Pots and pans may not be as fragile as other kitchen items, but they are oddly shaped and often take up too much space. Without following the correct packing techniques, you may damage their handles. But, you cannot leave them behind, considering their value.
How do you pack pots and pans when moving?
Understanding how to pack pots and pans for moving will make the task a breeze and keep your items in good shape. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to pack your pots and pans:
Step 1: Decide Which of Your Pots and Pans You Want to Move
Pots and pans are heavy, difficult to pack and take up plenty of space. Wasting time and effort in packing useless old items and paying higher moving costs is something you should avoid.
So, before you start packing, you need to sort out your pots and pans and decide which of them are worth moving to your new home. Get rid of damaged items (badly scratched, dented, chipped, or warped, with loose handles or missing pieces, etc.) and others that are too worn out to be used again.
Step 2: Clean and Dry Before Packing
Moving house is the perfect time to give all your pots and pans a thorough cleaning. The most important aspect of cleaning pots and pans is to ensure they are completely dry before packing.
It’s good to wash everything at least 24 hours before packing them and then leave them on a drying rack overnight. Moisture during a short-term move can damage other household items, and in a long-term move that involves storage, you could even end up with moldy pots and pans.
When packing, use your kitchen towel to dry pots and pans that are still wet.
Step 3: Gather High-Quality Packing Materials
Investing in quality packing and moving materials will give your pots and pans the best protection while transporting them. You need to purchase the following:
- Heavy-duty Cardboard box
- Garbage bags/trash bags
- Packing tape
- Permanent marker
- Packing paper
- Bubble wrap
You need a flat, clear space to pack efficiently. Taking the time to set one up will save a lot of trouble and frustration. Your kitchen bench, dining table, or work desk are ideal spaces. Once you have cleaned the space, ensure that all relevant packing materials are within reach so you don’t have to leave the area once you’ve started.
Step 4: Carefully Wrap and Pack Your Pots and Pans
While pots and pans are sturdy kitchen pieces, they can be easily damaged if they contact each other or other sharp items. Even a minor scratch could reduce performance and ruin them completely.
It is helpful to cover pots and pans with packing paper ( or other alternatives) and cushion the cooking surface with bubble wraps or kitchen towels. You can also tape any sharp corners, so they don’t poke through the plastic, particularly in trash bags.
Step 5: Pack Pots and Pans in Trash Bags for Short Moves
While most movers will tell you to pack your stuff into moving boxes, pots and pans are the perfect kitchen utensils to pack into heavy-duty garbage bags. Pots and pans may be clumsy to pack into moving boxes, but garbage bags are easier for packing and unpacking these kitchen pieces.
Nest pots and pans into each other in groups of threes, placing smaller pots inside larger ones. Lids can be wrapped and packed separately, then you place nests within garbage bags, and, lastly, secure garbage bags tightly; you don’t want to sound like a milkman when moving.
Create a label with paper, and cling the label to the bag with a strip of packing tape over the front of the label.
No matter how far away you’re moving, it would be best if you labeled your bags.
Accurate labeling makes locating and unpacking items easier. Your labeling needs to be more specific than just writing ‘Kitchen’ or ‘Pots and Pans,’ particularly if you have a lot of pots and pans. For example, you could write ‘Casserole Dishes,’ or ‘Frying Pans.’
Step 5: Pack Pots and Pans in Box for Long Distance Moves
Garbage bags make pots and pans easy and cheap, but cardboard boxes offer the best possible protection. It would help if you had sturdy boxes to safeguard these cooking containers during a long-distance move.
Before placing the pots and pans in boxes, ensure the boxes are firmly held together with many strips of packing tape. Cushion the bottom of the box with crumpled paper.
Nest the pots and pans together, placing dish towels inside the pots to prevent scratches. While at it, align the handles and place spice bags in the top pot to maximize space.
Place the nested pots and pans in boxes, adding kitchen cloths, sponges, and dishtowels to keep them from moving in transit. Always remember to place lids in the same box with the pots.
Important Tip: Do not add heavy items into the boxes with your cooking containers. Pots and pans are already heavy, and any extra weight can cause the box to tear. So, only pack delicate items in the bag with your pots and pans to fill the remaining space without adding too much weight.
Step 6: Pack and Transport Your Moving Bags with Care
When it comes to loading your pots and pans onto the moving vehicle, you need to focus on limiting movement as much as possible. It would help if you also placed them away from any heavy objects that could shift during transit.
Never stack anything on bags or boxes containing pots and pans, and place them beneath sturdy objects such as tables or overturned couches for extra protection.
Bonus Tip: When loading and unloading pots and pans, only carry them alone if it is comfortable. Trying to carry something too heavy is dangerous and increases the chance of damaging the items and other belongings.
Packing pots is all about gathering suitable materials and putting in the requisite effort. Of course, if you’re running out of time and worried about getting everything done before the big day, you can hire professional movers to carry out the task.
