Packing material for dishes so they don’t break – a how to guide
When you’re moving house, your plates and dishes are often the most fragile items you’ll need to move. If you’re having your kitchenware packed by our moving company, we will use professional techniques and equipment to make sure your plates and dishes remain safe and intact. Our rates are very competitive. However, if you’re packing them yourself, it’s essential to know the right ways to go about it if you want to be sure your kitchenware arrives at your new home in one piece! If you’ve ever wondered about the best packing materials to use, or how to bubble wrap plates safely, here’s a handy guide to help your move go as smoothly as possible.
What you’ll need
The first thing you’ll need is a selection of strong, medium-sized boxes. They don’t necessarily have to be new but make sure they’re in good condition and strong enough to take the weight of your plates and dishes. It’s a good idea to reinforce the bottom of each box securely with packing tape before you start, to make sure your dishes won’t fall out. Use two layers of packing tape if this makes you feel more confident.
You will also need several large sheets of bubble wrap and plenty of packing paper. If you don’t have packing paper, you can use newspaper as a substitute. However, if you use newspaper, you’ll need to wash all your dishes and plates thoroughly when you unpack them in your new home, as newsprint will make them dirty.
Finally, you’ll need a marker so your boxes of kitchenware can clearly be marked “Fragile” “Kitchen” Box No: It is also a good idea to have an inventory list of all boxes and items moved.
How to bubble wrap plates
There’s a definite technique to bubble wrap plates securely.
To start, you need to line your boxes with bubble wrap. The bottom and sides of the box need to be lined completely.
Choose a solid, flat surface to pack your plates, such as a large table or uncarpeted floor. Place a large sheet of packing paper on this surface.
Your first plate should be placed in the centre of the packing paper and covered with a sheet of bubble wrap the same size as the plate.
Stack a second plate on top of this, and cover that with a sheet of bubble wrap, just as you did with the first.
Then make a package of the two plates by lifting up the corners of your packing paper and folding them inwards to wrap the plates completely. Seal the package up securely with packing tape.
Place the package in one of your lined boxes so the plates are on their sides, as they’re much stronger this way than lying flat. Then repeat the entire process, packing two plates together at a time, until the box is completely full. Pack the box as tightly as you can.
If there’s room for more than one layer of plates, and the box can take the weight, make sure you place a sheet of bubble wrap between the two layers for added protection. If there isn’t room, there may be some empty space at the top of the box. Fill this completely with bubble wrap or crumpled packing paper, then seal the box shut securely with plenty of packing tape.
Remember to mark arrows on the box to show which way is up.
This process works just as well for other dishes and bowls. Even though they’re a slightly different shape, they still need to be packed on their sides rather than flat, as this greatly reduces the chance of them getting broken.
Packing other fragile items
Your kitchen is full of other fragile items such as glasses, pots, and pans. These should also be packed in boxes lined with bubble wrap.
Pots and pans should be nestled together, smaller ones inside larger ones, with a sheet of packing paper inside each to prevent them directly touching each other. This avoids damage to their surfaces. Each nest of pots or pans should be wrapped entirely in packing paper and sealed with packing tape before being placed in the box.
Glasses and cups should be filled with crumpled paper, wrapped individually, also in packing paper, and sealed with packing tape. They should be placed in the box standing up rather than on their sides, as they’re stronger this way.
It’s important to fill any empty space in each box with bubble wrap or crumpled packing paper, to offer your fragile items better protection.
Now all you need to do is find a reputable moving company like Prestige who will take great care of your items while transporting them to your new home! We are a very experienced Removal Company and we take great pride in all we do for you.