How to pack a kitchen like a pro

Kitchens break more moves than sofas. Plates chip, glasses crack, and knives migrate into soft bags. Here's a practical kitchen packing method London movers actually like to unload.

Pack in the right order

Start with rarely used kit — party platters, spare pans — a week out. Leave kettle, mugs, dishwasher tablets and a frying pan until the last morning. Empty and defrost the fridge the night before.

Glass, plates and knives

• Wrap glasses individually; stand them upright, never on their side.
• Plate stacks: paper between each, then wrap the stack as one block.
• Knives go in a blade guard or wrapped tightly and marked SHARP.
• Fill gaps with tea towels so nothing rattles in transit.

Heavy crockery belongs in small boxes. A huge box of plates is how backs and bottoms fail.

Appliances

Disconnect washers carefully; tape hoses and doors shut. Fridges need time to settle upright after a move before you plug them back in — ask your crew if you're unsure.

Labelling that works

Write KITCHEN + OPEN FIRST on the sides of essentials boxes. At the new place, those boxes go straight on the counter so you can make tea before the wardrobe mountain appears.

When to book packing help

Short on time? Our fragile-only packing focuses on kitchens and glassware, or book full packing for the whole home. Materials kits start from £50.

Sameer Ahmad Basra

Writer

Sameer writes practical, no-nonsense moving guides for Londoners — drawn from real jobs across all 32 boroughs, covering vans, packing, permits and fixed-price removals.