How to Pack a Kitchen like a Pro and Where to Get Help for Your Oxfordshire Move
The kitchen is often considered the heart of an English home. It bustles with daily activity and is filled with everything from appliances and gadgets to pantry staples. If you're preparing for a move within Oxford or elsewhere in Oxfordshire, packing up your kitchen can feel like a daunting task. With so many items to sort, wrap, and box up, it's easy to feel overwhelmed before you even begin.
But don't worry—packing your kitchen doesn't have to be stressful. With a little planning and a few expert strategies, you can tackle it in manageable steps. By breaking the process down into phases and setting realistic goals, you'll be able to pack efficiently without the unnecessary pressure.
Let’s dive into 15 essential tips to help you pack your kitchen like a pro and make your move as smooth as possible.
1. Prepare Your Packing Materials
Having all your packing supplies—boxes, wrapping paper, foam, tape, and labels—ready to go will make the packing process much smoother. Ensure you also gather boxes in various sizes to accommodate the different items in your kitchen. These items will, of course, vary in size, weight, and fragility.
Remember, choosing sturdy and high-quality boxes will ensure your belongings stay safe during the move.
Cheap boxes can tear under the weight of heavier kitchen items. Moreover, inadequate wrapping materials might not provide the protection fragile items need. Use bubble wrap or foam sheets for glassware, ceramics, and anything breakable. On the other hand, packing paper is ideal for cushioning less fragile items.
Having everything laid out in advance allows you to pack systematically and avoid scrambling for materials in the middle of packing, which can interrupt your flow and increase frustration. It also helps you maintain focus, ensuring each item is packed securely and safely for the move.
2. Sort and Streamline
Plan and list your kitchen essentials—these items must be packed and moved, no matter what. Think of your everyday staples like your reliable oven, versatile wok, favourite table decor, and treasured stash of teas—the things that truly “spark joy.”
Consider taking the Marie Kondo approach to help you differentiate between what’s indispensable and what’s unnecessary. For example, if you have five sets of drinking glasses, consider keeping only those you regularly use or that hold special meaning.
Pro tip: Avoid sorting through your kitchen when you're feeling emotionally charged, as it can lead to holding on to or discarding items based on temporary feelings. You may regret your decision later!
By thoughtfully sorting through your belongings, you'll streamline the packing process, reducing the volume of items to move. Plus, you can donate non-essentials to others who may find better use for them.
3. Set Aside Your Daily Essentials
To avoid misplacing important kitchen items amidst the packing chaos, you need to first identify everything you use daily. Scan your kitchen and gather these essentials, such as pots, pans, utensils, glassware, seasonings, and kitchen equipment. Prepare small to medium boxes and assign a dedicated one to each category. For example, create separate boxes for cookware, utensils, food items, and appliances.
An essential step is to also group your items into food and non-food categories, then further organize them by size, material, or function as needed. Don’t forget to label each box to ensure quick access while you’re still cooking during the move. Proper labelling also makes it easier to find essentials once you start unpacking in your new home.
Pro tip: Collaborate with your family or housemates during this process to avoid missing items they consider essential. For instance, if your partner is a coffee enthusiast, ensure the espresso machine is packed with your favourite appliances, like the waffle maker.
4. Next, Begin Packing in Order of Importance
After donating unused items and setting aside your daily essentials, it’s time to tackle the rest. Begin with your most valuable or cherished pieces—those you may not use frequently but wouldn’t want to move without. These could include:
- Crystal
- Antique glassware
- Organisers
- Tea sets
- Serving dishes
- Special occasion tableware
- Kitchen decor
- Complete utensil sets
- Linens, placemats, table napkins
- Meaningful gifts like wedding or milestone presents
Since many of these are delicate and valuable, take extra care and wrap them securely in protective materials like bubble wrap or foam. Place them carefully in sturdy boxes, and label them as fragile. This ensures these important items make it to your new home safely.
5. Pack Your Oil and Liquid Condiments
When packing liquid seasonings and oils that aren’t used daily, it’s essential to handle them with extra care, as they are excluded from regular packing steps. These items need to be packed separately to avoid potential spills or stains on other non-liquid materials. If any of these bottles are nearly empty, consider discarding them to lighten your load and minimise the risk of spillage. However, if you plan to bring unopened bottles of oils and condiments, here's a list of common options you may want to pack:
- Cooking oil
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Tomato sauce
- Hot sauce, sriracha
- Barbecue sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salad dressing
- Ketchup
- Oriental seasonings
To ensure safe transport, make sure the caps are securely sealed. You can use tape to reinforce the cap and bottleneck, then wrap each bottle in plastic wrap to prevent any accidental loosening. Additionally, fill any empty spaces within the box with packing material such as bubble wrap, crumpled paper, or foam inserts to keep the bottles from shifting during transit. This extra precaution will help protect your liquids from spilling and safeguard your belongings from being damaged by leaks. By properly securing these items, you can ensure they arrive intact and ready to use in your new home.
6. Pack Wine and Liquor
Properly packing wine and liquor prevents spillage, breakage, and contamination. Start by wrapping each bottle individually with paper or bubble wrap to cushion them during transport. Be sure to check that the caps are tightly sealed to avoid leaks. It’s important to pack wine and liquor separately from other liquids, as spilled liquid could be absorbed by porous containers, potentially altering the flavor of other liquids. Additionally, keep these bottles away from items with strong odors, as wines and liquors can easily absorb surrounding scents.
If possible, place each bottle in its original packaging or box for extra protection. Then, pack all the bottles together inside a medium-sized box, ensuring you fill any empty spaces with packing material like foam inserts or crumpled paper to keep the bottles from shifting. This extra step will reduce the risk of damage, keeping your wine and liquor safe throughout the move.
7. Pack Your Countertop and Shelf Items Together
If your countertop is not yet cleared, you need to pack away what is left. These items may include:
- Dish drainer
- Pot holders, mittens
- Trays
- Special utensils like the tongs, pizza slicer, wine opener, meat mallets, etc.
- Cookbooks
- Small kitchen appliances and gadgets like blenders or toaster
- Dish towels
- Coffee and tea items
- Dried spices
- Mugs and cups
- Decor items
Secure fragile items with protective wrapping before placing them in the box. You can pack these items safely together to help you remember where they belong - on the countertop and shelf of your new home.
8. Pack Your Drawer Items Together
Some of your drawers are likely filled with a mix of miscellaneous items, making this the perfect opportunity to sort through and organize anything you couldn’t decide on during step 2. Once you’ve gone through everything, pack similar items together in the same box, ensuring fragile items like Pyrex bakeware, glassware, and ceramics are wrapped individually for protection.
Take the time to check your cutlery drawers, glassware drawers, and those holding various kitchen gadgets or miscellaneous items, and pack the contents of each drawer together. Drawers are often home to "organized chaos," so packing them by drawer will help maintain continuity in your storage system, making it easier to unpack and get settled in your new space. This method also helps keep your items sorted and organized as you transition.
9. Pack Your Portable Lamps
If your kitchen has portable light sources like pendant lights or countertop lamps that add a touch of brightness, don’t forget to take them with you when you move—unless, of course, you plan to leave them for the next homeowner. To ensure safe transport, wrap each light individually for protection, and if you still have their original boxes, use them for added security.
Be sure to neatly fold and secure the electrical cords, keeping them organized and away from moisture and heat. This extra care will help preserve the functionality and condition of your lighting as you transition to your new home.
10. Pack Everything Else
There may still be some items lying somewhere, especially if you have a large kitchen with many storage areas and workstations. If you believe they will bring value to your new kitchen, pack and bring them with you. These may include:
- Containers and organisers
- Other baking materials
- Other non-perishable food items
- Vitamins and supplements
- Bento boxes
- Multi-tier trays
- Mason jars
- Lunchboxes
Sharp and fragile objects should be wrapped individually and kept away from heavy, bulky items.
11. Don’t Pack These Items
While they may be important, items like kitchen cleansers, insecticides, and perishable food items should not be packed. Perishable food items like fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, fresh milk, etc., can spoil during transit, so don’t bother to pack them. Chemical-based cleansers could spill during transit, and anything exposed to them may be damaged, so it’s best not to pack them, either.
Also, house plants like herbs and ornamental plants should not be packed because they could die in transit. Worn-out floor mats and area rugs should also be discarded unless washed clean before packing.
12. Make an Inventory List of the Items in the Boxes
You may have already labelled each box with the category and content list but make sure to keep a catalogue of these inventories in your notebook or smartphone. This will help you organise your items better in your head, and having a backup copy is always a good idea.
Label and categorize each box with a number and a specific category name. Clearly list the contents of each box, including the number of items and, when necessary, details like colour, size, or condition to distinguish them from similar items. Print the label and securely tape it to the box for easy identification. Additionally, create a master catalogue that collates all the box numbers and their contents, ensuring a seamless unpacking process.
13. Clean Your Kitchen
Once you’ve cleared out your kitchen and packed (or donated) your items, take the time to give it a thorough cleaning. This space has been the heart of your home, a source of culinary creativity or, at the very least, quick and comforting meals. Show your appreciation by leaving it spotless and filled with positive energy, ready for its next chapter. A clean kitchen is a final gesture of gratitude for all the memories and meals it has helped create.
Ensure you clean the shelves, drawers, and countertops and scrub traces of spillage, spatter, etc, on backsplashes, floor, and walls. Sweep and mop every inch of the floor and leave no dirt behind. Leave the kitchen smelling clean and fresh.
14. Take Another Look at Your Kitchen
With your kitchen emptied of items, have a final look of your kitchen before you move out. Intently stare at the space as you touch and feel the counters, shelves, etc. Express a sense of gratitude. Reminisce about all the happy moments you have spent here, such as cooking for your loved ones, teaching your children how to bake, entertaining your visitors, or experiencing stress relief from whipping up a mug cake and sipping your tea.
It may be time to move on, quite literally, but memories can come with us no matter where we live, transition, or retire in the future. Think of your move as a way to make new memories in your new kitchen and in the rest of your new home.
15. Tap the Help of a Professional Mover
While you can DIY pack a small or medium kitchen, a large kitchen with an extensive collection of items would be challenging to pack up. And if you have no time to pack at all, you will need professional help to sort your kitchen items no matter how small your space is. Remember, efficiency and safety are always the goals.
It is also necessary to tap professional moving service for large items like the refrigerator, range, full-scale oven, cabinetry, etc. If you're moving in Oxfordshire or anywhere in the area, Gentlevan Removals and Storage can help you manage the logistics of your move including the often overwhelming task of packing a kitchen.
We provide top-tier professionalism in packing, storing, and shipping personal items to help individuals and families whether they are relocating within Europe or within Oxfordshire or to or from other UK areas like London, Cambridge, Wales, Manchester, Cornwall, Scotland, etc.
Contact us today so we can discuss your needs and book a home survey or video survey. We provide a free, no-obligation online quote. Our rates will depend on the estimated volume of your items, the distance of your move, and the type of service you will be availing whether packing service, dismantling/reassembling items, storage, or shipping or a combination.
Let the reliable team at Gentlevan Removals help you move easily and give you a positive experience.