Wonder where to start packing when moving? Well, definitely not from the kitchen since it is one of the most challenging rooms for relocating, and learning how to pack dishes for moving is a struggle we all have to go through. It’s not only that most people find it difficult to move fragile items to their new home. The main problem is that we have to use our kitchens daily, so you need to carefully consider when is the adequate time to wrap up yours.
However, there is no need to worry – there are so many tricks and tips on packing dishes for moving. You’ll learn the best way to pack dishes in no time. All you need is a bit of patience and time and a lot of supplies, and you will be good to go.
Materials You Will Need for Packing
There’s a wide variety of supplies you can choose from. You will need a few different things, all easy to find and affordable if you want to save some money. Everything will be wrapped in the best way possible if you approach this task carefully, no matter the supplies you choose.
What Kind of a Box Should You Use?
You have several options to choose from, some are not so good, and some are excellent, so do some thinking before deciding what to go for.
- Dish barrel – These are specially designed to carry dishes and are probably the best solution you can find. But, it’s good to know that these fancy boxes will cost you a bit more money.
- Standard boxes – These you can get from your professional movers in Orange County or from a local store. They can do the job but try to get those of medium size.
- Used boxes – You can usually get these for free at several places such as local stores or online. If you decide on these, be sure that they are thick and sturdy, but we don’t recommend them for packing fragile items.
Whichever ones you go for, it’s only essential that they are strong enough to hold your china, mugs, bowls, and everything else that can be found in the kitchen. If you’re unsure how many boxes you’ll need, just know that it’s better to get more than less.
You Don’t Need Bubble Wrap
Your first instinct is probably to run to the store and get a lot of bubble wrap. Sure, not a bad idea, but we’ll tell you a little secret. There’s actually no need to use it. It’s not essential for breakables from the kitchen. Bubble wrap is good, but it’s expensive and, quite frankly, a bit wasteful. Also, it is not so easy to recycle. You can get the same level of protection with other more environment-friendly materials.
Packing Paper Is a Must
You will have to spend about a ton of it, simply put. Everything should be wrapped before it heads to the crates. Don’t forget that you must put a thick layer of crumpled papers at the bottom of the boxes as well. People sometimes try to use the newspaper since it’s cheaper, but don’t do this. Ink can easily stain the dish, and it may not always be possible to wash it off, no need to risk this.
Don’ Forget the Tape
We suggest you get a lot of tape because your last step in packing dishes for moving will be taping every single package carefully. You will want to ensure that they can’t open during transportation, so nothing gets damaged. Of course, it’s not as complicated as relocating a piano, but this still requires your full attention. It’s a must-do to tape the bottom, don’t save on the tape here. Another piece of advice we have for you here is this: buy high-quality tape. Also, tape guns can help you fasten the taping process. In case you’re in a hurry to get to your new home or just impatient and want the move efficiently, this will come in handy.
Tips and Tricks for Those Who Love to Improvise
In case you are passionate about saving the environment (which we all should be), and you don’t feel like wasting, for example, vast amounts of the wrapper, maybe these substitutes for supplies are going to be more suitable for you. They will do the job just fine, same as using basic supplies, and you already have them in your home, so there’s no need for running to the store to buy them. You’d have one less thing to do on your to-do list.
How Do You Pack Dishes for Moving Without Paper?
Towels are a sweet solution. It’s a nice relocation hack because they take a lot of space, so you will have less of them to think of if you put a few with the plates. All you need to do is gently wrap a single plate in a towel, and of course, you can do this with other items as well, like glasses and bowls. They will be more than secure. Add another towel to the package to fill all the space that is left.
T-Shirts Can Be Used for Wrapping and Cushioning
T-shirts work just as well as towels, so this is a smart way to reuse some of the clothes you like less, instead of throwing them away during the decluttering stage. And after all, you can always throw them in the garbage later or donate them to those in need if they are still in wearable condition.
You Can Also Use Socks for Smaller and Oddly Shaped Objects
When it comes to socks, those who move commonly use them to protect stemware. Be careful when you get to unpacking since there’s a chance you’ll break something if you’re not gentle. For extra protection, add crumpled papers in wine glasses before you wrap them. Socks can be helpful for cutlery as well. Take a look at this video for more tips on how to carefully wrap your delicate items for relocating.
Some Basics on How to Pack Dishes for Moving
Wonder what is the fastest way to pack for a move? You shouldn’t be thinking about the quickest way when it comes to the kitchen, otherwise, you’ll have to buy plenty of new stuff or simply forget some of the most commonly forgotten things to pack because you’re in a hurry. Besides, you’ll only trigger additional relocation stress for no reason. Of course, a broken dish isn’t always a big deal, like in cases when you live alone, so one less plate in the set doesn’t make a big difference, but for families who need whole sets all the time, this is probably really annoying. Or even worse, imagine coming to your beautiful new place only to find out that your favorite coffee mug is broken. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to avoid losing half of your kitchen in transport. Here are some fundamentals on how to pack dishes when moving.
Prepare the Boxes and Reinforce Them
By this, we mean taping them firmly to be sure they won’t give in to the pressure, both bottoms and edges should be reinforced. After taping, layer with paper, as we’ve said before. Crumple it, it’s more effective compared to being folded. Now your box for dishware is ready.
Next Step: Carefully Start Packing Dishes
Lay the paper on the flat surface. Your kitchen table is an excellent place to do this. Put the piece on it and carefully pull the edges over the dish until they meet in the center, where you can tape them easily. It would be better if you start wrapping large items first until you get a hold of it, so you don’t accidentally break something small because you didn’t learn to be gentle. Besides, large items are going in the crate first, so it is logical to start from the heaviest stuff and work your way down.
If you wonder how do you pack large serving bowls for moving well, you can follow the same method for pretty much every other dish and later place smaller bowls into them. It goes without saying, but you should never wrap two things together, without anything between to separate them, as they will likely break each other when the truck hits a bump in the road, which is bound to happen. It doesn’t matter that it’s only local moving.
When Filling the Boxes, Insert the Heavier Items First
The heaviest things go at the bottom, so they don’t break the lighter ones. All that bouncing in the truck will have way less effect, and everything will arrive at the destination in one piece. Once you’ve filled the crate, it’s essential to use more crumpled papers (or towels, T-shirts) to fill all the space around. Try to leave minimum room, so the insides have nowhere to move and therefore can’t break. Don’t stack objects to the top of the box. It’s wiser to leave a few inches of space and then fill it to the top with papers.
Last, but Not Least – Labeling
This is the last step, and after that, they are ready to head home. Just write “fragile” on every cardboard box containing sensitive objects, and you’re good to go. Besides that, you can label which side is up to be sure your fragile objects will have the most chances of staying in the same place and not tumbling over in the truck. If you want, you can add additional warnings, like “extra breakable” on the box with stemware, or anything valuable you would like movers to pay a bit more attention to. And that’s it, you’re ready to move to the best place in OC county.
Additional Tips for Protecting Plates
There are a few things that can be of help specifically for protecting plates. Check your garage to see if you have any empty buckets like those for paint, or you can just buy empty plastic buckets. They are great for packing plates, and you can stack them one on top of the other.
Horizontal placing isn’t a problem since they have no place to move, and buckets are made of solid materials so they won’t break easily. And lastly, look in your cabinets for plastic or cardboard plates left from your going away party. If you have them, you can insert one after every plate. It may not be enough on its own, but combining it with paper is effective enough.
Tips on How to Transport Glasses
We must emphasize that in this case, it is better to use boxes of smaller or medium size. When wrapping, lay the glass on the paper and roll it. You can simply stuff the ends of the paper in the glass, and feel free to add additional layers of paper if you think you need them. Start with the bigger, heavier ones, and then proceed to more sensitive ones. When you’re done filling and taping the box, double-check it by shaking: if you don’t hear glass clinking, you’re all set.
You’ve Learned all the Tricks on How to Pack Dishes for a Move, Now What?
Now that you know how to pack dishes for shipping, you must find the bestOrange County moversto help you safely get them to one of the best OC cities to live in. You want to hire the best professionals and avoid any relocation scams. We stand out from many local movers in Orange County, CA,because of our dedication to residential relocations and professional approach to packing services. Don’t worry, kitchen inventory is not on our list of items movers won’t move. To get a free quote or more information, feel free to contact us any time. Our workers will be happy to help, and the cost of our services won’t give you a headache while curating your expenses checklist.