How to Pack Small Appliances for Moving

When it comes to moving, kitchens are one of the trickiest areas to tackle. Not only do you still need to use your kitchen before you’re officially out of the place, meaning you don’t want to pack everything up at the same time. But they are also chock full of items–both big and small—that need careful attention while packing up.

As a full-service moving company that includes packing services, we have a few tips for boxing up your items that require a little extra TLC during the moving process.

Let’s focus on small appliances. That includes blenders, toasters, stand mixers, microwaves, and any other piece of electrical equipment you can find in your kitchen.

Packing up these items isn’t as complicated or demanding as you may think, however doing a bit of preplanning work can make the packing go smoothly.

1. Stock Up On Supplies

Before you even start the process, you’re going to need the right packing supplies for the job.

• Permanent Marker – the simplest way to label your boxes and let you (or movers) know which box is going where in your new place, as well as the contents within each one.
• Boxes – if you have the original boxes for the appliances, use them! If not, pick up a few small or medium-sized boxes and make sure the flaps are fully sealed before placing anything inside.
• Packing Paper / Peanuts – these are beneficial for wrapping up your appliances and filling in the gaps surrounding the items.
• Packing Tape – you’ll want a roll or two of heavy-duty tape that isn’t going to rip or tear easily.
• Bonus: Twist Ties – not a required item for packing. However, sometimes they’re helpful when wrapping up cords for appliances.

Once you’ve got everything you need, make a checklist of all the appliances you have. To make it easier for yourself, split the list up by categories by how often you use them. Small appliances are found in every kitchen, so sometimes it would be best to know the frequency of use. You can also categorize them by their current state, so you know how they worked previously in the event they get damaged in the move.

2. Disassemble Loose Items

Separate all the removable and loose items from your appliances. For example, the glass tray in your microwave or the blades of your blender. If they’re not removed prior to packing, they can get bounced and jostled around, leading to potential damage or product malfunctions. These are electronic devices, after all. If it helps

3. Wipe Down Everything

Who wants to open up a box in their new space and see leftover crumbs or grease on their things? The answer should be absolutely no one—it’s gross! So once you’ve disassembled everything, be sure to give your appliances a thorough wipe-down before packing them away. And don’t forget to allow them time to dry.

4. Wrap Everything Up

Whether you want to use zip ties or go the classic tape route, bundle up the loose cords and secure them to the appliance. Microwave doors should be taped shut to avoid opening during the move. Using the packing paper, wrap your appliance up completely with one to two sheets, depending on how fragile it is. Secure it tightly by using packing tape.

Note: if you’re going to be placing any boxes in storage for an extended period of time, the packing tape might leave some sticky residue behind.

5. Pack Your Boxes

Using packing peanuts, even more packing paper, or any extra towels you’re not using, line your boxes to provide a little bit of cushioning. Place your wrapped appliances and any additional parts into a box. If the items come with any type of manual, be sure to put those in there as well so nothing gets lost. Make sure you don’t stack multiple fragile items together to avoid any breakage.

6. Secure and Label

When closing up the boxes, secure both the bottoms and tops with packing tape. This prevents any accidents during the loading and unloading of the boxes. And the final step? Labeling! It’s the best way to quickly identify what is in the actual boxes.

And that’s everything! Moving small appliances doesn’t have to be time-consuming or as complicated as you may think. If you’d still rather let the professionals handle it, Move On is ready to help. Get a free quote from Move On today!