Avoid dents and cracks: How to pack small appliances for moving

When the time comes to move, knowing how to pack small appliances for moving ensures your things will stay how they are when you unload and unpack them. It can be costly to replace small appliances that break during a move and inconvenient if you need them right away. 

If you want to ensure that your small appliances make it through the move and continue to serve you well after, you must know how to pack your home appliances properly. Below are some practical pieces of packing advice to ensure your small appliances arrive undamaged.

What you’ll need

Here are the tools and supplies you need to have on hand to ensure a smooth packing process:

• Original appliance boxes or regular moving/cardboard boxes 

• Packing materials (e.g., bubble wrap, old towels, and other packing support)

• Packing tape 

• Bubble wrap or other packing support 

• Cable ties 

• Permanent marker for labelling

Before you start

Wondering about the things you should do before you pack small appliances for moving? Here are a couple of things to remember:

• If you have any small appliances linked to your plumbing or gas line, you may need to call a professional to disconnect the supply line properly. 

• Making some plans and preparing for a few days without these appliances would be wise since many of them should be turned off a couple of days before your move.

A step-by-step guide to packing small appliances

Now that your tools and materials are ready, let’s get started. Here’s how to pack small kitchen or home appliances for moving:

Step 1: Gather and organise your appliances

To start, gather all the small appliances you plan to move ahead of time to avoid forgetting anything. This step also lets you see which devices you haven’t used in a while and can let go of.  

Next, organise and group appliances that won’t be needed immediately and pack them in the same boxes. This makes it easier to store them when you move into your new apartment until you need them.

Step 2: Dismantle your appliances

To keep your appliances safe, take apart the pieces, if possible, and unplug or remove any parts to make them easier to pack. This will prevent damage during transportation. Later, you can pack each appliance’s components in the same box to save time when setting up after moving. 

Step 3: Wipe them clean

You don’t want to bring crumbs, grease, or other debris when moving to your new house! So make sure you clean your small appliances before boxing them up. You may use baking soda, a damp rag, or wet kitchen wipes and a dry cloth to clean your items. Before wrapping them up, ensure each item is completely dry to prevent mould growth.

Step 4: Secure the wires and cords

Secure the wires and cords of your small appliances to prevent accidents or damage. If the power cable is detachable, fold it a few times, wrap it in soft packing paper, and secure it with tape. For non-detachable cords, fold and tie them with cable ties or rubber bands. Wrap in packing paper and secure with tape. Label the cords for easy assembly at your new place. 

Step 5: Wrap your appliances

Wrap the appliance with two to three sheets of wrapping paper or bubble wrap for protection. Use packing tape to secure the package, but don't use it directly on the appliance to avoid damage.

Step 6: Prep the boxes

Use the original packaging of your appliances for packing if you still have them. Otherwise, you may use sturdy moving boxes as an alternative.

Before you place your appliances in a box, place crumpled packing paper or old towels at the bottom of each cardboard box to create a soft, shock-absorbing layer. Bubble wrap can also be used to create a cushion that will absorb any shocks during transport. Doing this will keep the items from shifting inside the box during transit. 

Step 7: Box ‘em up

Gently place the packed small appliances into their designated boxes and any additional components that were disassembled and packed separately. Make sure that you keep the wrapped appliances upright in the boxes, with heavier devices on the bottom and lighter ones on top. 

If there is still space, add more small appliances to the same box, but stay under 40 lbs (18.14 kgs) per box for safety, regardless of the strength of the appliance cardboard boxes. You can fill the empty spaces with crumpled paper to prevent them from moving around. If you notice any movement, add more paper until they’re snug inside.

Step 8: Seal and label the boxes

Seal the box by taping the top flaps with packing tape. The flaps should close without bulging upwards. If it does, it means the box is overfilled. Then, label each box indicating the appliance’s name and destination room, such as the kitchen, bedroom, or living room. 

After packing breakable items, don’t forget to write “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CAUTION” on the box to remind handlers to be careful! 

Once done, you can carefully load them onto the vehicle for transport. If you have a dolly or cart around, you can use that to save yourself several trips back and forth. 

Pack your small appliances with care

It’s essential to pack your small appliances with as much care as you would your large and heavy appliances. The good news is that it isn't as difficult as it appears. Following the steps outlined above will ensure a smooth packing process.

Alternatively, you can hire a pro removalist to do this job! Taskers in your area can help you pack your things, especially if you’d rather use your time and energy for more critical moving tasks. So, put up a task now and get some packing done!