Got any Lenox or Waterford dishes? Yes, that’s China, the finest pieces of tableware.
We’re talking mother-in-law gifts, delicate teacups, or family heirloom dishes; items that see daylight only at Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and other special gatherings.
It doesn’t matter if you’re moving with your truck or with movers, you have to pack your dishes right or be prepared for any eventualities.
Here are the best ways to pack chinaware for moving.
Procedure for Packing China for Moving
Although porcelain is tougher than other breakables because it’s more brittle, it’s not immune to chips and cracks, rendering it useless.
Therefore, you must know how best to protect your dishes because cleaning up shards is no fun.
Access your Chinaware
Decluttering before you move means you won’t waste time packing dishes you no longer want or need. After knowing which chinaware you’re packing, make a list including imperfections.
As leverage for filing a claim, take pictures of your china set before and after packing. Then save the pictures to your Google Drive or Dropbox.
It would help if you did all you could to protect your valuables.
Related: How to Pack Kitchen for Moving
Wrap and Pack the Dishes
Follow the steps below to wrap china the correct way:
- Place a piece of packing paper on a flat surface—a chair or bed preferably.
- Wrap packing paper in and around each plate. Re-enforce with bubble wraps.
- Hold the paper in place with enough tape.
- Wrap and pack the heaviest pieces first to evenly distribute the weight.
- Carefully load the dishes into boxes.
Tip: Keep the weight of each box under 45 pounds.
Prepare the Box
You can use a cardboard or corrugated box; further down is an in-depth explanation of preparing boxes.
Leave a few inches free for extra protection when arranging your dishes into the box. Please, remember to secure both the top and bottom.
Gather Packing Materials
Just as “tighter is better” when packing wine bottles, you also need to pack china in a full box. A stuffed box prevents chips and cracks from the bumps and vibrations of moving.
Ample amounts of packing paper are not enough to pack china for a move. Instead, add enough padding to eliminate leeway. The shifting and clanging of the fragile contents of an unpadded box during transit can cause damage.
After wrapping each ceramic, go the extra mile and pad every box, even if you have to source cheap moving supplies.
Check out a list of essentials below:
- Sturdy cardboard boxes of different sizes
- Double-walled dish boxes
- Food cooler
- Clothing like towels, blankets, or socks
- Packing paper
- Tissue paper
- Bubble wrap
- Packing peanuts
- Styrofoam or paper plates
- Scotch tape or packing tape
- Permanent or Sharpie marker
Note: There’s no “newspaper” on our list because printed paper causes permanent stains that may not come off after washing.
Related: 3 Ways to Pack Mugs for Moving
5 Ways to Pack China for Moving
When packing fine china for moving, pack larger and heavier plates first; then place medium-sized porcelain on top of large items; lightweight plates like saucers and teacups go last.
Hence, you have three tiers of dishes stuffed with enough padding.
Stay tuned. Let’s lead you through five ways of packing china for moving.
Pack China with Packing Paper
Stuff packing paper inside each dish and its handle. Secure the ceramic with padding, bubble wrap, or styrofoam, and tape it in place. Then wrap the piece with packing paper.
Pack China with Tissue Paper
The size of your ceramic determines how much packing paper you’ll use. Wrap tissue paper around the porcelain till you’re sure. After wrapping, secure it with tape.
Wrap bubble wrap around the piece and tape it, first the smaller sheet, then a larger one.
Pack China in a Cardboard Box
Whichever box size you’re using, set it up with the instructions below:
- Get a sturdy box and tape the bottom flaps real good.
- Partition the box with cellular dividers, thick cardboard dividers, or improvised partitions.
- Line the box’s bottom with crumpled paper to form a five-inch cushion.
- Line the insides of the box with thick clothing.
After loading the dishes in the box:
- Stuff bubble wrap and tissue paper in free spaces to remove leeways.
- Place reasonable amounts of crumpled paper and a few pieces of clothing on the top of the box.
- Close the box and tape its flaps.
- Use a permanent or Sharpie marker to note the “TOP” of the box, then label the box “FRAGILE.”
Tip: Place a cardboard cutout on top of each tier.
Related: 3 Ways to Pack Bowls for Moving
Double-Box your China
To “double-box” fine china, you must first sort them into sizes and wrap them individually. Arrange a couple of items into smaller boxes and place them in larger boxes containing other pieces.
Please remember to layer the plates properly, and stuff crumpled paper or peanuts between layers and partitions to fill empty spaces.
You can double-box with another method.
Once you’ve packed and sealed the main box, get a box at least three inches bigger on all sides. Cushion the base with three inches of crumpled paper, packing peanuts, or more.
Place the main box inside and cushion the sides with the same padding materials, so the box inside doesn’t move. Tape the flaps of the main box with enough scotch tape.
Pack China in a Corrugated Box
Corrugated boxes are special dish-wrapping boxes with thick cardboard dividers and ready-made partitions. The boxes are designed to hold and protect cherished kitchenware.
Cushion the box like you did the cardboard box and load your china.
We recommend Bankers boxes for packing china and crystals for boxes that come with handles.
Note: Never overload a box of dishes! Except you want to waste all the time you’ve used in careful packing.
Friendly Reminder After Packing
Label the “TOP” of the box with a permanent or Sharpie marker; then label the box “Kitchen: China” and “FRAGILE.”
Please show me a better way to pack china for moving. I’ll wait!
