If you're moving house, you’re probably not looking forward to packing up the kitchen. Not only is there loads to box up, it'll likely be the last room you tackle - as you'll be wanting to eat or have a cuppa right up until the last minute.
There's no escaping the fact that it’ll take time and be hard work. But, with a bit of forward planning and a system in place, you should be able to do it without too much stress. We've put together some top time-saving tips to help you out…
Moving your kitchen appliances
1. Fridge freezer
It's a good idea to start using up the contents of your freezer in the weeks before the move.
Tip: For inspiration on what to do with the odds and ends in your freezer and store cupboard, you'll find lots of ideas at lovefoodhatewaste.com
If you're taking your fridge freezer with you, you’ll need to thoroughly defrost it before the move.
For the journey, take out any glass shelves and pack them separately. Use masking tape to keep the doors shut and cover the appliance with a soft blanket to protect it. Once it's in situ at your new property, you’ll need to let it to stand for a while before switching it on. This lets the liquid inside the cooling mechanism cool down. It's a good idea to check your user manual for any extra things you might need to think about as well.
2. Big appliances
Place a blanket or old piece of carpet underneath your washing machine or tumble dryer etc to stop it from scratching the floor when you move it. Most washing machines are usually delivered with a 'transit bolt' to keep the drum in place on its journey. If you still have it, you should put it back into the machine before you move it.
Once you've pulled out the machine, you'll need to get behind it to disconnect the taps from the mains. If you run into any problems, you should hire a professional plumber to help you. Make sure you keep your appliances upright during the move.
3. Cooker
Clean the appliance before you move, pack any glass shelves and other detachable items separately, and tape the door shut. It's also a good idea to cover any knobs or buttons with tape to prevent damage during the journey.
Any gas powered cooker will need to be disconnected and reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Packing up your kitchen
You'll need plenty of bubble wrap, wrapping paper and tape to pack fragile cups and glasses. That way, you’ll keep them protected while you transport them. Pack items in sturdy double walled cardboard boxes too.
Before you start, number each box and make a list of what’s in each. Mark any box 'fragile' if they contain breakable items. Always pack your things from heavy to light and stop packing a box if it gets too heavy. You can then fill it with lighter items, towels or bedding to pad it out.
1. Cups and glasses
First, place a layer of scrunched up paper at the bottom of the box. Now wrap each glass or cup with a separate sheet of paper and put them in the box in layers (upright is best). Place a layer of cardboard or bubble wrap between each layer until you’ve filled the box. Just make sure it doesn’t get too heavy. Fill any empty spaces with more paper.
Tip: It's a good idea to pack glasses into a smaller box and then place it in a larger box - padding out the space around it with more paper for extra protection.
2. Plates
Using a double walled box, place scrunched up layers of paper at the bottom and then add a layer of bubble wrap. Wrap paper around each plate and stack them on their side (not one on top of the other). Evenly distribute them around the sides of the box so that one side of it isn’t heavier than the other. Make sure nothing can move around the box once you shut the lid. You’ll also want to completely fill the box. Then, if another box is placed on top of it, you won't break anything underneath.
3. Pots and pans
Make sure they're clean and dry, wrap them up and pack them in a medium size box. Add a sheet of paper between any non-stick pans to protect them from scratches.
Pack all cookware with glass lids separately and store them with other glass and potential breakables.
4. Knives and cutlery
Take a piece of packing paper, roll up all your items and place them in a box.
Sharp knives should be double wrapped and packed all facing the same way. Make a note on the box about what's inside and the direction the blades are pointed in. You don’t want to get a nasty surprise when you unpack them after all.
5. Small appliances
Make sure your appliances and gadgets aren’t hot and tip out any water before you pack them away. If you have the box it came in, great, but if not, wrap it up and pack it into a suitable one. Then pad the space around it with paper to protect it.
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