When we decide to move, the kitchen is the last room we pack and the first one we unpack in our new home. Our kitchen contains lots of fragile items, so it’s challenging to pack kitchen items. If you don’t know how to pack your kitchen items professionally, you can hire movers to do the packing and moving tasks for you.
Plates and dishes need to be packed properly so that you can safely move these fragile items to your new home. So, follow this step-by-step guide and safely move your plates.
Step-by-Step Guide for Packing Plates for a Move
So, you don’t need to do anything extraordinary to protect your expensive dinnerware from damage. Just follow the below-given steps, and you’ll be all set for a successful move.
Get Packing Supplies
For packing plates, you need medium-sized boxes. If you already have some, then no need to buy new ones. If you want to use old boxes, ensure that they’re sturdy and can bear the weight of what you’re packing.
Other packing supplies that you need are packing tape, bubble wrap or packing paper, and markers. If you’re using newspaper to pack plates, you’ll have to wash all your plates after reaching your new home. You need to do this because newsprint can leave ink marks on the plates.
Preparation
Regardless of whether you’re using old boxes or new ones, ensure that you apply the packing tape at the bottom of the boxes. After applying the tape, test it with your hand. Take the newspaper and place several sheets at the bottom, and you’ll do this at the top as well. If you have money, you can use bubble wrap for this purpose, but unfortunately, it’s expensive.
Wrap Each Plate
There should be lots of newspapers on your work surface. Ensure that the sheets are large so that you can easily pack plates. Place your plate in the center of the sheet and cover it completely. Similarly, do this with the second plate and continue this for all the plates you have. Finally, wrap the packing tape on each plate to secure the newspaper.
Box Up Plates
When it comes to placing plates in the box, never keep them flat. If you do so, there is always a risk of breaking. If accidentally some pressure is applied on the box containing plates, the edges of the plates can sustain more pressure. But if they’re laid flat, then the plates at the bottom can’t sustain more pressure.
Keep Stacking and Wrapping
Keep putting plates inside the box to ensure that box is tightly packed. But in doing so, don’t forget the weight. Ensure that you and movers can easily lift the box. The box should be medium-sized, and the maximum weight shouldn’t be more than 50 lbs.
Moreover, there shouldn’t be any empty spaces in the box. You can use towels or newspapers to cover this space. When you’re sure that there are no gaps, you can seal the box. Use strong packing tape to secure the box.
Label Boxes
Kitchen items are most fragile. So when you have done packing plates, don’t forget to mention the fragile items on the box. Moreover, mention the description of contents inside the box. Follow the same practice for labeling dishes and bowls.
Load Boxes Carefully
In case you’re moving by yourself, you need to be careful when loading such boxes in the truck. Boxes containing fragile items should be kept on the floor of the truck. Ensure that you keep these boxes between or under the heavy furniture so that they don’t shift during the move.
What to Use If You Don’t Have Bubble Wrap and Newspapers?
Our goal is to ensure the safety of fragile items, so if bubble wrap and newspapers are not available, you can use:
Pillowcases
Most people have these pillowcases in abundance in their closets. Use them to protect your plates from damage. It’s not recommended, but it’s a good alternative if you don’t have newspapers and bubble wrap. Something is better than nothing. As a result, you can save some money as well.
Sheets
Sheets are thin and easily available in every home. They provide lots of cushioning. Moreover, you can use them to provide padding between plates. If you’re looking for eco-friendly options, then try this one.
Towels
Towels are generally thicker than the above two options, but you can bundle two to three plates per towel. They can be great cushioning material when used at the bottom and the top. When you use towels, ensure that the boxes are not too big because this practice can make your boxes heavy and difficult to move.
So, you can follow these steps for packing plates for a move.
