If you’ve decided to relocate and pack your entire household by yourself, you’ll need to know how to pack dishes for moving properly to avoid an unpleasant scene in the form of broken tableware. We made a simple guide for everyone who wants to be sure that their breakable kitchen items are safe from damage.
The First Step Is to Get the Appropriate Packing Supplies
If you want your every dish to be safe during the move and make it to the new home in one piece, you’ll need to do more than just place them in packaging and label it with “fragile.” Every piece will require special handling and separate wrapping. What will you be using? We made a brief list of the necessary supplies:
- Packing paper
- Boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Cloths or towels
- Duct tape
- Marker for labeling.
Make sure you have it all in large quantities before you start, just in case. It’s better to have extra than to lose your head over searching for something at the last minute of moving.
Tips for Choosing Alternative Supplies
If you want to save some money or you just don’t want to buy brand-new materials, you can always use alternatives, and they will usually work perfectly fine.
For example, you can use old newspapers and find free boxes. Check your local grocery store or your workplace; they might have some. Schools, bookstores, and liquor stores often have extra packages they can spare. You’ll need medium and large ones. If they’re not firm enough, you can always strengthen the walls with more cardboard and tape.
How to Pack Dishes for Moving – A Step-by-Step Guide
Knowing how to pack your belongings is the first step in the process called how to move efficiently. Once you have everything you need, it’s time to start packing. Before handling any dish, make sure that the box is adequate for a long-distance relocation. The walls should be firm, and edges should be taped and strengthened. Pad the bottom with some crumpled up paper or towels to make a soft cushion.
- Start with the plates. Their breakability depends on the size and the thickness of the material they are made of. Cover them individually with more than one paper, and place them tightly together, so there’s no room for them to move. They should be in a separate box, with the heaviest ones on the bottom, and make sure there’s no extra space left once you place everything inside.
- Bowls can be sensitive if they have thin walls, like large salad ones. Bowls for cereal are usually sturdy. The similar-sized ones should be put together. As you wrap one, the next one can be placed on top of it. That way, they will be completely covered and safe.
- Mugs and cups are also not that sensitive, but you don’t want to risk any breakage, so pack them next. You can treat them similarly as bowls, just fill them up with crumpled up paper and protect them from every side. Covering them with bubble wrap is optional; what’s more important is that there is no room for them to move once you complete the package.
When You Wrap the Dishes, Seal the Box Well and Label It
It’s vital that the boxes are sealed and taped. The more layers of tape you put, the safer the travel will be. Make sure you use a wide and high-quality tape, so it doesn’t peel off. Label the containers as fragile and make clear which side is up so that the movers will know how to handle the boxes. Doing everything correctly will lower the possible anxiety about moving out.
Take Extra Care With the Very Breakable Objects
These items include glasses, stemware, and fine china. The glasses should be stuffed with wadded-up paper, and then covered in more layers of it – the more, the better. Lay them horizontally in the middle of the paper and cover every side. Be gentle and make sure that you can’t feel the edges of the glass through the layers of protection.
As for stemware like champagne and wine glasses, you should use a mix of material to cover them – start by filling them with paper and wrapping every part, and then put bubble wrap over it. The bubbles should face the glass so that packing is effective.
Pack the Glasses Last
Everyone who packs their delicate breakables should know that they should be packed last. You don’t want them to be on the bottom of some box, pressed by other items. They are very delicate, so they need extra care. Knowing that you packed stemware and crystalware the right way is surely one of the factors for stress-free moving.
Relocation Companies Have Full Packing Options If This Feels Like Too Much Work for You
Does this seem like too much trouble for you? You don’t want to risk not doing something right? Know that you can always purchase a full packing service from professional movers along with the moving service. Relocation experts will do everything for you, and you can just sit in your home, lift your feet up, and have a cup of coffee. It will be an additional cost, but keep in mind that packing supplies cost money as well and that packing by yourself takes time.
Moving and Packing With Professionals Is Always Care-Fre
A reputable relocation company can provide you with moving and packing, and you can use their storage unit for free for the first 30 days. They will load and unload your items, and you can be sure that everything is going to be done impeccably. The ultimate goal is for the move to be as stress-free as possible for you. Hire a good company and see for yourself.
