Moving: Packing the Kitchen

I'm writing this in blue to soothe you.  Is it working?  I've packed us so many times I figured I'd better share my great wisdom with everyone who needs it.  Along the way I've learned by my mistakes and I've learned by watching professionals do it (when we've had that kind of move).  I hope some of the ideas I have here are helpful.

Two weeks before your move start saving small boxes from your kitchen or bathroom.  It's helpful to have soap boxes, spaghetti boxes, cereal boxes, things like that.  I'll explain below.

The kitchen packing is generally done near the end.  I have found that about 3 days before the move is perfect.  That way, you have a BIG job done (the kitchen is one of the places where a lot of your stuff is).  Whatever you do, do NOT wait until the bitter end to pack your kitchen because you think you'll want to prepare food for everyone or you might need something from the kitchen.  It's too big of a job to wait til the end.  You are working yourself to death anyway and need a break from cooking and cleaning.  Trust me.  Plan on eating out or ordering in for your last 3 days at your old home.  Be looking for coupons for pizza or restaurants before your move - that way you can save a few dollars.  Buy some paper plates, bowls, cups and a set of plastic silverware.  It's easy to have breakfast even when you're packed up.  Just have cold cereal (using your paper bowls) or yogurt (using your plastic spoon).  

You'll need packing materials (such as newspaper, magazine pages, tissue paper) and boxes for the kitchen. You'll want to use your smaller, sturdier boxes for most of the kitchen items.  I've made the mistake (many times) of packing what my husband calls "bone crushers".  Too much heavy stuff in a big box equals unhappy husband.  In the kitchen, you can use your bigger boxes for light, large items like cookie sheets, cutting boards, toaster - things like that.  

When packing my precious dishes, I put layers of towels or dishcloths or wash cloths or rags or pillow cases or sheets or fabric from my stash between each plate.  This way you are also packing some of your linens.

1) Lay "packing material" (i.e., towel) out flat and place a plate (or bowl) on top the towel on the end of the towel.  
2) Fold the towel over the plate.  
3) Place your next dish on top of the folded towel.   

4) Get another towel and place that on top of the first dish.
5)  Put your next plate on the towel
6)  Fold the second towel over the second plate and so on.
My dishes have not broken using this method.  You can use the same idea for your cups and glasses, too.  It works for curios as well.  Anything breakable is well protected with good padding and packed carefully.

When you pack plates into boxes, do not turn the plates on their sides, lay them flat.  Do not pack any other heavy object with your breakables.  To fill in the little bit of extra space remaining in your box once the plates are in it, look for small, light-weight items such as a curio or paper items like napkins.  If you pack heavy things with breakable things, they shift and crush the breakables.  

Label your box:  Kitchen.  Then write what is in the box.   For instance I would write everyday dishes or good dishes.  I would write drinking glasses.  Be specific.  This is very helpful when it comes to unpacking and finding the box that has the thing in it you need most.  And this will happen.  There's nothing more frustrating than having to open every box to find the can opener.

Pots and pans don't have to be wrapped in anything.  Just be careful not to create a "bone crusher".  Don't overload the box.  Add other things to the pots and pans box like your extra paper towel rolls or small, unbreakable wall hangings.

Put silverware in a small box (like an empty spaghetti box or cereal box) and then pack it into the bigger box.  Don't even try keeping the silverware in a silverware tray.  Doesn't work.  I like to pack all of my silverware and cooking utensils into one box.  That way when you are unpacking, you are able to be more organized.  Items like spatulas and wooden spoons and egg turners can be wrapped together in a towel and laid flat in the box.  Pack your knives with care.  I would try to fit them into a smaller box first (like a cereal box or spaghetti box) and then place them in the big box.  If you don't wrap them in something, they can stick through the box and poke someone.  Or cut a hole in the box!

Most small appliances have to be packed separately.  If they are light enough and you have a box that is the right size, you can pack a couple of them together.  Be sure to stuff enough packing material around the appliance so it doesn't rattle around.  You can always put small items in the corners of the box or on top of the appliance (as long as it's not heavy) to fill in the spaces.

Think of the box like a puzzle.  You have to find pieces that fit together in the box utilizing as much space as you can.  

Packing food.  Ugh.  I call a friend and give away all of my refrigerator and freezer food if I am doing a long distance move.  You don't want to be hauling it around in a cooler and most likely it won't keep anyway.  Ask your friend for help with your move in exchange for free food!  Or just give it away.  It's a chance for a new condiments start! Yay!  If you are doing a short distance move and the food won't have a chance to thaw, you can pack your freezer food into a cooler and your refrigerator food into another cooler.  

Canned and packaged foods (non perishable) are packed into a small, sturdy box.  They don't have to be wrapped unless they are glass.  This is where liquor store boxes come in handy.  That's because they come with dividers!  If you can't get those, you can pack glass bottles just like you do your dishes.  Wrap them, layered in cloth.  Or wrap them with packing or newspapers.  It really worries me that you're going to have a broken jar and spaghetti sauce running out of your box onto your other boxes!  Just be really careful and remember not to pack anything heavy with glass items.

Honey.  Oh my goodness.  You haven't lived until you've opened a moving box and honey is coating everything in there.  Whew.  This is where careful packing comes into play.  Remember, remember not to pack breakable bottles with non-breakables.  Your stuff is being manhandled into a truck; your stuff is shifting at every turn the truck takes; your stuff is being bounced to kingdom come with every bump and curb the truck drives over!  I personally would just give the honey (or like item) away.  You can totally tell I've been traumatized, huh?

Pack spices into smaller boxes so that if they pop open, they won't get all over everything else.  Use packing tape to tape down anything that might come open - like your salt box or your cocoa powder tin (yes, yes that's happened to me as well).

Unless you can put your cleaning liquids into the back of your vehicle, leave them or give them away.  They are not allowed on moving trucks (it's against the law because they can explode?).  Most people that move are kind and leave their cleaning stuff in a box on a shelf in the garage.  That way the new move-ins have cleaning supplies (before they unpack).  By the way, leave a roll of toilet paper in the bathrooms, too.  Works both ways, so be generous.

Remember that you can use the inside of things you are packing for packing space.  Like you can put smaller items inside a large pot or a toaster.  If you are bringing your garbage cans, clean them well (or you'll be sorry) and then pack stuff into them.  

House plants are also not allowed on moving trucks (that's the official trucks).  If you are doing a short move and they will live, you can put them on last in the back of the truck.  Just be sure to wedge them in so they don't tip over.  I have a couple of plants that I won't give up.  They go in my vehicle.  In an emergency, you could uproot your plant and place a bag around the roots, tying or taping the bag closed.  It will be very traumatic for your plant but I've been known to keep a few that way ... in my vehicle.

Kitchen table?  If you can take the legs off tables, that is safest.  Otherwise they might get broken off.  Also be aware that moving is often the time that wood gets scratched or rubbed.  Your wood furniture should be padded from being rubbed against anything else - like the side of the truck or other furniture or boxes.  That's where rugs or blankets come in handy.

Kitchen rugs should be laundered as well as all other throw rugs in the house.  Save them in a stack for moving day.  They can be used for cushioning.

Don't forget to check the dishwasher!  The most famous place for leaving stuff behind.

Last piece of advice on packing the kitchen:  don't take any chances with your precious thing.  I have this pig.  He's been with me since I was 12 and my parents bought him at an auction.  He's special and he knows it.  He is wrapped alone and heavily at that.  Most times he rides with me.