Moving to a new kitchen is so exciting, but packing dishes for your move can be incredibly stressful. Dishes are breakable, heavy, expensive, and often numerous. However, packing your dishes is very straightforward if you have the right wrapping materials, boxes, and moving equipment!
While newspaper is a common way to pack dishes, it is not water resistant or very protective. There are many alternatives that are still cost-effective and won’t leave ink smudges when you use them to pack your dishes. In this article, we’ll cover packing material options, how to wrap and pack your dishes without using newspaper so they don’t break, and tips for a successful move.
Table of Contents
Alternative Materials
When it comes to moving your fragile dishes, one of the biggest challenges is making sure that they are secure while you are transporting them. Finding the right packing materials is essential when keeping breakable items safe. Below are five excellent options for you to use during your next move.
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a popular alternative to newspapers for packing dishes. It is made of plastic with air-filled pockets. Because of this, it has excellent cushioning and protection against breakage. Since bubble wrap doesn’t crumple like paper, it will protect your dishes for a long time. That being said, it is a fantastic protective material for long-distance moves.
When using bubble wrap, wrap each dish individually. Then, fill any empty spaces in the packing box with additional bubble wrap. This will keep your dishes from moving around the box during your move.
Packing Paper
Packing paper is a reliable choice when packing dishes for a move. It provides a soft, shock-absorbing layer that helps protect delicate dishware throughout the moving process. It is clean and ink-free while still offering protection. You can use packing paper repeatedly since it is a sustainable option!
When protecting your dishes with packing paper, crumple or layer the paper to create a protective cushion inside moving boxes. Then, place your dishes in the box and separate them by layers of packing paper to prevent them from bumping into each other.
Foam Pouches
Foam pouches are specifically designed to provide a tailored fit for your dishes and other fragile items. While not as cost-effective as bubble wrap or packing paper, they are convenient and protective. Many people love foam pouches because they provide a snug and cushioned environment for each dish.
The durable foam material provides an extra layer of protection, minimizing the risk of damage from impacts and vibrations during transportation. Foam pouches are available in various sizes, ensuring that different types of dishes can be accommodated with a customized and protective fit.
Old Clothing
Using old clothing to protect and pack your dishes is cheap and eco-friendly. Before you donate your old clothing items, use them to move your breakable items and keep your belongings safe.
As you are gathering your clothing items to move, set aside any T-shirts, sweaters, and other soft clothing items that you don’t wear anymore. Then, carefully wrap them around your dishes to provide cushioning and protection.
Plastic Bags
Everyone has old grocery bags lying around, so why not use them to protect your dishes during your move? Plastic bags are a great way to creatively reuse items you already have and protect your dishes from chipping or breaking.
First, place a few plastic bags at the bottom of a moving box. This will give your dishes extra cushioning. Then, wrap each dish with a plastic bag or two and secure it with tape. Then, set your dishes into a moving box and pad them with more plastic bags between and on top of the dishes.
Looking to move soon?
Check out UniMovers and save 30-50% on your move as compared with traditional moving!
Boxing Up Your Dishes
How you organize your dishes is almost as important as how you pack them. When filling your moving boxes with dishware, it’s important to choose the right size, label your boxes, and secure each box properly.
Choosing the Right Size Boxes
It is important to pick the right size box when keeping your dishes safe. Find sturdy, corrugated cardboard boxes. When packing dishes, use smaller moving boxes. This will keep you from overfilling it and making it too heavy. Overfilled or weak moving boxes are an absolute nightmare. By choosing the right size boxes, you can minimize the potential for damage to your dishware during transport.
Dish boxes (also known as dish pack boxes) are made specifically for packing fragile dishware and are a fantastic option if you are looking for a little more security. They are typically made of sturdy, double-walled corrugated cardboard to provide extra protection and support for delicate items. Dish boxes are often larger and come with dividers or cell kits to separate dishes and prevent them from bumping into each other during transportation.
Label Moving Boxes
To stay organized, you should always label your moving boxes with a bold permanent marker. This will help you as you are packing and unpacking, but it will also help you keep your kitchen items organized while you are moving. Also, include a brief description of the contents of each box. Then, everyone is aware of what items are in each box.
Additionally, mark the boxes with fragile dishes with “Handle with Care” or “Fragile”. This ensures that anyone packing and moving for you is on the same page and knows that those particular moving boxes should be handled carefully.
Securing the Box Properly
To keep your boxes from bottoming out or falling apart, use packing tape to properly secure them. First, seal the bottom of each box with packing tape. That way, the bottom of the box will hold the weight of your dishes.
Once the box is packed, seal the top with packing tape and reinforce the seams to add strength and stability. Additionally, stack and arrange the boxes securely in your moving truck to prevent them from breaking while in transit.
Three-Step Dish Packing Guide
With proper wrapping, layering, and padding, you can protect your dishes, leading to a smooth move to your new home. Here is an easy packing guide to help you get your dishes from your old home to your new one!
- Wrap Your Dishes – Use a protective packing material to wrap your dishes. Then, use packing tape to keep your packing job from coming undone.
- Layer Your Dishes – Choose a sturdy moving box and carefully place your dishes. Place the heaviest and biggest dishes on the bottom.
- Fill Extra Space – Add extra protective material underneath, around, and on top of the wrapped dishes. This will keep your dishes from moving around and breaking within the moving box!
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can absolutely pack your dishes without using newspaper! First, find an alternative packing material. Bubble wrap is a standard option, offering lots of padding and security.
Packing paper is very common and cost-efficient, while foam pouches are more costly but will last a long time and will keep your dishes very safe. Old clothing and plastic bags are eco-friendly options. By reusing items you already have, you can conduct a more sustainable move and free some clutter.
When organizing your dishes into moving boxes, first choose the right size box. Smaller boxes are always better when moving fragile, heavy items. By packing your dishes into smaller boxes, you have less of a chance of your dishes breaking or your boxes bottoming out.
A dish box is also a great way to keep your dishes safe and secure. It is not cheap but a great option for fine, expensive dishware. Finally, use packing tape to secure the top and bottom of the boxes to keep them from falling apart during your move.
The process of packing your dishes into boxes can be simplified into three simple steps. First, wrap your dishes in a protective material. Then, layer and organize your dishes into moving boxes. Place your largest dishes on the bottom. Finally, use extra protective material to fill additional space. Completing all three of these steps will keep your dishes safe and secure.
FAQs
First, wrap each dish individually with packing material such as bubble wrap or packing paper to provide cushioning and protection. Second, place a layer of padding material at the bottom of the dish box to create a protective base. Then, organize the wrapped dishes in the box. Make sure that they are positioned upright and not stacked on top of each other. Fourth, add more protective materials to the box to keep your dishes from moving. Finally, place the box in your moving truck on a flat surface. Make sure that it won’t move
Yes, you can use old clothing items as a sustainable and economical alternative for packing dishware. Soft and clean clothing such as t-shirts, sweaters, or towels can be wrapped around individual dishes to provide cushioning and protection. This approach not only ensures the safety of your dishes, but it also allows you to repurpose items that would otherwise be taking up space in boxes, given away, or thrown out. Using old clothing as a packing material is a creative and environmentally friendly way to safeguard your dishes while moving.
Yes, you can use dish boxes to pack and protect a variety of fragile items other than dishes. They are made to be sturdy and protective, so that means they are also versatile, too! Before putting glassware, ceramics, vases, and other fragile household items in your dish box, wrap them first in protective material. The dividers in the boxes are there to keep your items separated and well-protected during your move. This makes these boxes capable of carrying a variety of fragile items beyond just dishes.
Newspapers are not the ideal packing material for dishes for several reasons. First, the ink from the newspaper can transfer onto the dishes, leaving you with an inky mess. Second, newspapers will not fully protect your dishware, which increases the risk of chips or breaks in your china. Instead, use alternative materials such as bubble wrap, packing paper, foam pouches, old clothing, plastic bags, or other moving materials. These items will offer you more protection and will not leave an inky residue after you unpack.
Caroline is an undergraduate at the University of Iowa studying Business Management and English Publishing. When she's not studying, she spends time reading, hanging out with friends, working out, traveling, and calling her family. After college, Caroline will enter the publishing industry, where she will help authors and their stories find their perfect audience.
