Dishes are one of those double-challenge items when it comes to moving. They can be very heavy, and they are very fragile. When you pack your dishes or plates, you need to take extra care to ensure you do it correctly. Here are a few tips to be sure your dishes arrive at your new home in good shape.
The Right Type of Box
Most moving boxes are single-walled cardboard and well suited for most items. However, dishes require something a bit more sturdy.
Dish packs are moving boxes designed specifically to handle your dishes or fragile items. They are double-corrugated, providing sturdier sides, tops, and bottoms, providing more protection for the things inside.
While these boxes are more expensive than regular boxes, the added protection is well worth the cost.
The Box Size
Weight is always a concern when moving. Boxes should only weigh as much as you can safely carry; this is true for all items. But, for packing dishes, you also want to be sure you can carry the boxes easily. It’s not just weight, but the width and depth as well.
You need to be able to get a good grip. It is not like dropping a box of shirts. Even with Dish Boxes, you have a high risk of damaging the fragile items. When it comes to moving dishes, you are better off with a bunch of smaller, easier to handle boxes than with fewer large boxes.
Use Lots Of Packing Material
It may be tempting just to lay down some packing material and then stack your dishes in the box. But, this is a big mistake. Take the time to wrap each dish with multiple layers of packing paper. If a box drops, even a short distance, the shock of plates directly hitting other plates will likely cause them the break. The paper will absorb the shock between plates and reduce the chance of damage.
The Orientation of Plates & Bowls
Unlike in your kitchen cabinets, plates in moving boxes should not be stacked. Instead, place them sideways with plenty of packing material in between and around them. This reduces the weight or pressure on the dishes.
If you have smaller plates to pack or are using a taller box, you can add an additional layer of plates. Create a layer of crumpled paper to go between the two sets, and add the second set of plates. But, as mentioned earlier, be sure you are not making the box too heavy.
No Empty Space In The Dish Pack
All your dishes should be held snuggly in place. Be sure to fill any gaps along the bottom, sides, and top of the box with more crumpled up paper. You do not want the dishes to shift around in the box. If they do, they could get damaged. The shifting weight could also make carrying the boxes difficult increasing the risk of dropping the box of dishes.
Take the Right Steps
Packing dishes correctly takes time and requires a lot of paper and boxes. But, it’s essential that you take the time and use the material necessary to pack your dishes safely for your move.
Arriving in your new home with boxes of broken dishware is not the way you want to end your moving experience.
Professional movers are highly experienced in properly packing household items, including dishes. If you are moving soon and don’t want to worry about the proper way to pack your dishes, you can hire Browning Moving & Storage to provide a full-service move experience.
Contact us to discuss your options.