Moving Smarter Not Harder

Posted on: 13 May 2015

Moving can be both exciting and frustrating. While new opportunities and experiences lurk just around the corner, packing up and moving your belongings can be a challenge, especially when it comes to packing your kitchen dishes. But, packing dishes doesn't need to be difficult. With the right packing supplies and a little patience, you can pack like a pro and get on with the business of moving.

Things You'll Need

• Tissue paper
• Bubble wrap
• Packing peanuts
• Newspaper
• Packing tape
• Permanent marker

Get Ready

1. Sort your kitchen dishes and decide which you will take with you and which can be donated. Chances are you have lots of odds and ends you have gathered over the years. Many of them are likely unused. This is the time to simplify your life and weed out the items you no longer need. Those plastic tumblers may have been a necessity when the kids were young, but grown ups really don't need them anymore.
2. Wash and dry any dishes that have been stored away in drawers or collecting dust on the top of the cabinets. It may seem like a waste of time now, but you will be glad you did when you unpack at your new home.
3. Gather your dishes into sets now so you won't need to search for that creamer or sugar bowl when you need it later. 
4. Choose small to medium size boxes for packing breakable items. You will need a box slightly taller than the diameter of your largest plates. A box with a height of approximately 12 inches works well for most dishes and glassware.

Packing Plates 

1. Place a layer of padding in the bottom of the box. You can use a layer of bubble wrap or a layer of scrunched up packing paper or newspaper. This prevents breakage during moving.
2. Place your plates on several layers of tissue paper and wrap it around the plate. Repeat with all your plates.
3. Bundle three plates together and wrap them with newspaper or bubble wrap, tucking the ends under the plates.
4. Position the plates in the box standing on edge. Plates should not be packed laying down as this increases the chances of breaking during moving.
5. Fill the box with your plates and add packing paper or packing peanuts around the plates so that they are secure and do not shift in the box.
6. Cover the plates with a layer of padding and close and seal the box with packing tape.
7. Label the box as fragile and note the top of the box. Labeling the upper right-hand corner on all sides makes identifying the box easier when you arrive, as it is easy to read the contents from any viewpoint.

Packing Bowls

1. Wrap and pack shallow bowls such as soup bowls in the same manner as plates.
2. Wrap larger mixing bowls individually and then stack up to three bowls inside one another. Place the bowls in a box with the rims down. 
3. Wrap gravy boats, sugar bowls, creamers and other serving dishes with tissue paper and place right-side-up in the box. Add crumbled newspaper or packing peanuts between items to keep them from shifting. Cover with a thick layer of newspaper and seal the box.

Packing Glasses & Mugs

1. Tuck the end of several sheets of tissue paper inside the glass or mug and wrap the remainder around the outside. If necessary use another sheet of tissue paper to wrap the outside of the glass or mug.
2. Wrap the stem of stemware with additional tissue paper. 
3. Nestle the glasses and mugs in a box lined with a copious layer of crumpled newspaper or packing paper. 
4. Fill in around the glasses with crumpled newspaper to secure them.
5. Cover with packing peanuts or newspaper and seal the box with packing tape.

Packing your kitchen dishes takes some extra time and care, but you will be glad you took the time when you open the boxes at your new home. Check out sites like http://www.securityselfstorageelginil.com/ for additional packing and moving information.