Kitchen and Laundry Packing Tips

Packing the kitchen and laundry room does not have to be as difficult as you thought, as long as you utilize a few of the tips we have provided you with. The kitchen can be one of the first rooms to tackle, and later on using a few of these tips you can also pack the laundry room.

You can start packing the kitchen as soon as you know that you are moving. Using tips provided you can begin packing large serving bowls, seldom used serving dishes, small appliances, seasonal items, special pots and pans and tablecloths. Everyday dishes can wait till the final week before you move or to make things easier you could invest in disposable cups, plates and utensils allowing you to pack all the kitchenware.

Best Packing Tips for the Kitchen

Food items

First thing is to either use or dispose of any perishable items prior to moving. Small boxes should be used for canned and boxed items. Cleaning products and kitchen chemicals need to be disposed of. You can refer to our "Items That Cannot Be Shipped". Glass jars need to be wrapped to prevent them from breaking.

Glassware and China

• - Using clean paper china and glassware needs to be individually wrapped
• - Beginning with the corner wrap diagonally tucking in the ends as you do. You can use newsprint around it after for extra protection.
• - All cartons should have the room on it and "FRAGILE-THIS SIDE UP" labeled on it.

Flat China and Glassware

• You first need to cushion the bottom of the moving carton. Then each item has to be individually wrapped in clean paper and then put into a group of three which is bundled in newspaper. After this is done you can put the bundles in a row along the edge of the box.
• Flat glass plates, large platters and other similarly shaped pieces are ideal for packing on the bottom of the dish carton.
• Put crushed paper around all the items in the carton and make sure that there are no empty spaces.
• Once the bundled items are in the box you need to create a layer that is about 2 to 3 inches thick out of wadded paper. This goes on top to protect the rims and to be the base of the next layer.
• The second layer is where you will pack small plates, cups, saucers and shallow bowls. All of these are wrapped in the same fashion as larger items.

Bowls and Odd-shaped Items

• These items are normally the bottom or middle layers, but the placement ultimately depends upon the weight.
• Wrap these items in the same fashion as flat plates.
• Shallow bowls, like those for soup, are packed in the box on their edge, whereas deeper bowls are placed upside down on the rims and stacked two or three deep.
• The lids for sugar bowls are wrapped in newspaper and then placed on the bowls upside down. You then wrap both pieces together in newspaper and then in a double outer layer. This process also goes for cream pitchers, gravy boats, sauce containers and other similar items. These items are then packed upright and then a top layer of wadded newspaper is added for protection.

Pots and Pans

Medium sized moving boxes should be used when packing pots, pans and all other similar items. The placement in the bottom or middle of the box will depend on the item's weight.

Cups

Cups should always be individually wrapped, regardless of whether you use a cellular divider or not. Cups should be placed on a double layer of paper upside down (on the rims) and the handles pointed in the same direction. When through with that, top it off with wadded newsprint. Remember to wrap cups first and place an extra layer in the handles to give them extra protection where they are most delicate.

Silver and Flatware

• All silver pieces should be wrapped completely in plastic wrap or newspaper to prevent it from tarnishing.
• Items that are hollow in the center, such as bowls, tea sets or serving dishes, need to be treated as you would any other fragile items and packed in the same manner as china.
• Flatware that is loose can either be wrapped individually or in sets using paper, plastic wrap or even small gift boxes that you can tape closed afterwards.
• Silverware that is normally stored in a chest would still be better off wrapped separately and then put back in. The other option is to be sure to fill any gaps with newsprint and then wrap up the chest inside a large bath towel.

Figurines and Delicate Items

• These items need to be well protected and given plenty of cushioning.
• The first step is to wrap these items in paper towels, facial tissue or tissue paper and then wrap them up in paper that has been wadded and flattened.
• Bath towels and even smaller blankets are ideal to use as the outer wrapping or padding for glass items. Once wrapped, these items are then placed on their edge in the box.
• Pictures, small mirrors and plaques have to be wrapped separately in tissue paper and then in an outer layer of newspaper.

Small Appliances

• Clocks, radios and any other small appliances are wrapped separately and then packed in a box that is cushioned with crumpled paper. If an item has a removable cord, then disconnect it and wrap it up in plastic before securing to the corresponding equipment.
• Cords should be wrapped so that they do not damage or scratch other items in the box.
• A steam iron first has to be emptied of water and then it can be wrapped up and packed into the bottom of a cushioned moving box.

Cookbooks

• Book cartons should be used and the cookbooks with the same approximate size packed together.
• Expensive cookbooks or those with a great personal or sentimental value have to be wrapped individually before being packed into a moving box.
• The books have to be put into the box either flat or with the spine facing the bottom. The spine is never to be facing up since the glue holding the book together can break away.

Utilize New City Moving's Tips for Packing the Kitchen

With New City Moving's packing tips for the kitchen you will be able to get a head-start on preparing your home to be packed up for a move. This is possible in the kitchen since you can pack up the many items you don't frequently use well in advance of the big day. This way you can spend more time on the rest of the house when the time comes.