When it comes to packing, the kitchen can pose its own unique challenges. You’ll need access to some of your kitchenware right up until moving day. Not to mention, the room is home to many unusually shaped and sharp objects that need to be efficiently and safely packed.
If you have been avoiding tackling your kitchen area or have started the process only to find it difficult, consider the following tips from Matco Edmonton’s experienced house movers.
Tip #1: Discard Unused Items
The kitchen can become a holding place for many unused items. If you have appliances, tools, or dishware that has never been used, now is the perfect time to sell or donate. This advice applies to every room in the house but is especially useful in the kitchen, where things suffer more wear & tear and can develop a stench from foodstuffs over the years.
This includes food that has been shoved to the back of the pantry or to the very bottom of the freezer. Moving food is tricky and often impossible for house movers to handle, so it’s best to have it pared down before the movers arrive.
Tip #2: Manage Consumables
During the spring, summer & fall, the house movers at Matco Moving Solutions are able to transport canned and dry goods. However, during the winter, these goods are too liable to be damaged. Additionally, perishable goods cannot be transported by professional movers. Instead, plan in advance and try to work your way through any food products rather than having to transport or throw them out.
While food banks won’t accept perishable food, friends and family are more than likely to happily accept your extra food (especially considering the rising price of groceries).
Tip #3: Get the Right Materials
Talk to your Edmonton house movers about boxes that are designed to handle your move and the weight of your items. Sourcing cardboard from the grocery store or other locations can be cost-effective, but unreliable when it comes to safely loading and unloading your items.
Many moving companies are willing to re-sell their lightly used moving boxes and packing supplies. This way, you can get professional supplies for great prices while also helping keep trash out of the landfill.
Tip #4: Pack Carefully
Packing can be a tricky task to handle, but you’re in luck! We have many articles dedicated to packing different items, including fine china, appliances, furniture, etc. Also, be sure to pack your knives properly to ensure safety and help keep them sharp.
The proper supplies can be extremely helpful in this regard, bubble wrap or airbags, as well as packing paper, can be very helpful. Contact our house movers to learn more about the packing supplies that we can provide prior to your move.
Tip #5: Keep Essentials Accessible
A small set of dishes, utensils, the kettle, and dish soap should be available as soon as you arrive at your new location. Nothing puts a damper on move-in day excitement like taking hours just to find something to eat on! Define your essentials and set them aside. A duffle bag or smaller box can be used to keep these items together.
Your house movers will dedicate a box to be the last on the truck and the first off. This includes other household items that are important to unpack immediately. Consider tossing some kitchen essentials into this box, or pairing it up with your kitchen box, so the essentials are easy to find.
Tip #6: Pack Infrequently Used Items
Decorative items, duplicate tools, cookbooks, and other items you do not use daily (or weekly, depending on how early you will begin packing) can be neatly packed away. These items will likely not be missed, and getting them out of the way early will allow you to focus better on packing everything else.
Tip #7: Label Boxes
This step is a crucial part of making your kitchen easy to pack and unpack. Consistent labelling that is easy to read and understand will help everyone involved in your move place, locate, and organize the boxes and their contents in your kitchen. This also helps your house movers differentiate between the rooms of the house and keeps the moving process smooth and efficient.
Tip #8: Protect Fragile Pieces
Bubble wrap is great for delicate items and stacks of dishware. Packing paper can be used to fill empty spaces in boxes and limit the amount of shifting that occurs in transit. Stretch wrap, packing tape, and other supplies should also be kept handy when you begin packing.
When in doubt, overwrap! Overwrapping will only provide extra security, but underwrapping can result in damage or breakage. If you aren’t sure how to best wrap your items, hire your home movers to provide a full or partial house pack. This means all you have to do is let the movers in, and you can rest assured that all your items are in the best hands.
Tip #9: Consider the Weight of the Box
Many of the small appliances in your kitchen are quite heavy. Depending on the items, a cardboard box may not hold if it’s filled to the top. Be mindful of the weight of your boxes while packing to ensure they remain sturdy
Additionally, the weight of plates, bowls, and cups can add up. Make sure you’re using specifically designed china cartons to pack these items, which are designed to handle the weight.
Moving? Partner with Matco, Edmonton’s Expert House Movers
Matco Moving Solutions can help you with your local, long-distance or international move. We are a full-service moving company that is dedicated to delivering a stress-free and positive moving experience. We have locations in Toronto, Kitchener, Calgary, Edmonton, Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Inuvik and over 55 years of moving experience and expertise.
Contact us today for a free moving quote and to learn how Matco can help you with your next move.