How To Pack Your Kitchen For Moving
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If you’re moving to a new home, it is essential to pack all of your kitchen items properly. Doing so ensures that you won’t forget about anything, especially when you’re busy packing other items in different areas of your house. This way, you won’t have to pay additional costs to return to your previous place or purchase the same things.
However, if you fail to pack your kitchen supplies, you might break them during the move. For instance, an extensive set of pots and pans that aren’t sealed correctly can fall and break. In turn, you might have to replace them, which increases your moving expenses.
So, here are seven practical tips to make sure that your kitchen’s move goes smoothly:
1. Look For A Moving Company
When packing up all your items, it’s hard to go through many boxes and supplies. This process requires you to allocate hours packing your kitchen, especially when you have so much else going on. Aside from that, you should also pack fragile items properly to avoid damage while in transit.
With the help of a professional moving company like The Big Boy Movers, you won’t have to worry about these issues as you pack your kitchen. This team will bring all the necessary supplies for packing and use their expertise to pack your belongings properly. As a result, you can streamline the packing and moving process while avoiding damage.
2. Create A Checklist
A checklist helps make sure that you won’t forget anything during packing. You can also use this document when unpacking so everything will be in place after moving. Doing so can avoid the hassle of having to look for things and put them back in their proper places before you start unpacking.
Below is a list of items that you must include in your packing checklist for moving:
Heavy Appliances
Your appliances are an investment, and you don’t want to damage them during the move. Ensure all your appliances have been unplugged and packed in their original boxes. If you don’t have their original boxes, consider purchasing new ones from a moving company or local appliance store. You can also use thick blankets or towels to protect the appliances from bumps and scratches during transit and place them on top of your other items in boxes for added support.
Small Appliances
If possible, pack kitchen appliances such as blenders, coffee makers, and food processors in their original boxes. If you don’t have commercial packaging, cover them with bubble wrap or packing paper to protect them from damage during transit. Aside from that, wrap any cords included in these items so they won’t tangle up with other things during the move.
Cookware
Pots and pans are one of the first things people think about when packing their kitchen for a move, but other pieces of cookware can be just as important. For example, spatulas and spoons help stir and mix food in pans, while mixing bowls allow you to blend ingredients more quickly than just one pot or pan at a time.
Glassware
If you have fragile glassware like wine glasses, cups, or bowls, wrap each piece individually in newspaper or bubble wrap before placing them in a box.
Dishware
Plates and bowls should also be included in your checklist. If possible, try to find space for decorative ones and plain white plates that can be used for everyday meals and snacks.
Utensils
Make sure to include spatulas and spoons and serve utensils like knives, forks, and spoons. You may also want to pack measuring cups and spoons if they aren’t already part of your dish set.
Food
If you’re moving out of town, don’t forget to pack all of your food. If you’ll be staying in the area, bringing any perishable items with you is a good idea. These items include canned goods, bottled water, and frozen foods. Don’t forget about spices and condiments because they can come in handy when cooking.
Cutlery
Make sure all your cutlery is in good condition and not broken or missing pieces. If there are broken knives or forks, throw them out immediately and buy new ones before moving. You can also donate them to charity shops or friends who are also moving so that they can use them for their moves.
Pots And Pans
Pack all your pots and pans carefully, so they don’t get damaged during the move. If possible, pack some of the smaller pots and pans in empty boxes instead of wrapping them in paper or bubble wrap because it takes up less space and is easier to store when they aren’t being used regularly.
3. Declutter
You need to declutter your kitchen space before you can pack up your kitchen supplies so you can spend lesser time packing. If you fail to do so, you’ll spend more time browsing the room for things and moving items around. Aside from that, you might accidentally trip on sharp objects, which can lead to injury and pain.
If you want to make sure that everything is in order, here are four tips on how to do it:
Declutter Your Kitchen Top
You can remove everything on your kitchen countertop. These items include cookbooks, cutlery sets, and other miscellaneous items. Make sure everything has its place so it won’t be too hard to find them once you’re about to clean or cook again.
Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets
If dust accumulates inside each cabinet, wipe them down with a damp cloth until they’re clean enough for use. Also, you may use paper towels but ensure that they won’t get wet since your cabinets might get rusty over time.
Consider Donating Items
You might have some old appliances or utensils hanging around that you never use anymore. Donating these items is better than throwing them away because they can be used by someone else who needs them more than you. Additionally, this strategy allows you to keep only the ones you need to reduce your time packing your kitchen.
Remove Expired Goods
You may also want to consider getting rid of any food that has gone bad. If you have canned goods beyond their expiration date, throw them away. In doing so, you can avoid packing them in your new home, reducing your time in unpacking boxes. In addition, you’ll have more space for other essential kitchen items, which might lessen your packing and moving costs.
4. Divide Cabinets Into Sections
Packing everything neatly and organized can be difficult if you have many items in your cabinets. To make things easier, divide your cabinets into sections based on what you’re using them for.
For example, if you store pots and pans together and bakeware together, pack those items in separate groups instead of randomly tossing them into boxes. This strategy will allow you to unpack everything when you get to the new house quickly.
5. Use Plastic Containers
Plastic containers are the best ways to keep your food safe during the move. You may use these packaging items to store dry goods like flour, sugar, and spices with lids that snap shut tightly. This tactic prevents them from spilling over during the move and makes clean-up quick when you arrive at your new home.
When shopping for plastic containers, look for secure lids and sturdy construction. You can find these containers at most grocery stores and hardware stores. The container should also handle being packed with other heavy or sharp objects. In doing so, you can fill your kitchen in an organized manner, allowing you to keep track of your belongings while moving them from one place to another.
6. Label Each Box
Labelling every box is essential so that nothing gets lost or misplaced during transport. Besides that, this activity is helpful when unpacking. For instance, if an item doesn’t look familiar when it comes out of the box, you can figure out where it belongs since it already has clear labels. As a result, you won’t have to go through the confusion because you labelled everything with an identifying number or letter combination.
As you label each box, you may use stickers or markers to write down what’s inside each parcel, so there’s no confusion once they arrive on-site at your new place. Alternatively, you can use clear packing tape and write directly on the boxes. This way, you can easily see what’s inside without opening every box.
7. Pack The Food Separately
Another thing you must consider is separating all of the perishable foods from the non-perishable ones. This way, you won’t lose everything else in your refrigerator if something goes wrong during the move. In turn, you can prevent causing contamination because food won’t merge with other items.
So, you must take out all perishable foods from the refrigerator and freezer before packing up that appliance and any leftovers from the pantry (if applicable). Place these items in plastic bags or containers with lids, so they don’t spill out during transit. Remember that if there’s food in the refrigerator when moving day comes around, you must throw it out immediately. If you don’t, you might suffer from the pungent smell, or a family member might accidentally eat it.
Key Takeaway
Packing for your next residential move can be time-consuming and stressful, especially if you’re doing it alone. Therefore, you must consider these seven tips in packing your kitchen to minimize your moving costs and ensure that none of your precious items are damaged in transit.
