How To Pack Plates And Glasses For Moving?

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Stress-Free Moving: Your Complete Guide on How to Pack Plates and Glasses Safely

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home, and for good reason. It’s filled with the tools for daily rituals, from your favourite morning coffee mug to the dinner plates that have seen countless family meals. It’s also, without a doubt, the most daunting room to pack for a move. The sheer volume of fragile, awkwardly shaped items can feel overwhelming, and the fear of opening a box to find a pile of shattered memories is very real.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right strategy and a bit of know-how, you can transform this dreaded task into a streamlined process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the professional removalist’s method for packing plates, bowls, glasses, and mugs, ensuring they arrive at your new home in perfect condition, ready for that first celebratory meal.

Your Packing Toolkit: Don’t Skimp on the Essentials

Before you wrap a single item, setting yourself up for success starts with gathering the right materials. Using old supermarket boxes and leftover newspaper is a false economy that often ends in heartbreak. Investing in proper supplies is the single most important step you can take.

  • The Right Boxes are Crucial:
    • Dish Pack Box (or “Dish Barrel”): This is the champion of kitchen packing. These are heavy-duty, double-walled cardboard boxes designed specifically for fragile items. They are taller and stronger than standard boxes, providing superior protection. Many come with cell-divider kits.
    • Small Moving Boxes (“Book Boxes”): If you can’t get a dish pack, small, sturdy moving boxes are your next best bet. Their compact size prevents you from making them too heavy, which reduces the risk of them being dropped or the bottom giving out.
  • Clean Packing Paper: Get a large ream of ink-free packing paper (also known as butcher’s paper). You will need more than you think, so it’s better to have extra.
  • Crucial Tip: Avoid using newspapers at all costs. The ink can easily transfer onto your dinnerware, leaving you with a huge cleaning job.
  • Bubble Wrap: While packing paper is your primary tool, bubble wrap offers an unbeatable layer of extra cushioning for particularly valuable or delicate items, like fine china or crystal.
  • Strong Packing Tape: Don’t use flimsy office tape. You need a quality, wide packing tape to properly construct and seal your boxes so they don’t fall apart in transit.
  • A Permanent Marker: Clear, bold labelling is non-negotiable. A thick black marker is ideal.
  • A Clear, Flat Workspace: Set up on a large dining table or a clear section of the floor. A cluttered workspace leads to mistakes and accidents.

Building Your Fortress: How to Prep Your Box

A box is only as strong as its foundation. Before placing anything inside, you need to prepare it properly.

  1. Construct the Box: Fold the flaps to create the base.
  2. Tape the Bottom Securely: Don’t just run one strip of tape down the middle seam. For maximum strength, use the “H-Tape” method: tape down the centre seam, and then tape along the two shorter edge seams. For even more security on a heavy box, add two more strips diagonally across the bottom, creating a star shape.
  3. Create a Cushion: Crumple up several sheets of packing paper and lay them flat to create a soft, cushioned base inside the box. This shock-absorbing layer should be at least 8-10 centimetres deep.

Packing Plates: The Secret is Stacking Vertically

This is the single most important technique you will learn. Most people instinctively stack plates flat on top of each other in a box. This is incorrect and dangerous. When a box is stacked this way, any jolt or bump from the side transfers all that force and weight onto the plate at the bottom, almost guaranteeing a crack.

The professional method is to pack plates on their edge, vertically, just like in a dishwasher rack. This allows them to absorb vibrations and bumps far more effectively.

The Step-by-Step Vertical Method:

  1. Set Up Your Paper: Lay a stack of 2-3 sheets of packing paper flat on your workspace.
  2. Place and Wrap: Place your first dinner plate in the centre of the paper. Fold one corner of the paper over the plate until it’s completely covered.
  3. Add the Next Plate: Place a second plate directly on top of the first. Fold the next corner of the paper over this second plate.
  4. Create a Bundle: Continue this process, stacking and folding, until you have a bundle of 3-4 similarly sized plates.
  5. Secure the Bundle: Bring the remaining paper from the sides and wrap it around your bundle, tucking it in securely. You should have a neat, cushioned packet of plates.
  6. Tape the Seam: Use a small piece of tape to secure the paper bundle so it doesn’t unravel.
  7. Place Vertically in the Box: Carefully place the wrapped bundle into the prepared box on its edge. Continue this process, packing bundles snugly next to each other until the box is full.

Tackling Awkward Shapes: How to Pack Bowls

Bowls can be tricky due to their shape. You have two effective options, depending on the type of bowl.

  • For Sturdy, Everyday Bowls (Cereal Bowls): You can use the same stacking method as plates. Create a cushioned bundle of 2-3 bowls, wrap them tightly in paper, and place them in the box on their side or rim.
  • For Delicate or Oddly Shaped Bowls (Soup Bowls, Pasta Bowls): It’s safer to wrap each bowl individually. Place the bowl in the centre of several sheets of paper. Pull the corners of the paper up and into the centre of the bowl, one by one, then wrap the remaining paper around the outside. This creates a cushioned nest for each one. Place them in the box on their rims.

Protecting Your Drinkware: Packing Glasses, Mugs, and Stemware

The key to packing any type of glass is to provide internal support and a thick outer cushion. The strongest part of a glass is its rim, which is why they should always be packed rim-down.

For Standard Glasses and Mugs:

  1. Stuff the Inside: Take a sheet of packing paper and gently stuff it into the glass or mug. This provides crucial support from the inside and prevents the walls from flexing and cracking.
  2. Roll and Tuck: Lay the glass on its side at the corner of a stack of packing paper. Roll the glass across the paper, tucking in the sides as you go, as if you’re rolling a burrito.
  3. Place Rim-Down: Place the wrapped glass upside-down (rim-down) in your box. If you’re using a box with cell dividers, slide one into each cell. If not, place them snugly next to each other.

For Delicate Wine Glasses and Champagne Flutes:

Stemware is the most fragile item in your kitchen. It requires extra attention.

  1. Stuff the Bowl: Gently stuff the bowl with a piece of packing paper.
  2. Protect the Stem: Take a separate sheet of paper and wrap it specifically around the delicate stem to create a supportive splint.
  3. Wrap the Entire Glass: Now, follow the “Roll and Tuck” method above, using several sheets of paper to create a thick, protective cocoon.
  4. Place Rim-Down: Carefully place the glass rim-down in a cell divider or a well-cushioned corner of your box.

Finishing Touches: Sealing, Securing, and Labelling

You’re almost done! These final steps are what ensure all your hard work pays off.

  1. Fill Every Gap: This is non-negotiable. Any empty space in the box allows items to shift, vibrate, and collide. Use crumpled packing paper, tea towels, or bubble wrap to fill every single void. Stuff it between items and create a thick top layer.
  2. The Shake Test: Before taping the box shut, close the top flaps and give it a gentle shake. Do you hear or feel anything moving or clinking? If you do, open it back up and add more cushioning. The contents should be completely immobile.
  3. Seal and Label: Once you pass the shake test, seal the top of the box securely with the H-Tape method. Now, grab your marker and label the box clearly on the top and at least two sides. Write:
    • FRAGILE – KITCHEN DISHES/GLASSES
    • THIS WAY UP ↑ (with large, clear arrows)
    • HEAVY (if applicable)

This clear communication is vital for your removalists (or anyone helping you move), ensuring they handle the box with care and don’t stack a box of books on top of it.

By following these professional techniques—using the right supplies, preparing your boxes properly, packing items vertically or rim-down, and eliminating empty space—you are taking the guesswork out of packing your kitchen. You’re replacing anxiety with a proven system. Now you can look forward to unpacking in your new home, knowing that your cherished plates and glasses are ready for the next chapter of memories.