Howdy! 🤠 The kitchen is the room that surprises people most. It looks small, but it holds more breakable things per square foot than any other part of the house. At Elite Star Movers, a family owned and operated moving company in Buda, TX, we pack kitchens, china, glassware, framed art, and lamps on moves all over Austin, Kyle, San Marcos, New Braunfels, and San Antonio. Here is how we do it, so you can pack like a pro or know what to hand off to us. It is all part of Serving People & Protecting Furniture, Peace by Piece.
Before You Start: Supplies and a Game Plan
What you need
- Small and medium boxes. Dishes and glasses get heavy fast. Small boxes keep each one at a weight you can lift safely.
- Dish-pack or double-wall boxes for plates, bowls, and china, if you can get them.
- Plenty of plain packing paper. Newspaper ink can rub off on dishes.
- Cell dividers for glasses and stemware.
- Good packing tape and a marker.
- Bubble wrap for the most delicate pieces, like stemware and figurines.
Set up a packing station
Clear a section of counter or a table, stack paper on one side, and build boxes on the other. Tape the bottom of every box with a few strips across the seam and along the edges. A box that gives out halfway down the stairs is the most common reason dishes break.
Pack in order of use
- First: special-occasion dishes, extra glassware, baking pans, small appliances you rarely use.
- Next: cookbooks, serving pieces, pantry items you will not open again before the move.
- Last: the plates, cups, and pans you use every day. Set aside a few for the final days.
How to Pack Dishes and Plates
- Crumple a few sheets of paper into the bottom of the box as a cushion.
- Wrap each plate in its own sheet or two of paper.
- Stand plates on edge, like records in a crate, instead of stacking them flat. Plates are stronger on their edge.
- Fill gaps with crumpled paper so nothing shifts.
- Add a layer of paper on top before you close the box.
- Label it FRAGILE, KITCHEN, THIS SIDE UP on the top and on at least one side.
Bowls, cups, and mugs
Wrap each piece, then nest bowls in small stacks with paper between them. Mugs go handle-to-handle with paper around the handles, since handles are the first thing to snap.
Glasses and stemware
Use cell-divider boxes. Stuff paper inside each glass, wrap the outside, and place it upright in its cell. Stemware gets extra wrap around the stem, the most fragile part.
Pots, Pans, Knives, and Appliances
- Pots and pans: nest them with paper in between and put lids in their own box or wrapped beside them.
- Knives: wrap each blade in several layers of paper or a dish towel, tape it, and mark the bundle “SHARP.” Never drop knives loose into a box.
- Small appliances: pack them in their original boxes if you still have them. If not, wrap with paper, tape cords to the body, and fill gaps.
- Refrigerator and freezer: empty, clean, and leave the doors open to dry before move day if it is going with you.
What Not to Pack in the Moving Boxes
Movers do not move flammable or hazardous items. Plan to use up, give away, or properly dispose of:
- Aerosol cans, lighter fluid, and propane
- Cleaning chemicals and bleach
- Open bottles of oil or anything that could leak
Perishable food should be used up before move day. Pack a small cooler for the trip if you need to.
Packing Other Fragile Items
Framed art and mirrors
Place an X of painter’s tape across the glass, wrap the piece in paper, and pad the corners. Large mirrors and framed art travel on their edge, never flat. On move day our crew pads and protects big flat pieces; if something needs a custom crate, ask us when you book.
Lamps and lampshades
Remove bulbs and shades. Wrap the base and pack it in a box with plenty of padding. Shades go in their own box with only light items inside, since a shade crushes easily.
TVs and electronics
Use the original box if you have it. Otherwise, leave TVs to the crew; they are padded and wrapped like furniture. Snap a photo of the cables before unplugging so setup at the new home is quick.
Heirlooms and keepsakes
Small irreplaceable items like jewelry, family photos, and important papers should ride with you, not in the moving boxes.
When to Let Us Pack the Kitchen
Kitchens are the most common room families hand off to us, and it makes sense: it is slow, careful work. Our crew can pack just the kitchen and fragile items or the whole home. See our packing services, and if you want help sorting before or unpacking after, our home organizing services.
Big furniture gets a different kind of protection. Our guide to protecting furniture and floors shows how pads and stretch wrap protect dressers, tables, and TVs.
Kitchen Packing FAQs
How long does it take to pack a kitchen?
Longer than most people expect. Start the kitchen at least a week before move day and pack everyday items last. Our moving checklist shows where kitchen packing fits.
Should plates be packed flat or on their side?
On their side. Plates stood on edge with paper between them hold up better than flat stacks.
Can I use towels and linens instead of paper?
Towels work well as padding around pots and as a top layer in boxes. For dishes and glasses, paper is cleaner and easier to unpack.
Will you pack only my kitchen?
Yes. Partial packing is common, and kitchens and fragile items are the most requested rooms.
Let Us Handle the Breakables
If your kitchen is full and your calendar is fuller, we would be glad to help. We Can Handle It.
Get Your Free Quote or call (512) 358-7827 (toll-free (855) 358-7827).