. And for this reason, the final moving cost may increase. Not only this, but you will also need to make sincere efforts and utmost care in packing such items. What if the bottles crack or leak. This will obviously increase unnecessary nuisance.

Get rid of hazardous & perishable materials

Most moving companies will say a big NO to moving hazardous and inflammable materials such as gay cylinder, cleaning products, kerosene, fuel, cooking oil, candles, etc. They may also refuse to transport perishable food or dairy products packed with the rest of your household belongings. So, make sure there are not hazardous, inflammable and perishable materials.


How to Pack Kitchen Items Properly

Packing kitchen items and making them ready for moving is different than packing other household belongings. In fact, it has its own specifics and you must know how to properly pack kitchen items for damage-free transportation, along with other home belongings. Here are simple yet fundamental rules to make sure that your kitchen items will be transferred to your new home without any damages.

Fundamental tips for packing kitchen items

Prepare the boxes

Most kitchen items are heavy and delicate too. For example, take the example of bone china crockery set. They are not only heavy but also fragile. So, you will need robust and reliable packaging containers such as corrugated boxes and cartons. More often than not, moving boxes come in flat. You will need to prepare them to put the items inside. Since you are using boxes for moving then you will also need to reinforce it. Reinforce the bottoms and corners of boxes or cardboard boxes using heavy-duty shipping packaging tape (also called box-sealing tape). At the bottom of boxes put plenty of layers wrapping sheets or shredded papers. This will provide the appropriate cushioning to kitchenware you will be packing inside.

Pack each item clean and dry

When packing your kitchen make sure each item is clean and dry. Don’t pack even a single item that is wet or has moisture. Be serious about it especially when you are packing kitchen appliances like grinder-mixer, dishwasher, or refrigerator. It is crucial because even small amounts of moisture can cause severe damage to the sensitive mechanism of appliances.

Place heavier items fist

While packing a box, put the heaviest item on the bottom. You know well that kitchen items are usually heavy. Even a small kitchen utensil can be quite heavy. So, it is advisable that you must not place a heavy item over the fragile items. It’s best to keep the heaviest item on the bottom.

Wrap fragile items individually

Take utmost care while handling fragile items. A wrong step can be a good reason for damages. So, keep your eyes and ears open while handling breakables. Wrap each and every fragile item individually using extra layers of wrapping sheet or bubble wrap. Wrap every single place, vase, bottle, and glass. You can then make a bundle of similar items and again wrap with bubble wraps. This will ensure their safety during transportation.

Provide padding between items in a box

Proper padding or cushioning between items in a box is imperative to avoid the risk of damage in transit. You can use crumpled newspaper, packing peanut foams and bubble wraps. If you want to save money on expensive padding supplies then you can use a cushion, dish-towels, towels, old newspaper, linens or similar material in your home. Make sure you provide plenty of padding between the items in a box. This will protect against damages.

Don’t overload a box

Obviously, the more items you can pack in one box, the fewer boxes you will need. For this reason, many people tend to pack a box as much as they can, just to save a few amounts of money on moving boxes. But this is not a good practice. You must not do the same. It is because heavy lifting may give you back strain and knee pain. So, don’t make the boxes too heavy. Keep the weight of a box that can be lifted by even a woman of your family. You can keep the weight of a box around 20kg. Most moving companies will recommend the same.

Label every box properly

I have already discussed this point. Labeling is utmost necessary because it will make the unpacking process a lot easier, for sure. Give the approximate tag to every box according to items inside. Many people, just write down – KITCHEN ITEMS, FRAGILE on the top and sides of the boxes. Do you think that these labels are the right for the boxes of kitchen items? Think about this question now. How will you find your coffee maker after arriving in your new residence? There can be several boxes containing kitchen items. How will you find that particular box that has the coffee maker? I hope you got the idea. Yes, you can label every box with the appropriate tag and names of contents inside the box. Be more specific on labeling the boxes to avoid difficulties in finding your favorite coffee mug after arriving at your new home.

The aforementioned tips are worth-follow tips for kitchen packing. However, these tips may not be enough to ensure a stress-free result of your packing efforts. Learning tips to pack particular or individual kitchen items thus is crucial. Thus, you need to know some specific guidelines on how to pack individual or particular kitchen items including appliances.

Tips for packing particular kitchen items

Packing Kitchen Cupboards

You will need to spend many hours sorting through a large number of assorted items found in your kitchen cupboard shelves and drawers. It can be certain a time-consuming and challenging task to organize and pack the cupboard. You may face lots of difficulties while packing the kitchen. It is strongly recommended that you should first start with kitchen cupboards. First, sort and pack the messiest drawers and then move towards the neatly arranged crockery sets, plates, bowls, glassware, and so on. Get rid of any unwanted items while sorting through and packing the kitchen cupboards. Organize items according to the type and frequency of use. Label the box with a more specific tag. For example, use the tag “Kitchen: Cooking Utensils” to label a box that contains cooking utensils inside. Use the tag “Kitchen: Crockery Sets and Plates” to label a box that contains your crockery sets and plates. The more organized you will be during packing, the more efficient you will be at the time of unpacking your kitchen boxes.

Packing Kitchen Dishes

Items like plates, chinaware and other dishware are generally in fragile in nature. They must be packed with utmost care using plenty of padding supplies in sturdy boxes. Dish-pack boxes are the best for packing such items. Here are the right techniques to pack such fragile items of kitchen.

  • Prepare the box and line the bottom of the box with crumpled papers, dish towels or bubble wrap
  • Wrap individual plat in two or three layers of blank newsprint paper.
  • Fold the paper and use the same between every two plates.
  • Put one individually wrapped plate on top of the other, until you get a set of five or six plates nested in one another.
  • Wrap the entire nested set in one more layer of bubble wrap and tape the entire set together.
  • Always stack your plates in a vertical position. Flat position may cause damage to the bottom due to the weight of the above plates.
  • Place padding material on sides of the boxes before placing them in the box.
  • Shut the box and seal it using heavy duty shipping packaging tape.

Packing Kitchen Glasses

Glassware likes glasses, bottles and stemware are also types of breakable items. If they are not handled properly then they may get damaged during transportation. Hence it is crucial to wrap and pack them with utmost care. Dish barrels or cell-divided boxes are the best to pack such items. You also need to know the right techniques to pack wine glasses, and other stemware securely. Get the benefits of the following techniques.

  • Wrap individual glasses properly using bubble wraps or clean paper.
  • Take a glass and stuff it with crumpled clean paper or some clean soft fabrics.
  • You can also use socks or old newspapers to stuff the glass.
  • Wrap the individual stem with bubble wrap.
  • Place the individually wrapped glass in cells of the dish-barrel box or cell-divided box.
  • If you are not using cell-divided box then wrap the entire glass set in an extra layer of wrapping sheet or bubble wrap.
  • Use box sealing tape to hold the wrapping securely in place.
  • Keep your glasses in the container or box upright with their mouths facing downwards only.
  • After finishing the first row, place a protective layer or cardboard before starting the second row.
  • Make sure there is no empty space in the box.
  • Use crumpled papers to fill remaining room inside the box.
  • Use plenty of padding supplies to make the box tight.
  • Seal the box securely and label it on all sides “FRAGILE – GLASSES” except the bottom of the box.

Packing Kitchen Cutlery, Utensils and Silverware

Here are at the right techniques for packing kitchen cutlery, cooking utensils and silverware. Learn the same to make kitchen packing fast and efficient.

  • Sort of kitchen utensils, silverware and cutlery set according to their types and sizes.
  • Wrap sets of 6 spoons or forks of the same size together in a sheet of blank newsprint paper or bubble wrap.
  • Then tape the bunch tightly. Place it in a small sturdy carton.
  • Repeat the process until your silverware or cutlery is properly packed.
  • Pack kitchen knives safely. Be extra careful when packing them.
  • Make sure the cutting parts of the knives face in one direction.
  • Use extra layers of protective sheets or wrapping material to pack them safely.
  • Wrap oddly-shaped utensils like an egg beater, ladles, spatulas, and barbeque tongs individually.
  • Place wrapped items inside the box, seal the box and label it with a tag like KITCHEN – UTENSILS”.

Packing Pots and Pans

Packing up pots and pans properly is vital. The good news is that they are not as delicate as crockery set, chinaware, stemware, and glassware. But it does not mean that you should not take care of them while packing them. To avoid the risk of damages of your pots and pans during transit, you must pack the same with care. Here are a few techniques you can follow.

  • Use bigger boxes for packing up your pots and pans.
  • Prepare the boxes and cushion them properly.
  • Place the larger ones on the bottom, and smaller ones later.
  • Use nesting technique.
  • Take a large pot or pan and then place a packing paper.
  • Then put a smaller one inside the large one and so on.
  • Wrap the entire nest in some appropriate padding materials for extra safety.
  • Wrap separately the glass lid of any pot or pan. Use bubble wrap and place inside the respective box.
  • Seal the box and label it properly with the specific tag like KITCHEN – POTS AND PANS”

Packing Small Kitchen Appliances

A modern kitchen contains several small appliances such as mixers grinders, toasters, coffee makers, blenders, and microwave ovens. Such small kitchen appliances should be packed in their original boxes. If you don’t have their original packing supplies then you need to contact your movers for recommendations. They may recommend you the right supplies and or also provide you the same but at a cost.

Always use sturdy boxes to pack your small kitchen appliances. Make sure boxes are strong enough to support the weight of your appliances. Use the appropriate size of boxes. Don’t pack two appliances in a single box, forcibly. Use the individual box for packing one appliance. Before packing the small kitchen appliances, make sure that they are clean and dry. If possible or you can, then take any detachable parts apart. Keep each component and parts separately in a zipper plastic bag. Be extra careful with these components. You can keep them with your fragile items or personal items of high value. Here are the right techniques to pack small appliances.

  • Detach parts if possible and keep them safe.
  • Place heavier pieces first in the box and lighter ones later.
  • Fill empty space inside the box with crumpled paper or bubble wrap.
  • Put the manual of each appliance in the same box.
  • Seal the box and label it.

Packing Large Kitchen Appliances

Packing up large kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, and stoves for moving can be a tricky and challenging task for you. But after knowing some right techniques you can do it on your own with the same efficiency level of professionals. First of all, go through the respective manuals of your large appliances. You will know how to handle and prepare the appliances properly. Here learn you will some nice techniques that will help you pack large kitchen appliances.

1. Refrigerator packing tips

  • Clear out all the contents including freezer items from the refrigerator.
  • Remove shelves and drawers and clean them with cotton clothes.
  • Switch of the power of the refrigerator at least 24 hours to allow it defrosted.
  • Coil the cord loosely and tape it at the size of the refrigerator to keep it secure.
  • Make the refrigerator clean and dry, and put a sachet of baking soda inside to remove the odour.
  • Use the plastic wrapping sheet to wrap the entire refrigerator piece tightly.
  • You can also use moving blankets or old blankets to wrap the refrigerator or other large appliances.
  • Proper wrapping will protect your appliances against scratches and dents.
  • Use lots of packaging tape to make the wrapping more secure.
  • Wrap shelves of your refrigerator separately. You can tape them together or pack in a separate box.
  • Use the right appliance dolly to move or slide the refrigerator.

2. Dishwasher packing tips

Pack dishware properly using the following tips and techniques.

  • First of all, read the user manual properly before packing up your dishware for a move.
  • Removal all dishes from the dishware.
  • Tape to secure the racks and silverware basket.
  • Tape the door and shut it properly.
  • Detach the hose and cord from the dishware, if it can be, or tape the same to the dishwasher.
  • Tie a large pad around the dishwasher and then place it inside the box.
  • Don’t forget to label the box.

3. Microwave oven packing tips

Here are some nice tips and techniques for packing a microwave oven for house moving. Knowing the right techniques will protect it against damage in transit.

  • Collect the required packing supplies like tape, rope, cushioning pads, and box.
  • Clean the oven and stovetop carefully.
  • Put the oven racks on the bottom and then tape the same.
  • Also, wrap and tape burners and pans.
  • Tape the power cord to the side of the oven.
  • Use plenty of plastic wrapping to wrap the oven in a whole.
  • Instead of plastic wrapping sheets, you can also use a large cushioning pad around the oven.
  • Use plenty of tape to secure the wrapping and make it in place.
  • Place the oven inside a box of the appropriate size, and seal the box, and label it.

Warning:  When packing up kitchen large appliances, you must be aware of the right handling techniques. The user manuals will be the best for the same. If you don’t take care of handling large kitchen appliances and try to move large them without adequate techniques and assistance then it may result in leaks, breakages and even permanent damage. To ensure the safety of such items, it would be better to let professional packers and movers handle the same. It is because experienced movers don’t only know the right techniques but also have the right tools.

4. Kitchen furniture packing

When it comes to packing kitchen furniture including tables and chairs then use the same techniques that you use in packing up other furniture pieces of your home. If possible, dismantle the furniture and then wrap them in moving blankets or old blankets.


Kitchen Moving Tips

You now have adequate knowledge about kitchen packing tips. I hope you are familiar with the best ways to pack your kitchen items professionally. Doing packing part on your own will certainly save a considerable amount of money. Now you are ready for the next step of your house moving journey.

The next step is moving kitchen essentials and rest household items to your new residence. Moving from one home to another is not an easy task, even if the goods are properly packed. It’s better to hire professional packers and movers for moving your household belongings and kitchen essentials to your new residence.

Hire trustworthy packers and movers

Hiring a trustworthy moving company (packers and movers) is crucial for safe and hassle-free transportation of household belongings from one place to another. Do proper research on hiring the dependable and experienced packers and movers companies available in your city. Get recommendations from your friends, relatives, and colleagues. Don’t hire services from a single mover that you meet first just because they are recommended by one of our close friends. Keep them in the pipeline and explore other options too. Verify the credibility, experience, reputation, license, insurance and background of movers and packers on your own. Get in-home estimates from licensed and experienced movers. Compare the rates before making a final deal with one of the licensed and trustworthy packers and movers.

Get adequate insurance

A large number of kitchen items are either fragile or expensive, such as your kitchen appliances, silver-plated dining sets, crystal glasses, stemware, etc. So it is always a good idea to get the appropriate insurance coverage. Your belongings will be in safe hands when handled by experienced packers and movers. But damages may occur due to accidents or natural calamity. So, singing the house moving contract, make sure your chosen mover is also offering you adequate insurance for your belongings. They will charge an additional cost for the insurance service. Nowadays, you can also buy household moving insurance online. You will need to declare the items for which you want insurance coverage.

Plan unpacking at your new residence

Needless to mention that your kitchen will be the very first important room you will want to unpack after shifting into your new residence. While movers are unloading appliances then instruct them to place the same at the right place in and around the kitchen. Set up your appliances as soon as possible. The open the box labeled with KITCHEN ESSENTIALS – OPEN ME FIRST. Also, unpack other boxes that you may need to prepare food. Prepare food so that you can get yourself recharged and do other tasks with efficiency. If you are extremely tired and don’t want to prepare the food on your own, then you may order food online. Swiggy and Zomato are very popular food delivering apps.

Have a stroke of good luck on your move!

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