Moving to a new home can be an exciting or nervous experience, especially when all your valuable possessions are moving with you. The items in your kitchen are sometimes the most difficult things to move because of how fragile they are. Glass, plastic, and metal kitchenware are all things that can be broken or bent out of shape if not packaged properly.
Thankfully, the moving and packing experts at Compass Self Storage are here to help. We have put together an extensive guide for packing your kitchen, including ideas on packing pots and pans and other tips for packing your house.
How To Organize Your Kitchen
Keep your everyday items unpacked and available as long as you can before moving day. Before you begin packing, keep your items organized so nothing gets lost during your move. First, donate or throw away unwanted items to save time and money with packing supplies. Next, take inventory of what you have so that you know what to expect when unpacking.
What Packing Supplies Do I Need for a Move?
Packing supplies are the best way to ship dishes and prevent damage during a move. Some common items used to help pack are:
- Boxes
- Paper
- Bubble Wrap
- Plastic storage bags
- Black markers
Once the box is sealed, you need to make sure items are secure and protected so that they don’t bang into each other while moving.
How To Pack Pots, Pans, and Fragile Dishes
Handle dishes, vases, and other glass or ceramic items with extra care as they’re often the most fragile pieces in your kitchen. When packing pots and pans, put them in a separate box to prevent them from scratching one another or breaking your favorite ceramic popcorn bowl. Some other ways to prevent unwanted cracks or chips are:
- Wrap items in paper or Bubble Wrap. This provides each item with a layer of cushion to protect it from any impact with other items and unwanted dust.
- Layer items in a box. Try to use the same or similar-shaped object when placing items next to each other. Fill the bottom of the box and place a few pieces of paper on top before stacking more items to relieve pressure.
- Fill in any extra space. Place extra pieces of paper or towels in spaces that aren’t occupied to prevent items from moving around in the box.
How To Wrap Knives for Moving
Label boxes with knives in them so the person opening the box is aware of what’s inside. Do your best to pack these items separately using packing materials like:
- Towels. The cushion of the towels prevents any contact between the blade and another surface.
- Carrying case. Feel free to put those sharp edges into a knife case and place them in a moving box.
- Paper. Wrap knives in packing or newspaper paper once or twice.
How To Pack Refrigerated and Frozen Foods
Pack your refrigerated and frozen foods last–especially if they are at risk of spoiling or being exposed to harmful bacteria when left out too long. For long-distance moves, use or throw out non-essential foods like old or nearly empty condiment bottles and foods about to expire before moving.
If you’re traveling somewhere within 45 minutes, use a cooler to preserve the current temperature of the food you want to keep or slow the thawing process of frozen meat, vegetables, or dairy products like ice cream. Plastic storage bags also help prevent spillage or cross-contamination.
How To Pack Spices and Liquids
Avoid spills from damaged or open containers by tapping their lids shut while packing spices for moving. You should also keep similar-shaped items together and place them in a plastic storage bag or box with packing paper or towels. When packing liquids, double-wrap them in paper to absorb moisture and place them in a plastic storage bag.
Let Compass Self Storage Help You Pack Your Kitchen
We covered some efficient ways to protect your kitchen materials when moving, but that’s only the beginning of your self storage journey. If you run out of materials or even need a place to store your non-perishable items belongings during a move, contact a Compass Self Storage location near you for affordable packing supplies and storage units.
