How to Pack Your Kitchen

Packing your kitchen can sometimes be one of the most overwhelming parts of your move. Not only do you have fragile items like plates and glasses, but you also have large appliances. You also have many items that you need to sort through and throw away like perishable foods and household chemicals.

The good news is our expert moving tips can make packing your kitchen a lot easier. Start the process by making sure you have all the necessary supplies:

  • Sturdy boxes in various sizes with flaps that can be completely closed
  • Packing paper
  • Small sealable bags
  • Packing tape for sealing the boxes
  • Felt tip markers for labeling the boxes

Remember, when you are packing breakable items, you will want to line the bottom of your boxes with crumpled packing paper. Be sure to clearly mark the outside of the box as “fragile” and draw an arrow to indicate which side of the box should face up.

Dishes

Wrap plates individually in clean packing paper. Using several sheets, start from the corner and wrap the paper diagonally across the dish. Continually tuck in the overlapping edges.

If you are wrapping multiple plates of the same size, stack them on top of each other with a layer of packing paper in between.

Place the plates on their edges in a sturdy box. They should never be packed flat. Remember to put the heaviest items in the bottom of the box and build up in layers with the lighter items toward the top. Separate the layers with crushed paper.

For bowls with lids, wrap a layer of paper around the bowl. Place the lid upside-down in the bowl, then wrap the bowl and lid together in a double layer of clean paper.

When packing oddly shaped items like pitchers, vases or other unusual dishes, be sure to protect any handles by wrapping packing paper around them. Wrap the rest of the item in a double layer of paper.

Wrap cups individually and protect the handles with an extra layer of paper. Place them upside-down in the box.

Small Appliances & Cookware

Items like toasters and other small appliances should be packed individually and placed inside a box with crushed paper. It can help you stay organized if you label the outside of the packing paper with the name of the appliance inside.

Wrap pots, pans and other cookware in clean packing paper using the same method you did with the plates.

Food

Do not take any perishable food items with you on your move, and only take things that you are sure will travel well.

Use packing tape to seal up any open boxes of dried or powdered foods, such as pasta, rice or cereal.

Place liquid items that could easily spill into a sealable plastic bag, then wrap them in paper to prevent breakage.