Moving house is always a stressful event and one of the most difficult tasks is packing up your old house ready for the move. Breakable items such as plates need to be packed with extra care when you move. This article takes you through exactly how to pack plates for moving, to avoid any breakages, along with other key things to do to prep well.
5 Things To Do To Prep For Packing Plates
Get these things done and you’ll find the whole process of packing to move house much easier.
Effective and stress-free packing is as much about preparation as it is about the actual packing, after all.
#1 – Get All Your Plates In One Place
This is so you know exactly how many you’ve got, and so that you can pack everything in ‘like with like’ boxes which makes everything easier when you unpack at the new house.
#2 – Declutter The Plates You Won’t Be Moving
Declutter any that you really don’t need to take with you.
These can be broken, chipped, cracked, excess, old, un-matching etc….
Now is the time to let them go – so you don’t spend time and energy on them during the move.
Related: 30 Quick Things To Declutter From Your Kitchen
#3 – Clean All Plates You’re Moving
One of the best packing tips is to clean things as you pack them. Much better to unpack clean plates and other kitchen items than have to deal with dirt etc… once you’ve moved.
#4 – Keep A Couple Of Plates Back
You’ll want to have a plate kept back from packing for each person in your home.
These can be used both for the meal(s) during the move, and your first meal in your new home.
#5 – Get Your Kit Together
It’s best to ensure that you have all of the packing supplies you need to hand so that you won’t need to leave the job half-finished.
You’ll need the following:
1 – Boxes – Enough to pack all your plates into. You’ll want a sturdy box / boxes that are strong enough for weight, and won’t allow damage inside when in transit, and medium sized so not too heavy once full. You could choose a cardboard box or plastic boxes for this job.
TIP: If you’re using a removals company, some will allow you access to boxes as part of their moving service, possibly for a small extra fee. Alternatively you can get online or ask friends / family / local supermarkets etc…
2 – Bubble Wrap – You’ll need to protect your plates while they’re in the moving box (as they’re fragile items) and the best material for this is bubble wrap. This is designed to protect and cushion items and does the job very effectively.
However, bubble wrap is made of plastic and isn’t always reusable, so if you’re concerned about plastic waste you can skip using it. Just be aware that leaving out the bubble wrap will leave your plates less protected
3 – Packing Paper Or Tissue. This will be used to wrap your plates and fragile dishes individually. Ideally don’t use anything with ink on (like newspapers) because the ink could add print to your plates.
4 – Tape – Strong enough to close the boxes securely, and possibly also for labelling (you can write on the tape, or get specially labelled tape that does it for you).
5 – Marker(s) – Permanent markers will be handy to label your boxes once packed.
6 Steps For How To Pack Plates For Moving House
Now that everything you need has been gathered together, let’s look at each of the steps you need to take to pack your plates safely and securely.
Step #1 – Prepare The Box(es)
If the storage box isn’t already constructed then begin by securely folding it together and securing the bottom of the box with sturdy tape.
It’s best to stick down the flaps both inside and outside the box to give it a firmer base.
When you’re happy that your box is solid and secure, you should line it with bubble wrap.
Cut the bubble wrap into long sheets and line all four sides of the box and the base with a layer of wrap.
This will give your plates / crockery a soft and protective base during transportation.
Step #2 – Wrap The Plates
To stop them each kitchen plate touching each other and limit possible cracks or chips, you’ll need to wrap each plate individually in either packing paper or tissue paper.
As I said earlier, I wouldn’t recommend using newspaper for this step as the ink can get onto your plates.
The best option is acid-free tissue paper as this will not only protect your plates but will also prevent moisture from building up in the box (and a build-up of moisture can lead to a discolouration of your plates so this is best avoided).
Step #3 – Put All Plates In The Box
This may seem like a straightforward thing to do, but you need to ensure that you don’t place your plates flat or stack them on top of each other when you put them in the box(or boxes, depending on how many you’re packing).
Instead, the plates should be placed on their side (vertically) as this orientation will help them absorb any bumps and shocks sustained during the move better.
This is the ‘filling’ rather than ‘piling’ way of organising items (great for paperwork, clothes etc… as well)
Extra Tip: If you’ve used bubble wrap, you could also place some between each plate for further protection as a great cushioning material.
Step #4 – Fill In Any Gaps In The Box
If there are any gaps in your box (spoiler alert – there will be! unless your plates are square and your boxes are an exact fit), your plates will be able to move around and this can lead to breakages.
As such you need to plug up any gaps with some sort of packing material as best as you can.
This can be done with a variety of items:
1 – Any packing materials you may have around the house (crumpled packing paper would work well).
2 – Newspaper – this can be used here as it shouldn’t come into contact with any plates due to them all being wrapped.
3 – Soft items you’re packing (kitchen cloths, towels, clothes etc…). I love this option because it doesn’t use excess packaging and feels very eco-friendly as a result!
Step #5 – Seal The Box
When you’re happy that all of the gaps have been filled, place a layer of bubble wrap or a soft towel (for example) over the top and fold down the flaps of the box.
Securely seal the box with strong packing tape and check it’s secure (i.e. make sure the tape won’t undo and allow the plates to fall out)
Step #6 – Label The Box
One of the most important of all moving tips is that it’s important to label the boxes well once they’re closed.
Firstly you should label these specific boxes as FRAGILE. This can be done with specially marked tape, or just by writing on the side.
Also label them with the specific room they belong to i.e. “kitchen” or “dining room” to make unpacking easier when you arrive.
TIP: Always label every side of the box, so that they can be read however they’re stacked or positioned during the move.
If you follow all of these steps, then your plates are much more likely to be delivered safe and sound to your new home.
Hopefully there are a few tips you’ve picked up that will help you pack these and other similarly breakable items.
And if you’re in the midst of packing, why not check out this post for the next set of items to get in boxes…
