Preparing for a move takes a lot of work. Relying on a top-rated moving company to ensure safe handling of your boxes is a good idea, but unless you pay for professional packing, you’ll need to wrap and protect fragile items like your dishes yourself. Here are some tips for how to pack your dishes for moving.

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Watch this video from The Home Depot for some tips on how to pack your dishes and glasses for a move:

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Understanding Packing Materials

Some companies may provide packing materials, especially top movers that specialize in small moves. More affordable movers may require you to buy moving supplies on your own. Hardware stores often carry a good selection of moving boxes and packing tape. You can also find packing materials at truck rental stores or through online distributors.

Your list of supplies should include the following:

• Medium, double-walled boxes (around 18 by 18 by 28 inches)
• Packing tape
• Permanent marker
• Plain packing paper or tissue paper
• Tissue paper, bubble wrap, or packing styrofoam

Invest in double-walled boxes or dish pack boxes to prevent crushing or damage during transport. You can reuse bubble wrap, newspaper, and packing peanuts as filler materials but not for direct contact with the dishes. Packing paper is the best way to wrap dishes since bubble wrap is hard to mold around them. Banker’s boxes are a good choice for sturdy boxes you can assemble yourself without tape.

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Preparing Dishes for Packing

Once you have your packing supplies, prep your dishes and other fragile items by following these steps:

1. Clear and clean a large, flat surface such as a kitchen counter or dining table to hold your dishes.
2. Wash and dry all of your dishes and sort them into packing groups.
3. Organize groups by similarities in size and function to help maximize space and prevent damaging items.
4. If you purchased a roll of packing paper, precut several appropriate-sized sheets into a pile. Have a big enough stack of packing paper to handle all your dishes.

The more organized you are, the faster the process will go.

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Packing Techniques

Your kitchen contains a lot of breakables. Careful kitchen packing prevents damage to your items and injuries from broken glass when reaching into the box. Label each box as you pack it, marking the contents on the sides and top to make unpacking easier when you reach your new home.

Packing Glassware and Fragile Items

Stemware and glassware are extremely fragile, but you can protect them using a cell or bottle box. A cell box works well with wine glasses, as the compartments reduce breakage. If these aren’t available, put extra support within the box with dividers or dish sleeves.

Begin by crumpling several sheets of packing paper inside the globe of the glass. Once finished, lay out two to three sheets of packing paper. Place the glass on its side, laying it perpendicular to the corner of the packing paper.

Carefully pull the corner of the paper around the glass before gently rolling the glass forward. Fold the excess paper around the stem and globe, keeping it molded to the glass. Insert the glass into a packing cell, making sure it fits snugly. If the fit is too loose, use more sheets of paper to further wrap the glass. Fill in any open cells or top areas of cells with bubble wrap or crumpled paper, making sure there is no room for movement once you close the lid. 

Packing Plates

Use extra layers of packing paper to add support to the bottom of the box when packing plates. You’ll also want to pack the heaviest dishes first, such as serving plates or dinner plates. 

Wrap plates individually to prevent them from knocking into each other and chipping. Center the plate across several sheets of packing paper. Pull in the corners over the center of the plate. You can decrease movement within the box by then wrapping four wrapped pieces together.

Place your wrapped stacks of plates into the box. Fill in any gaps in the box with extra packing material. When labeling any box of dishes, label it “fragile” and mark it “this side up” with an arrow on the appropriate sides.

Packing Bowls

Follow the same method as packing plates for bowls. The extra paper should create a cushion in the open center of the bowl. Pack the bowls into the boxes on their sides rather than in a nesting position. Use extra packing material to fill in extra space between layers or between the sides and top of the box.

Packing Casserole Dishes

Cookware dishes are typically heavier and bulkier than dinner plates. You should wrap each piece using the same techniques as dinnerware, starting with heavier items at the bottom of the box. Since fewer large pieces will fit in a box, it’s best to fill in the empty space with smaller dishes.

Packing Food Prep and Storage Dishes

If you have plastic mixing or storage bowls, you can nest smaller pieces inside larger ones to save space. Then, wrap this as a group following the instructions for wrapping bowls. If your storage or prep dishes are glass, you’ll need to wrap them individually. Don’t forget to keep heavier items on the bottom.

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Organizing Your Moving Boxes

Be specific and thorough when labeling your boxes. This will make it easier for a team of movers to load and unload the truck. Label each side of the box both with the contents and what room of the house the box will go in.

Store your boxes with the heavier ones on the bottom. Stack boxes from larger to smaller, working to keep same-size boxes together. Avoid stacking boxes labeled “fragile” too high, as it increases the risk of falling.

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Unpacking and Setting up in Your New Home

When you are ready to unpack in your new home, clean out the cabinet or space where the dishes will go. Try to determine where items will go before you open the dish boxes. 

Start with one category and put them away before working on another category. If you’re working on dinnerware, gather all the dinnerware boxes nearby as you begin. Unwrap fragile items over a counter, and lay a folded towel down for extra cushioning in case a dish drops.

Have a large box to collect the packing paper and trash as you unpack. Flatten the empty cardboard boxes right away and set them under the trash box. Even though you already washed the dishes before packing, you may need a towel to wipe off lint or dust.

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Our Conclusion

Even highly rated moving companies won’t be able to protect your dishes if they aren’t carefully packed. Take care when boxing dishes and other fragile items to keep them safe, and stay organized to make unpacking simpler. These are the most important packing tips:

• Use the right size boxes and packing materials.
• Avoid using bubble wrap and printed newspaper for wrapping dishes.
• Always place the heaviest items on the bottom of the box.
• Clearly label dish boxes with the contents, room location, and “fragile.”

It doesn’t matter if you plan to move yourself or find a budget-friendly moving service. Dishes are fragile and need extra protection if they’re going to get to your new destination in one piece.

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FAQ About Packing Dishes for Moving

Where can I find free boxes for fragile items?

Look for free boxes on the U-Haul box exchange, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or the Freecycle Network. You can also check with your state moving association for local resources.

Can I use newspaper instead of packing paper?

Newspaper works well for filling in gaps in your dish boxes. However, don’t use it to wrap dishes directly since the heavy newsprint ink could damage items with stains. The United States Post Office sells thick brown paper that keeps items from shifting or chipping in transport.

How do professional movers pack dishes?

Professional movers complete training courses before handling your personal property. For dishes, they’ll use a medium-sized box with reinforced sides as well as dish racks or dividers to help hold items in place. They keep the weight limit on dish boxes under the maximum allowed (usually 60 pounds) and stack heavier items on the bottom.

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