How should I pack dishes, glassware and china?

Kitchenware has to be properly packed: sturdy boxes or dish packs, every piece wrapped in packing paper or bubble wrap, and no empty space for things to shift. You can do it yourself, have our crew pack it at the hourly rate with supplies billed as used, or have it done under the Golden Package.

1. Start with a dish pack or a small, strong box; kitchen boxes get heavy fast.
2. Crumple paper into the bottom as a cushion.
3. Wrap plates one at a time and stand them on edge, like records, rather than stacking them flat.
4. Stuff glasses and cups with paper, wrap the outside, and place them rims down on the top layer.
5. Fill every gap, close the box and shake it gently. If you hear clinking, add more paper.
6. Label the side "Kitchen, fragile" and keep each box light enough that you could lift it comfortably.

Bowls can nest in small stacks with paper between each one. Wrap knives in several sheets so the blade cannot cut through.

A full china cabinet or a collection of crystal takes real time to pack well. For homes like that, we can split the job across two days: the crew packs on day one and moves everything on day two, so packing is not rushed against the clock. Ask about it when you book. Supplies are on the truck either way, so there is no need to buy dish packs in advance. Our packing services page covers the crew's approach.

Pre-move timing tips are on the moving checklist.

• Do I have to pack fragile items in boxes?
• What does the Golden Package include?
• Can my move be split over two days?