The kitchen may very well be the most stressful room to pack when moving. By breaking the process down and organizing along the way you can reduce both time and frustration. Today we are sharing some steps so that you will be fully prepared come moving day.

Organize

You can start this step the moment you decide you’ll be moving. Getting rid of any unwanted appliances, dishes or décor in advance will ensure you don’t spend any additional energy moving items you don’t intend to keep. Tossing out expired pantry items or donating non-perishables that you don’t actually need can shave off a little extra time and cut back on the number of boxes you’ll use. Making inventory lists and organizing your kitchen before your move even begins will eliminate a lot of stress come moving day.

Stock up

Making sure that you pick up all of your moving supplies at once will save you time on unwanted trips to the store when you start packing. Taking your detailed inventory list with you to the store will make it even easier to guarantee that you have everything you need. Here are some supplies that you may want to consider investing in.

• Large Boxes (18x18x24) – These are perfect for lightweight and harder to pack items. Take care not to overload these boxes. Adding heavier items or too many items will make them harder to carry and may cause injury or damage when transporting.
• Medium Boxes (18X18x16) – For those heavy items like small appliances, pots, pans, pantry items and cookbooks you will want to go with a slightly smaller box. This will prevent overload and injury. Make sure that all items fit securely and the box can be taped shut. The potential of loosing your items because your boxes won’t close isn’t worth it.
• Heavy Duty Boxes (double walls) – These boxes are great for packing things like stemware and other fragile items. Use your cell kits to allow for even more secure transfer of these breakables.
• Cell Kits, Unprinted News wrap and Bubble wrap – All of these materials will help ensure that your items are secure and will arrive like new. Wrapping your breakables and small appliances in news wrap is a must for safe moving. Using bubble wrap, as an additional precaution, is worth the added cost if you have exceptionally fragile items. Cell kits are great for packing glasses, wine, liquor, and can even handle things like figurines and vases.
• Tape and Labels – You will want to buy your packing take in bulk so you can save a little extra cash and make sure that you have enough to pack up your entire home. Investing in labels can help you keep a more detailed account of what’s in each box. Doing this will mean an easier time staying organized when unpacking. Numbering your boxes will also allow you to keep track of all your items during transit and prevent things from being left behind or lost.

Now it’s time to start packing

When you start to pack up your kitchen, you will want to make sure you stay organized through the entire proce

ss. Tossing your items into the nearest box so you can get it out of the way faster, may be tempting, but it will cost you more time in the long run.  Breaking down your kitchen into easily manageable tasks will significantly reduce stress and increase efficiency.

• Infrequently used items – Start with things like bake-ware, small specialty appliances, uncommon utensils, and pantry supplies that you don’t need. These items won’t be missed so you can pack them a few days or even weeks in advance.
• Essentials – You are going to want easy access to some of your items during the days leading up to your move, as well as the first few days in your new home. Plan out your meals so you know exactly what you will need to keep close by. Pack all of these supplies into clear Tupperware crates so you can find what you need quickly, without having to go digging through boxes.
• Drawers, Plates and Bowls, Glasses and Stemware, Wine and Liquor, Shelves and cabinets, etc. – Tackling each of these steps, one at a time, will make the entire process move quicker and more smoothly. If you can allow yourself a few days to spread everything out, it will make the process even more manageable, while reducing stress.

Prepare your appliance

Any appliance you plan to bring along on your move will need to be properly prepped prior to the move-in date. Deep cleaning your oven, microwave and refrigerator will prevent any unnecessary messes during transit. Draining and disconnecting your refrigerator and dishwasher at least 24 hours in advance is a necessity. Your movers will not be allowed to disconnect or unplug any appliance or electronics on the day of the move, so make sure you take care of this in advance. For your safety, always refer to the manual before cleaning or disconnecting any appliances or electronics.

The kitchen is commonly known as the most time consuming room to pack during a move, causing many people to save it till the very last minute. This brings unwanted frustrations and can cost you money if your movers have to spend time helping you pack at the last minute. By utilizing this easy to follow guide you can eliminate the hassle and become a kitchen packing pro in no time.