How to Wrap Dishes for Moving

The kitchen takes up a small part of the house. But, it is notorious for holding more than 50% of the most delicate items around the house. It is no wonder the kitchen is usually the last place anyone thinks of packing when relocating to a new place.

With the fragile nature of kitchen utensils, especially the dishes, wrapping them up will, no doubt, be a challenge.

Luckily, this guide on how to wrap dishes for moving will make packing the kitchen for relocation easy.

1.   Packaging Materials

It’s no hidden fact that kitchen wares are delicate. So, hauling them into the moving van without arranging them properly is not recommended.

Packing materials ensures homewares, especially kitchen utensils, get to the new house without scratches or breaking. Some of the best packaging materials for wrapping dishes include:

• Sturdy cardboard boxes: Whether new or used, they are a miniature house for kitchen wares so delicate dishes won’t break in transit
• Bubble wrap and packing paper: They will cushion the dishes to prevent them from clanking against each other
• Packing tape: It helps seal the box, so it doesn’t open midway on the road
• Marker: It is used for labeling the box

2.   How to Pack and Transport Dishes

After getting all the packing supplies, from the packing paper to the bubble wrap, packing tape, and marker, the next thing to do is to start packing the dishes for transportation. But, there’s a clause.

Local moves won’t always require much planning and preparation when it involves packaging the kitchen for transit. However, wrapping dishes for long-distance transits requires much preparation.

Here’s how to pack dishes for a long-distance move.

·      Preparing the Box

Used box or new ones, the first thing to do before using boxes is to ensure that it is sturdy and can carry the weight of large and small items. Kitchen wares can be quite heavy, especially ceramic or stainless-steel utensils.

So, open boxes to see if they have any tears. If they do or don’t, get the tape to reinforce every opening on the box so that it doesn’t cave under the weight of heavy stuff.

·      Prepare the Material

The next step on how to pack kitchen dishes for moving is to arrange the material in the box to create a cushion for the dishes.

 Get some packing paper and bubble wrap, at least three to four sheets. Fold them neatly. Then, place them at the bottom of the box. Make that the crumpled pieces of paper line every corner of the box and reaches between four to six inches, so plates don’t break easily.

·      Packing Plates

After preparing the materials in the box, it’s time to wrap and package the plates. Here’s how to do it:

1. Place two papers together and lie them on a flat surface
2. Place the plate in its center
3. Pull the four corners of the paper inwards, so it reaches the middle of the plate and tape.
4. Repeat this step on three to four more plates but ensure they are the same sizes.
5. Stack four or five plates together in a small box.
6. Don’t forget to position them vertically. Else, they may break if laid flat.
7. Bunch some pieces of paper and place them over the stacked plates. This also cushions the plates but ensures there are no air gaps in them.
8. Seal and label the box as fragile.

·      Pack Bowls

Similar methods for wrapping plates also apply to bowls. However, the difference between bowls and plates is that bowls should be wrapped two at a time. Then, stuffed in its middle with packing paper before taping the box.

·      Pack Glasses

Glasses are the most delicate items out of all kitchen utensils. This is why it can be tricky to wrap them up for relocation.

To wrap glasses for moving, do the following:

1. Clean glasses. Then stuff them with some bunched paper
2. With another cut and folded paper, wrap its handles and stem
3. Open another paper and place already covered glass in it. Then wrap. Make sure to wrap glasses individually
4. Placed the individual glass cups upright in the box. Don’t lay them down, so they don’t break
5. Use corrugated cardboard sheets to create cell dividers for the glass cups and prevent clanking
6. Then, fold some extra layers of packing paper, using them as top cushioning for the glasses.
7. Tape and label them as fragile
8. Consider double-boxing for additional protection

·      Close the Box

The last step to wrapping dishes for moving is to close the box.

1. Before taping, ensure the openings cover well and their contents won’t poke out due to overloading.
2. Hold both top flaps together. Then, run the tape twice over the openings so it covers well.
3. After taping, shake the box to see if it has empty spaces. If it does shake, open and pad more with packing paper to fill the gap.  

3.   learn to Pack Pots, Knives, and Bottles with Liquid

Besides plates, bowls, and glasses, knowing how to pack kitchen knives, pots, and containers with liquid content is essential.

·      Wrapping Knives

1. Place knives individually on a piece of paper and wrap them
2. Place them inside the box with the sharp edges facing down

·      Pots and Pans

1. Pack pots and plates together (up to five), but make sure they are of different sizes.
2. Always add paper in-between plates and pan, so they don’t scratch
3. Position the stacked pot and pan in the box. Still, wrap them with at least three sheets of paper.
4. Tape the box.

Conclusion

No household item is more tricky to wrap for relocation than kitchenware. From plates to glasses, bowls, pots, pans, knives, and liquid containers, kitchen utensils will pose more safety risks if not packaged well for a move. Hopefully, this guide on how to move dishes from experienced movers from Boston to Chicago will make it easier to get delicate kitchen items to the new house.