Packing your kitchen for relocation 101

Moving the kitchen with all its objects, drawers, and cabinets can be challenging. The kitchen is probably the most complex room to move. There are thousands of utensils and smaller devices that you will need to pack and relocate in one piece. To help you organize your move, movers and packers Brooklyn NY, prepared a guide that will be a great help when packing your kitchen for relocation. Our guide, combined with concentration and patience, is the key to successful and fast kitchen packing!

Declutter before packing your kitchen

Before moving everything, you will need to declutter. Be sure to throw away everything you do not need so you don’t accidentally pack it. Explore every drawer and try to be as selective as you can. Ask yourself when was the last time you used that cookbook or mixer. If you haven’t used it for a couple of months, it’s best to throw them away or pass forward. A rule could be: if you haven’t used it in the last six months, don’t pack it at all! If you are unsure what to do with declutter that is in good condition, you can make online sales of used items or auctions.

Colourful plates and cups
Packing fragile kitchenware can be tricky but not impossible.

Finding the right packing supplies

You will need a variety of quality packing supplies to efficiently pack your kitchen for relocation. You can use larger boxes for packing items such as plastic tableware, a dish drainer, small appliances, and baking pans. Use medium-sized boxes and packing supplies Brooklyn for packing:

  • Small appliances
  • Pantry items
  • Pots and pans
  • Cutlery
  • Drawer contents
  • Cookbooks, etc.

However, packing fragile items requires different types of boxes. These are double-layered boxes and are perfect for packing items such as plates, glasses, goblets, wine, and canisters. If you still have boxes from your kitchen appliances, it is much better to use them than to buy new ones since they were specifically made to fit your cookers, blenders, mixers, etc. Larger appliances such as ovens, fridges, and coolers cannot be packed and transported regularly, but only with the help of professionals.

A man surrounded by boxes
Start packing your kitchen for relocation at least ten days before the moving date.

When packing your kitchen for relocation, try not to overfill or underfill boxes. If you put fewer items in a box, they might be moved around due to movement and break easier. If you overfill, your inventory will not move, but it can get crushed or damaged due to the higher pressure. You will need to use bubble wrap with most of the kitchenware. However, fragile items can be doubly protected if you stuff your moving boxes with packing peanuts, crumbled newspaper, cloths, napkins, etc. After you wrap fragile items, you can secure them even more by wrapping them with a layer or two of plastic tape. By doing so, you are securing the bubble wrap and ensuring it does not fall off.

Start packing your kitchen little by little

After doing a bit of decluttering, put aside everything you might need after the move, such as dishes, some cutlery, food and drinks (tea, coffee, etc.), tea towels, some soap to clean the dishes, etc. These items should go in one specific box, and if you plan on relocating with the help of moving boxes Brooklyn services, it’s best not to load them into a moving truck but to keep them with yourself. Start by packing items in the drawers you don’t open every day. those that could contain vases, glassware, wine glasses, cake and cookie molds, small appliances, cookbooks, tablecloths, napkins, etc. After you empty your drawers, divide your belongings into fragile and non-fragile categories. This will help you when transporting, since you will pay much more attention to fragile items.

You can pack cutlery with pots, pans, and containers. Just remember to layer them all with bubble wrap. You can also use a rubber band to tie a set of knives, spoons, and forks together to prevent them from flying around the box. Your plates and glassware should be packed in separate boxes. It’s not a smart idea to put all your fragile items in one box. Instead, put them in different boxes. When packing plates, you can place an old cloth on the bottom of the box and the top of the dishes to make improvised cushions. Finally, place all chemicals and liquids in one box and double-check that you have closed all of them before sealing the box shut. Label any box as soon as you pack it. By doing so, you will feel more motivated since you will immediately see the fruits of your labor.

Packing food when packing your kitchen for relocation

Pay attention to microwaves, ovens, fridges, and coolers. You will have to empty them and check for potential food residues. You will also have to defrost your cooler before relocating it. As for packing food, you can only pack some foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, canned food, and cooked meals. Meat can be stored in portable coolers for shorter periods. Foods such as eggs, milk, and dairy products can go bad due to high temperatures, so you should consume them before moving or donating them to those in need.

An oven
You should check your oven, fridge and cooler for food before packing them.

That is a much better option than throwing it away. Pack wine, juices, oils, vinegar, and flavor oils and make sure they are properly closed. Containers for salt, sugar, pepper, and various spices, mats, and trays can all be in one or more boxes. However, when packing spices and food, make sure to seal the containers shut with packing tape to prevent spilling.

Packing requires patience

All in all, packing your kitchen for relocation requires a lot of patience and time. The kitchen is usually the biggest room and therefore requires the most effort. To prevent stressing over the packing process, you should start packing at least ten days before the moving date. Pack little by little to achieve the best results. Also, we recommend cleaning every drawer and surface after you pack. Whether you are selling your house or moving from a landlord, it is always a good idea to leave as little mess as possible. Lastly, if you do need to store some belongings, using self storage New York would be the best choice! Good luck, and we wish you a pleasant relocation!