The kitchen can be the most difficult room to pack, especially if you don’t leave enough time to do it properly. Here we look at simple and easy ways to pack kitchen items ready for a move.
When you’re moving house it’s easy to feel like you’re getting everything together nicely until… you come to packing the kitchen. It is easily the most difficult room to pack because it’s got so many awkward shaped items in it as well as many, many breakables. Not many people get through a house move without mourning the breakage of at least one precious mug! But do not fear, pack kitchen items easily and efficiently ready for self-storage or your new home with these simple tips:
Allow Time
Allow the most time to pack the kitchen. It’s going to take longer than the other rooms in the house and that’s OK, as long as you’ve allowed the time to do it. Don’t make the mistake of simply leaving it until last the day before the move and having a meltdown when you realise you’ve no option but to throw everything in boxes and hope for the best! It should be the last room to complete because you use it the most for everyday living, so don’t put it off, just allow lots of time to do it when the rest of the house is packed.
Be Ruthless
Like everywhere else in your house, you should not be packing items you no longer need or want, regardless of whether or not the items are going into self storage in London or a new home in the country. Make a throw away bag and a give-away bag to put your unwanted items in. If you have time, sell anything you don’t want and get a bit of extra cash to help with your move, otherwise dispose of undesirable items responsibly and give the rest away to charity. Don’t hang on to anything that ‘might come in handy’, take this opportunity to clear yourself of the junk that clutters your kitchen – your new kitchen will be thankful for the breathing space!
Be Careful!
You are packing the room containing the most breakables so you must make sure you use the strongest boxes, the strongest packing tape and the best padding you can lay your hands on. Weak boxes will not do, things will simply fall through at the bottom when they are being moved. Make sure all electrical appliances are packed in waterproof packaging with their cables neatly secured. Ensure cutlery and sharps are wrapped up properly so they cannot poke through – tea towels are great for this as long as you use a few, plus you’re killing two birds with one stone by packing them both together. Keep liquids like bleach, washing up liquids and detergents separate from any food items and make sure they are in a no-leak container. Plates, glasses and bowls should be carefully wrapped in bubble wrap and newspaper in strong boxes, with special attention paid to delicate items like wine glasses. If your items are going into self-storage it is important they are clearly labelled so you don’t place heavy items on top of delicate ones in the removal van or self-storage unit.
Don’t Forget The Food!
Items from your fridge and freezer need to leave on the day of the move, so try to consume as much as possible so you don’t have to take it with you. Some items will need to be thrown away as they won’t be suitable for refreezing. You may also have to completely empty your fridge and freezer before the day of the move if the white goods are going with you – if this is the case prepare for this well in advance.
Make An Essentials Box
One of the most frequent mistakes people make when packing up a kitchen is packing away everything and then finding they have nothing to cook with. Keep out some plates, mugs, spoons and essential utensils and keep them in a clearly labelled box so you know where everything is. You could even make a box titled ‘tea’ and put mugs, teaspoons, the kettle, tea bags, UHT milk and sugar in it so you’ve got something to make everyone a brew with when you arrive at your new home.
And remember, moving might be stressful but new homes are always exciting so it will be worth it…