The kitchen is the room most people dread packing. It has the most items and the most fragile ones and the most awkward shapes. It also tends to need more boxes than any other room.
The good news is that a kitchen packs well if you do it in the right order with the right containers. Here is how we would tackle it for a Brisbane home move.
Step 1: Declutter and use up what you can
Every item you do not move is an item you do not have to wrap. Go through the cupboards and drawers and the pantry before you pack anything.
- Donate or bin duplicate utensils and chipped plates and gadgets you never use.
- Use up the pantry and freezer in the weeks before the move.
- Keep sealed dry goods and put any liquids in sealed bags so a leak does not spoil a whole box.
Step 2: Gather your packing gear
You will want sturdy containers and padding and labels. If you are hiring crates from us then medium crates suit most kitchen items and the specialist compartment boxes below are designed for the fragile things. For padding you can use packing paper or tea towels or bubble wrap (we sell a 100m roll of bubble wrap and packing tape and labels).
Step 3: Pack in the right order
- Things you rarely use. Specialty cookware and serving platters and the good glasses can go first.
- Small appliances. Wrap cords neatly and pack them with padding.
- Everyday dishes and cookware. Leave these until the last day or two so you can still cook and eat.
- Pantry and fridge items. These go last.
Step 4: Protect the fragile items
This is where most breakages happen so it is worth taking your time.
- Plates. Wrap them individually and stand them on their edge and not stacked flat.
- Glassware. Wrap each piece and pack it upright with dividers or padding between the glasses.
- Pots and pans. Nest them with paper or tea towels between each one.
- Knives. Protect the blades and pack them separately.
Use small sturdy containers for heavy items and larger containers for light ones. A box of cast-iron pans is easy to overload.
Compartment boxes that do the hard work for you
Wrapping every glass and plate takes time. We hire out specialist boxes with built-in compartments that keep each item separate. They are heavy-duty plastic and not cardboard so they hold their shape. Each is from $15 for a two week hire.
| Box | Holds | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Glassware Moving Box | 24 glasses | Wine glasses and champagne flutes and tumblers (tall size available) |
| Plate & Dish Moving Box | 16 plates | Dinner plates and side plates and serving dishes |
| Mug & Cup Moving Box | 12 mugs or cups | Coffee mugs and teacups |
| Bowl Moving Box | 10 bowls | Ceramic bowls and serving bowls |
You can see all four in our Glass & Crockery Moving Boxes collection. Because the items are separated in compartments you can pack them straight from the cupboard with much less wrapping. They also unpack in the same way at the other end.
Step 5: Deal with the fridge and freezer
Defrost and dry the fridge and freezer at least 24 hours before the move. Gold Coast Moving Boxes gives the same advice. A wet fridge on a moving truck is no fun for anyone. Brisbane summers are hot and humid so pack your perishables last and move them in an esky or a cool bag in your own car where you can.
Step 6: Label every container
Label by room and by contents. Mark anything fragile and keep the heavy boxes at the bottom of the stack. Our crates come with removable labels so you do not need to write on them. Please avoid permanent marker and tape and stickers on hired crates because cleaning fees may apply.
Step 7: Pack an open-first box
The first night in a new home is not the time to hunt through twenty containers for a kettle. Pack a small box or crate with the essentials and keep it with you:
- Kettle and mugs and tea or coffee
- A few plates and cutlery
- Dish soap and a tea towel
- Basic food and a bottle opener
- Paper towel and rubbish bags
How many boxes will the kitchen need?
Moving Again suggests a typical kitchen needs 8 to 15 boxes. That is more than any other room in the house. If you cook a lot or collect crockery you may need more.
A simple kitchen packing timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| One to two weeks out | Declutter and start on the rarely used items |
| Three to four days out | Pack small appliances and the good glassware |
| The day before | Pack everyday dishes and defrost the fridge |
| Moving day | Pack the open-first box and the last pantry items |
Common kitchen packing mistakes
- Packing the everyday items too early. You still need to eat and make coffee. Leave the daily plates and cups and a pot or two until the last day.
- Overloading boxes. A big container of heavy cookware or canned food is hard to lift and puts strain on the base. Split heavy items across smaller containers.
- Mixing fragile and heavy items. Keep glassware and plates away from cast iron and tins.
- Forgetting the fiddly bits. Lids and chopping boards and utensils end up in the odd drawer. Check every cupboard and drawer twice before you call the kitchen done.
- Not labelling. A crate marked only as kitchen stuff makes unpacking slower. Label by what is inside and where it goes.
Small appliances and the awkward items
Toasters and kettles and blenders and slow cookers all pack more easily if you wrap the cord neatly and secure it with a rubber band or tie. Pack each appliance with padding around it and keep removable parts like blender jugs and lids with their base so nothing goes missing. Large items like a microwave or a coffee machine suit a medium crate with padding around the edges.
Pantry and cleaning products
Pack dry goods in sealed containers and keep them upright. Put liquids and sauces in sealed bags so one leak does not spoil the rest. Cleaning chemicals are best moved separately and upright. If you are moving in Brisbane's warmer months then pack the pantry last and avoid leaving food in a hot vehicle.
Unpacking the kitchen
Start with the open-first box and then unpack the kitchen before other rooms. Because the compartment boxes hold glasses and plates and mugs and bowls in their own slots you can move them straight from the box to the cupboard. Stack the empty crates by the door so they are ready for us to collect.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pack plates for moving?
Wrap each one individually and stand them on their edge in a sturdy box or a compartment box. Stacking plates flat puts too much weight on the bottom ones.
How do you pack glasses so they do not break?
Wrap each glass and pack it upright with padding or dividers between them. A compartment box like our Glassware Moving Box keeps each glass in its own slot.
How many boxes do I need for a kitchen?
Moving Again suggests 8 to 15 boxes for a typical kitchen. It is usually the biggest room to pack.
Should I pack the kitchen first or last?
Pack rarely used items first and everyday items last. Keep an open-first box with the essentials so you can make a cuppa on the first night.
When should I defrost the fridge?
At least 24 hours before the move so it is dry when it goes on the truck.
A safer way to move glasses and plates
Browse our Glass & Crockery Moving Boxes or add them to our moving crate package.
See glass and crockery boxes