Best Way to Pack Dishes Before You Move

There’s nothing worse than opening up a moving box to find your fragile dishes and plates not in one piece. But with a little planning and some extra prep time you can ensure your plates are moved safely by following these helpful tips on how to pack dishes for moving

#1 It Starts with the Moving Box

How to Pack Dishes

You don’t have to have heavy duty moving boxes for dishes but the more stable the box the better. That means constructing the box well with strong tape to make sure it’ll hold up to the weight of your dishes and bowls. Trust us, you don’t want to have the bottom of your moving box split open and have all your plates shatter on the floor. That’s no fun!

If you are willing to invest in plastic totes we recommend using those for packing dishes since you can ensure your box is sturdy and will hold up while moving. It’s also worth looking into a dish barrel box which adds some added protection at a better price point than plastic totes.

#2 Extra! Extra! Using Newspaper as Padding

How to Pack Dishes

There’s actually one useful thing spam mail or old newspaper can be used for, using it for padding in your moving boxes. The best way to pack dishes is to add a layer of newspaper to the bottom of your box about 3 inches worth. This way you can ensure that your dishes won’t be shattered when you set your boxes down or stack them on top of each other.

Looking for some other packing tips check out our tips on Storing Books

#3 Add Packing Paper

How to Pack Dishes

If you are looking for how to pack plates properly, packing paper is a necessity. Since you want to avoid placing plates directly on top of each other, adding a layer of packing paper in between each plate or bowl makes a world of difference. This will greatly decrease the chance for chips or cracks during the moving process. This is the best way to pack dishes, even though it requires a little more work, you’ll be happy to find that your fragile items made the trip safely and securely.

Need packing materials? Well, who would have thought, but Amazon has some great packing supplies for great prices

#4 Fill the Gaps

How to Pack Dishes

After you have added a layer of packing paper in between each dish, you’ll want to fill in the gaps with more newspaper padding to make sure the dishes don’t shift around in the box. The more snug the plates are in the box the better. Eliminating the shifting of your fragile items ensures they are safe and secure during your move. This is one of the more important tips on how to pack dishes.

Need more packing tips, like how to pack kitchen for moving, then make sure to check out our other post on general packing tips.

#5 Keep It Light

How to Pack Dishes

Take it easy on your back and keep your boxes light. It’s easy to add a lot of dishes and plates to one box but that only increases the likelihood of damage and makes moving the box that much harder. You’ll want to keep each box under 40lbs. This will also help to hold up the integrity of your box. If you overload a box it has a much greater chance or ripping or falling apart.

#6 Take Extra Caution with Stemware

How to Pack Dishes

Stemware and glasses are the hardest to protect during the moving process. Our favorite tip on how to pack glasses for moving, is to make sure to add extra padding when it comes to stemware or glasses. It’s not enough just to add one layer of packing paper. Surround each piece of stemware or glass with newspaper to make sure it is safe and secure. There are also specific china moving boxes that you should consider investing in to make sure your fragile stemware and china are moved safely.

Need a video demonstration on the best way to pack dishes check it out here. Can’t beat youtube!

#7 Store your extra plates and dishes with Boombox

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If you need some extra cabinet space and are looking to store some extra plates or dishes then storing your items with Boombox is a great solution. Our full service storage solution manages the pickup, storage, and delivery of your items. Oh and we also inventory your items online with professional looking photos so you’ll always stay organized.

Check out our storage unit prices and book a van today

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Boombox arrives at your storage pick up location with a vehicle and a team of movers. We apply unique codes to each storage item, photograph every item being stored, and transport your items to our secure storage facility. Whenever you want one or more of your stored items, simply log in to your Boombox account, select what you need delivered, and schedule a return delivery. We’ll bring your items back to your door. You'll never have to hassle with a San Francisco storage unit again! And best of all our storage unit prices are better than most all San Francisco self-storage options.

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Boombox proudly serves the San Francisco Bay area. For a complete map of our service area, check out our Locations Page. If you are looking for storage San Francisco, we are here to help. We pride ourselves on being the most afforable and convenient Bay area storage option around. Our service area extends from San Francisco down to San Jose and as far east as Oakland and Berkeley. Our storage units are perfect for anyone who doesn't want to hassle with a San Francisco Bay area storage unit. We do all the heavy lifting and will deliver your items right back to your door.

How does Boombox make sure all my items are returned to me?

During your initial pickup we apply barcodes to each item, and photograph everything so there is a record of what’s in storage and what condition it was received in. Within two days of your initial pickup your online inventory will be accessible. We will notify you when the pictures of your storage items have been uploaded. We take a picture of the outside of the box and upload the picture along with the description of each item or label you placed on the box. Once your online storage catalog has been uploaded please make sure to verify all the pictures of your items are there. Your items will always be organized and accessible. You'll never have to hassle with a San Francisco storage unit again.

How is Boombox different from self-storage?

San Francisco self storage can be expensive and aggravating. At traditional bay area self storage units, security is not guaranteed, and you have to do all the work. It’s up to you to pack and organize your belongings, and you have to remember what’s in your storage unit. That makes it really easy to lose track of what you have in your storage unit. Instead of choosing a grungy SF storage unit, choose Boombox's full service storage solution. In our unbiased opinion ; ) it's the best Bay Area storage option out there.

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Self storage with a pick up?! That's what we call full service storage. We meet you at your location with our killer purple storage van. Our team then loads the van and photographs and barcodes each storage item or box that will be stored. Within 48 hours, you’ll be able to log into your storage account and see your complete storage inventory! Our pick ups are available within our Bay Area Storage service area. We love helping San Francisco with their storage needs. Say goodbye to San Francisco self-storage for good!