topic Re: Packing china for a short distance move in Home

Packing china for a short distance move

babyb — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 04:15:20 GMT

We are moving my mom to assisted living this weekend. She is fine with this move and the time is right for it. It is only 6 blocks from where she lives now. Any suggestions on how to pack her china for a short distance AND so I do not have to wash all of it when we get it there? I feel like we are in a time crunch to get the move done on Saturday while we can be in town and help her. It is china as that has always been her daily dishes. She and Dad used Desert Rose their entire married life and she still uses it, just not as many pieces anymore.

Thanks for any suggestions you might have for packing this all up.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

Pickwickpapers — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 04:30:37 GMT

Hand pack in clean dish or bath towels then put in small sturdy cardboard boxes. Load them carefully yourself in the vehicle, don't stack. Then when you arrive, unpack the dishes, put in cabinets and fold the clean towels and put in linen closet. We have moved several times over the years short distances and this is how I have always moved my good china and I have never had a piece to break. P.S. : My aunt also had the Desert Rose pattern and I enjoyed many good meals and company around her table. Good wishes to your Mom.....

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

Marsha2003 — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 04:34:39 GMT

In addition to what MOM of Mason suggested, I would add that you need to drive slowly and carefully and ease your way around corners and over bumps. Stay off the freeway. Put the boxes in your car if you can rather than in a U-Haul type trailer or van.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

babyb — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 05:16:14 GMT

We will be using a car and good advice about taking those corners slowly. There are a few bumps in the parking lot....speed traps, ya know, so those will be tricky. Love the suggestion, too, abut using the towels. Two things get moved at once that way. THANKS!!!!

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

ennui1 — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 05:29:04 GMT

Bubble wrap!

Pack plates vertically, not flat.

You don't need to pack as carefully for a few blocks as you do for cross-country, but the same principles apply.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

esmeraldagooch — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 10:33:23 GMT

I move a lot. Packers always use dish packs and paper with my dishes. Nothing has ever broken. They usually use 2 to 3 pieces per plate.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

ID2 — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 11:25:30 GMT

I'm still unpacking things since our new cottage was finished. I used paper towel and was able to just put those dishes right in the cupboard. I also saved the paper towel to use again. A win-win!!

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

Mominohio — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 11:49:33 GMT

On 7/8/2014 MOM of Mason said: Hand pack in clean dish or bath towels then put in small sturdy cardboard boxes. Load them carefully yourself in the vehicle, don't stack. Then when you arrive, unpack the dishes, put in cabinets and fold the clean towels and put in linen closet. We have moved several times over the years short distances and this is how I have always moved my good china and I have never had a piece to break. P.S. : My aunt also had the Desert Rose pattern and I enjoyed many good meals and company around her table. Good wishes to your Mom.....

I always move my glass and fragile things like this, and never broken a thing. It does kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

I use laundry baskets to put the items in, as we find them easier to handle, not too heavy, and the handles on the side make them easy to carry in and out. Just be sure you used good strong baskets, not the cheap flimsy ones.

I usually empty my linen closet completely when doing this, so after the move, I run to the laundromat and wash up all the towels, wash cloths, and dish towels, and then they are all clean and freshened to put up in the new house (because some haven't been used for quite some time, and should be washed up every so often to keep them in good condition).

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

stevieb — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 12:05:35 GMT

Consider one of the hard plastic storage containers, and, as was suggested, wrapping the pieces in towels or even in plastic grocery bags. If handled with even minimal care, the bast majority of it will do fine.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

depglass — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:34:16 GMT

If you value these items, even for sentimental reasons, use invalid pads. Most antique dealers use them, including me. Much cheaper than bubble wrap. They are in the adult diaper section of your drugstore or big box store. They are flat and come in two sizes, the small will work for most items. They are also reusable.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

Buck-i-Nana — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:43:55 GMT

I use that "grip" drawer and shelf liner to separate my dishes. Our family Christmas dinner is at a different home each year and I am the keeper of the Christmas China. The grip liner can be cut to the perfect size to place between each dish, it's soft and flexible enough to wrap around cups and tuck in the top.

Obviously you need extra sturdy box(es) for china. You also want everything snug. After placing everything in the box, you can fill all the gaps easily with wadded up grocery bags to ensure there is no wiggle room.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

reese2 — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 16:22:14 GMT

On 7/8/2014 ennui1 said:
Bubble wrap!

Pack plates vertically, not flat.

You don't need to pack as carefully for a few blocks as you do for cross-country, but the same principles apply.

I absolutely agree! My SIL and BIL had professionals when they moved and this was the biggest thing she took away from the experience. My husband and I moved from Georgia to Pennsylvania ourselves, and I packed my dishes, everyday and good china, this way. Then we moved a short distance within PA and I did it again. Not one broken dish!

I used whatever we had, bubble wrap, heavy cardboard type paper and paper towels. The trick is to use a box small enough to pack the dishes in tight so they won't move around much, but vertical on all the plates, dinner and salad especially, is key.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

Havarti — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 16:38:13 GMT

I have always used the towels, too, but I never knew about keeping them vertical. This question is going to show you how stupid I really am, but I'll ask it anyway! Can you pack the plates flat, seal the box securely and then just turn the box so that the plates are now vertical for transport?

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

babyb — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 21:39:52 GMT

AWESOME advice, which is why I asked here. LOVE it and sooooo many suggestions that never crossed my mind. Thank you!!!

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

Dominosmom — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:48:13 GMT

I like the laundry basket and towels practice. Will do that myself when the time comes.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

inGeorgia — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:36:27 GMT

For short distance moves I've always packed china in sturdy boxes, baskets etc. China wrapped in dish towels, bath towels, t-shirts etc. Put boxes in back seat or trunk.

Re: Packing china for a short distance move

beach girl — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:14:37 GMT

I used dish and bath towels, packing multiple pieces in each with great results. You just have to be careful unwrapping but works great and no rewashing the dishes!