The kitchen is the heart of your home, and chances are you’ve got plenty of valuable belongings in there that you’d like to protect during your relocation. So before you move, you’ll want to take the time to properly pack your kitchen to ensure all of your items are well-protected and remain intact and damage free during transport.

How do you pack a kitchen like a pro? Check out our tips below to get started!

Declutter Before Packing

One of the top tips for packing your kitchen is to take the time to declutter before you begin to pack. A few weeks prior to your move, go through your drawers and cabinets to see if you’re hanging onto anything you rarely use or don’t actually need. 

If you have a junk drawer in your kitchen, make sure you sort through that, too. Set aside some time to get rid of anything that isn’t necessary, so you’ll have less to pack and less to worry about during your relocation.

If your items are still in good condition, consider selling them on an online or local marketplace like Craigslist, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace. That way, you’ll make some extra cash, so if you discover you got rid of something you actually needed, you can use what you earned to purchase a replacement.

Check out our top 8 tips for downsizing while you pack for more helpful ideas!

Set Aside Essential Kitchen Items

Before you start packing, figure out which kitchen items you’ll still need to use as you work on packing up your entire home. You certainly won’t want to pack up your entire kitchen only to realize you didn’t leave any dishware or utensils out for the meals you need to eat!

You don’t have to (and probably shouldn’t) leave a ton of stuff out – just set aside the things you know for sure you’ll use. Make sure you also leave yourself a dish towel, some dish soap, a sponge, and a washcloth for cleaning up after everyone eats. 

Bundle Small Items Together

The second tip for packing your kitchen is to bundle small items together. For example, take all of your forks and wrap a rubber band around them so they stay together. Or use stretch wrap to securely hold all of your knives in place in your knife block.

Bundling or wrapping items together will help you easily find the items you need when you are unpacking and makes unpacking easier. Instead of having ten forks bouncing around in a box, you have one large bundle of forks to find and unpack.

Pack Each Box By Item Type

When you pack up your kitchen, be sure to place similar items together in their respective boxes. That way, each type of item will be easy to find, unpack, and put away in your new home (check out our other tips and tricks for tackling the unpacking process, too!).

Packing similar items together (such as glass lids and cups) will also allow you to include adequate cushioning that’ll help protect all items in the box from damage or breakage during transport.

As you go through your kitchen, sort items into groups by type before you start the packing process. For example:

  • Pack all pots and pans together, either in a single box or multiple boxes.
  • Pack all glass lids together, as they require more cushioning.
  • Pack ceramic items and/or stoneware in one or more boxes.
  • Pack all plastic and silicone items together.
  • Pack all unopened dry goods together (pack open items inside bags first to prevent spills).

As you choose boxes for each type of item, use the smaller sizes for items that are on the heavier side, such as ceramics, glass lids, cast iron cookware, etc. The smaller the box is, the sturdier it is, and the less likely you’ll be to overpack it with too much weight.

Consider Using Specialized Packing Materials

As you pack your kitchen, consider using specialized packing materials. Most moving supply stores and even home improvement stores carry specialized boxes and foam inserts that are designed to hold your dishes, glasses, pots, and pans.

These items are specifically designed to accommodate the shape of fragile kitchen items to help protect them from shifting or bouncing around while you are moving. If you do not want to invest in specialized packing materials, at the very least, wrap your plates and glass kitchen items in bubble wrap or packing paper to protect them during your move.

Or, if you’re trying to keep your move as eco-friendly as possible, wrap your fragile kitchenware in dish towels or other towels to provide some cushioning that’ll absorb impact during transport.

Don't Make Your Boxes Too Heavy

As you pack your kitchen, be careful not to make any of your boxes too heavy. Boxes can quickly become heavy when you are placing plates, pots, or kitchen appliances in them, and the heavier they are, the more likely they’ll be to fail. You certainly don’t want the bottom to fall out of a box full of your favorite dinnerware!

Always lift your boxes as you pack them to ensure they are not too heavy. How heavy is too heavy? Most single-walled (non-heavy-duty) boxes can safely hold up to 65 pounds. The smaller the box, the heavier you can usually pack it since the taped sides are more compact and less likely to give out under extra weight or pressure.

If you want to make doubly sure your boxes aren’t too heavy, grab a bathroom scale and stand on it while you hold each packed box. Then subtract your body weight from the total weight to find out just how heavy each box is.

Looking for Professional Movers and Packers Near Minneapolis?

Want to make your upcoming move as easy and stress-free as possible? Then reach out to our team at Ace Moving & Warehousing in Minneapolis! We’d love to help you with all of your moving needs, whether you’re in need of residential moving, interstate moving, intrastate moving, commercial moving, military moving, crating, or storage services.

To learn more about how we work or get a preliminary moving estimate, give us a call today at 763-755-2045 or request a quote online, and we’ll get in touch with more information!