A Guide to Packing Kitchen Appliances for Moving
Check this: You are days away from relocating to a new place, ready to start over and make new memories. But while in your kitchen, hearing your kids giggle and enjoying your morning coffee's aroma, it suddenly hits you that you have a pending arduous task on your plate. Yeah, you guessed it right—packing up your kitchen appliances! Your premium espresso machine, reliable toaster, fancy stove, and favorite mixer; how does one even start packing all this stuff without causing chaos or risking breakage? Well, ain't that the million-dollar question? Don't fret, though. This article will equip you with some tips and tricks to help render packing your kitchen appliances a walk in the park. We've got you covered, from packing boxes to labels and wrapping paper. Let's get right into it.Packing Essentials for Kitchen Appliances
You won't necessarily require any special packing supplies for your kitchen appliances other than what you'll need for your other household items. Nevertheless, you ought to assess the number of appliances you intend to pack to get the right and enough materials available for the task at hand. Speaking of, here are the packing materials you'll need to pack for a move:- Boxes: When packing your kitchen appliances, use boxes measuring as close to the original packaging size as possible. If you retained the packaging the appliances came in; that's fantastic. However, standard, compact moving boxes will do just as well. Quick pro tip? Use larger kitchen boxes for packing lighter, bulkier appliances and smaller boxes for heavier items.
- Markers: Label each box containing your kitchen appliances as 'fragile items' to remind you or your movers to handle them carefully.
- Packing Tape: Buy ample packing tape to seal each box and secure the protective materials surrounding every appliance. Double-taping the boxes' bottoms for additional sturdiness is always a brilliant idea.
- Protective packing material: Ensure you have sufficient protective material, be it bubble wrap, wrapping paper, newspaper, or packing paper, to cover your appliances and fill in empty spaces within every box.
- Twist ties or rubber bands: Use twist ties or rubber bands to protect the appliance cords against damage or them getting tangled. You can also use tape for this.
How to Pack Kitchen Appliances
We can all agree by now that the kitchen, with all its glassware and pots, has its own set of challenges, particularly regarding packing. Now, let's look at the standard kitchen appliances and tips to pack them effectively and securely.Stove and Oven
Stoves, notably those with glass cooktops, tend to get damaged during relocation. As such, you might want to check what the manual advises regarding moving the appliance before you begin. Nonetheless, the following steps should do:- Conduct a thorough wipe-down of the whole stove, the oven included. Follow the manuals instructions, and remember to pull out the stove and clean whatever may have fallen or snuck around the sides. This is mainly to ensure that you move to your new place with a clean stove and guarantee safety during the move. Remember, other than going rancid, grease may lead to slips and stain other items to boot.
- Make sure all knobs are turned off before taping them securely in place. For added protection, tape crumpled newspaper to the LCD. If you're worried about your glass cooktop, place a layer of packing paper on the glass along with some bubble wrap for additional safety. While the added paper cushioning may provide more peace of mind, you should still handle it like any other fragile item.
- Whether your stove is electric or connected to a gas line, unplug or disconnect it properly.
- Take out any cookware from your oven's pull-out tray, such as the racks and the drip pans, then pack them properly and separately.
- Use a bungee cord or strap to secure the oven door.
Dishwasher and Washing Machine
- Run your dishwasher through one or two wash cycles while empty to ensure it's clean. It's recommended that you do this a few days before your relocation, during which period you won't use it.
- Being typical water appliances, consider leaving the appliance door open for a while, ideally 48 hours. This permits any remaining water at the bottom to vaporize.
- Disconnect the water and check that no water has leaked, then lay the hoses aside for all the water to dry out.
- Wrap the hoses using some packing paper and old towels, then pack them separately alongside holders and racks.
- Tape the electrical plug to the appliance's back.
- The most critical part when packing a washing machine for moving is securing the drum properly. Failure to do so will cause it to move around, posing the risk of damage. This is common for front-load washers, so refer to the manual for expert advice.
Refrigerator
Packing a refrigerator for moving necessitates careful preparation and planning. Follow the steps below to pack your refrigerator properly:- Empty the refrigerator: Ensure to empty your fridge before packing. Take out all food products and keep them in your freezer or a cooler with some ice, then remove any detachable racks, drawers, and shelves.
- Clean the refrigerator: Clean the refrigerator's inside properly using warm water and mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly with pure water and leave it to air-dry completely.
- Defrost the refrigerator: If your fridge features a freezer compartment, ensure you defrost it no sooner than 24 hours before your move. Take action to get rid of any accumulated excess water.
- Seal the doors: Secure the refrigerator doors with packing tape to keep them closed during transit. For additional security, consider using ropes or bungee cords.
- Wrap the refrigerator: Protect your fridge from potential dents and scratches by wrapping it with towels, bubble wrap, or moving blankets. Use packing tape to wrap it more securely and tightly.
Barbecue
Of course, the last thing you'd want is your barbecue arriving at your new place damaged. With careful preparation, however, you won't have to worry about that. Below are a few tips to follow:- Clean the Barbecue: Use warm soapy water and a wire brush to clean up any food residue or grease. Then, allow it to air out completely before packing.
- Disconnect the propane tank: Regarding this, it's essential to understand that your propane tank will not be allowed on a moving truck. As such, you'll need to remove and discard the tank properly.
- Disassemble the BBQ: If feasible, disassemble the BBQ and use moving blankets or bubble wrap to cover each component individually. This will help prevent damage and make transportation easier.
- Secure the lid: Use bungee cords or packing tape to close the barbeque lid tightly during transit.
- Use a sturdy box: Select a heavy-duty moving box with enough space to fit the grill and any of its components.
Small Appliances
Efficiently packing small kitchen appliances for moving is crucial to ensuring they arrive at your new home in perfect working order. These appliances include items such as coffee makers, stand mixers, toasters, blenders, air fryers, and food processors. But irrespective of the specific item, the steps taken to pack small kitchen appliances are more than often the same.-
Wipe them clean
-
Detach any loose or removable components
-
Look for a Box
-
Wrap Components and Accessories for Packing
-
Box Everything Up
-
Label and seal