How to pack plates for moving and how to transport them without any damage? It’s not nuclear science, but it’s still something you must learn, especially if you’re moving interstate or moving across the country for the first time. If you want to be completely sure that your favorite dish will arrive in one piece to your new home, take a look at our helpful guide.
No matter how long is the distance your plates need to travel, they have to be well covered and protected if you don’t want any breakage to happen. Even local moving from one city to another can be enough for them to break if not packed and protected right. That’s why it’s very important to know the best way to pack plates, and it’s the smartest idea to learn from a professional local or long-distance moving company.
Start Preparing at Least Two Weeks Ahead
Even though it can seem like you can do all the packing in a day, the truth is a bit different. You don’t realize how much time it will take until you start doing it, especially if you don’t have previous experience, and you’re just figuring how to move out for the first time. You will be overwhelmed by the amount of work and details you have to remember, so if you wish to use all the moving tips and moving hacks you found, be sure to start on time. Two weeks will be enough for the everyday kitchen items, but all the other items that aren’t used frequently can be packed long ahead. The best method to keep track of what you might require and what pieces are definitely unnecessary in the last weeks before the move is to make a moving to-do list. If you do that, you’ll have enough time to wash all the things you plan to relocate and to see what are the most commonly forgotten things to pack.
What Supplies Will You Need When Learning How to Pack Plates for Moving?
Packing is a dull task that can seem endless, especially if you have a lot of items. You don’t have to be good at it right away – give yourself some time to practice. How will you do that? Make enough room and gather all the packing materials for moving you’ll require. The key to quality and safe packing is to have plenty of the following materials:
- Packing paper for moving (also – newspaper, cloths, towels, or linens)
- Sturdy boxes with closable lids (medium or small ones)
- Packing tape
- Bubble wrap for additional protection
- Marker or “Fragile” stickers
In case you’re looking for the cheapest way to move out of state because your moving budget is limited, keep in mind that you don’t have to buy any of these. You can get them for free from someone who moved recently or gather them from local stores. Once you see where to get free moving boxes, pay special attention if they have been used before because the cardboard must be very firm. If you notice that it bends lightly, put additional layers of cardboard to create thicker walls, and then tape them together. The reason why you have to get medium or smaller ones is that the dishes can get heavy, and if you fill up a big box, it might tear apart from the weight, and everything will fall out.
If, however, you wish to buy them, you will find these materials in your local hardware store. You will find boxes and other moving supplies specially made for packing plates and dishes. To save you from the trouble of choosing between various boxes, the cross country moving company you hire can also provide you with these materials, even if you’re planning on interstate moving.
When You Have All You Need, You Can Practice How to Pack Plates for Moving
If you’re asking yourself what is the easiest way to pack when moving, the answer is to be very systematic. The kitchen things should be the last one to be packed and the first one to be unpacked since they are one of the essential things you need for your first apartment. Make yourself plenty of room from other boxes in your home, and then you can start packing plates for moving. Don’t take out all of them at the same time. Start with the bulkier ones and separate them from others. Making categories when packing is crucial if you don’t want anything to be broken. The best place to start wrapping is on the kitchen table – remove everything from it, get the supplies, and follow the next steps.
How to Pack Plates for Shipping?
The answer to How do I pack my china plates for moving or what’s the best way to pack plates without any moving stress is coming right up – you have your supplies, you cleared the table, and placed plates and paper on it? Great! Now, the first step is to make a pile of packing paper or newspaper and put one plate on the center of it. Take two or three layers underneath it and fold over the plate. Then, take another plate and put it on top. Repeat the same process for two to four plates, depending on how fragile they are. The ones made out of thicker ceramics are harder to break so you can put four of them in the same pile. On the other hand, fine china is more delicate, and it’s better to wrap them individually. Once the pile is done, take other corners of the sheet and fold them over the pile, so nothing is left uncovered. You can wrap the whole package with one or two papers for additional protection or with bubble wrap. Tape it – or not, it’s not necessary. Crumble several pieces of paper and put them on the bottom of the box and then place the package vertically, like you’re stacking them in a dishwasher. Fill all the empty space with more crumbled paper and bubble wrap.
Don’t Forget to Label the Box After Packing and Sealing
Is the box full and not overstacked? If yes, try to lift it up and shake lightly to see if you can hear any clings and to feel if there is movement or everything is tightly put as it should be. If the dishes move inside, you should open it and re-stack everything, and fill the space inside. If everything is nice and tight, seal it over the closing lids, and mark the box with “fragile” and “this side up”.
How Do You Pack Dishes for Shipping? The Same Packing Tips Apply
Pots, pans, bowls, and all other dishes can be packed with these same methods that we just used to show you how to pack plates. Depending on the material they’re made of, they can be more or less breakable, and that dictates how much you need to protect them. Ceramic casserole pot is thick but it can be chipped if another dish hits it during cross country moving or even local moving. You don’t have to spend that much time covering metal pans, but they can be the one that will damage other pieces in the package. Make sure they’re well separated from other dishes, especially ceramic or glass ones.
Learn How to Protect Bowls
One of the crucial packing tips for moving is to fill boxes with pieces that are similar – so put pots with pots, and bowls with bowls. If you have several of them that are the same size or material, even better. Take the stack of papers once again and put the bowl in the center of the sheet. If they are delicate with thin walls, pack them one by one, but if they aren’t that breakable or expensive, you can put two or three one inside another, just like explained above. Create a package, and place it in a box that has a cushion of crumbled papers on the bottom.
These Tips Are Handy for Glasses as Well
The main difference between wrapping and protecting glasses and plates is that the glasses are more prone to breaking because of the hollow space inside of them. Get more papers or newspapers, crumble them and fill each glass. Then, cover them with at least two extra layers of paper. If you’re planning on moving cross country with champagne glasses, roll the sheet around the stem and don’t put the papers inside of it. Just take several papers, roll them up and place them standing up on a cushion on the bottom of the box. The rest is also the same – fill the gaps in the box with more crumbled pieces, bubble wrap, or peanut foam. There should be no movement inside once you stack it, and don’t forget to label it with a “fragile” sign.
How Do You Pack Dishes Without Papers?
If you’re out of papers, or you just want extra protection for your delicate belongings, there are more tips for moving out of state or moving interstate. That cushion we made from crumbled papers can be replaced with any soft and thick material you have in your home. Those can be blankets, pillows, sweaters or hoodies. Also, you can use any type of cloth like kitchen or bath towels – that will also be great. Wrap each piece in something soft, make sure that the thickness is right, and you’re good to go. That way you’ll also save space in other packages, just don’t forget in which one is your favorite sweater.
Is This Too Much Trouble? Professionals Can Do This for You
Many scenarios can happen and you might end up with no time for preparing and packing. Don’t worry – if you hire professional cross country movers you’ll have someone reliable to do all of this for you and you’ll avoid all the possible moving scams. They have all the required equipment to protect not only your every dish, but also lamps, mirrors, pictures and electronics. They can also provide you with moving insurance in case you’re carrying some rare china or expensive glassware. It is a huge relief if you can do all the work with only one company, so find the one that also offers auto shipping services in case you’re planning on long-distance moving and you can’t drive to your new destination. Choose your local or state to state movers wisely, learn how to change your address and how to get a job in a new city, and you’re ready for your relocation. Just remember that it might not be complete without a good moving away party.
Eva Johnson
Digital nomad born in New York but currently living online, Eva knows everything there is to know about packing and moving.
