Gruzcikipenzamoving house without strain: a guide

An independent guide to moving house. It is not a removals or transport service, does not take bookings and has no connection with previous websites on this domain.

Practical

Practical articles

The kitchen is the most awkward room to pack: it is full of fragile things, full of small items and full of things you need right up to the last day. The first article in this section explains how to pack dishes, glassware and kitchen appliances so that everything arrives in one piece and you can cook dinner quickly in your new home. The order is designed for an ordinary home kitchen and a couple of evenings' work.

Dishes do not break on the road; they break in a badly packed box. Gaps, a heavy top layer and thin cardboard do more damage than any bumpy road.

— The short version

What to have ready in advance

  • Several sturdy small boxes for dishes and a couple of medium ones for lightweight utensils
  • Packing paper or old newspapers, bubble wrap and wide packing tape
  • A marker pen and, if you like, coloured stickers to mark fragile boxes
  • Towels and kitchen textiles, which can double as padding
  • The instructions for your appliances, or at least an idea of where their parts detach and lock in place

  1. Set aside a kit for the last few days

    First decide what you will keep using until moving day: a couple of plates, mugs, a frying pan, a knife and the kettle. This minimal kit is packed last and travels in the first-night box; everything else can be packed now.

    Illustrative example: a family of three keeps three plates, three mugs, one saucepan and a frying pan for the final week, and packs the best dinner service on the very first evening.

  2. Reinforce the bottom of each box

    Tape the bottom of every box in a cross, in several layers, and line it with crumpled paper or a folded towel. Use small boxes for dishes: a large box filled with plates becomes too heavy and can sag.

    Illustrative example: of two similar-looking boxes, the smaller one is chosen for dishes, while the larger one takes lightweight plastic containers and chopping boards.

  3. Wrap plates one at a time

    Wrap each plate in a sheet of paper and stand it on its edge in the box, like a record, rather than stacking plates flat. Leave a soft layer between rows and around the sides so that nothing touches the walls of the box directly.

    Illustrative example: ten wrapped plates stand upright in a tight row with a layer of crumpled paper on top, and the box makes no sound when you rock it gently.

  4. Protect glassware and wine glasses

    Put a ball of soft paper inside each glass, wrap the stem and the bowl separately, and only then wrap the whole glass. Glassware is best placed in the top layer of a box, and the box should be marked as fragile.

    Illustrative example: the box of glassware is labelled 'Kitchen, glasses, this way up' with an arrow drawn on it, so that nobody turns it over during loading.

  5. Pack pans and dry goods

    Nest saucepans inside one another with paper in between, and put small utensils inside them. Tip open packets of grains and spices into jars with tight lids or seal the bags with clips, otherwise they will spill on the way.

    Illustrative example: a ladle, a grater and a whisk wrapped in a tea towel travel inside a large saucepan, while bags of flour go separately in a closed container.

  6. Prepare small appliances

    Unplug appliances, let them cool down and dry out, remove detachable bowls, blades and glass parts, and pack them separately. Coil the cable and secure it so the plug does not scratch the casing. If you still have the original box, that is the best packaging.

    Illustrative example: the blender's glass jug is wrapped in film and placed next to the base, and the appliance's blades go into a sturdy case.

  7. Prepare large appliances as instructed

    The fridge is defrosted and cleaned in advance; the washing machine is switched off, any remaining water is drained and, where required, the transit bolts are fitted. The exact procedure is set out in the manufacturer's instructions, and those should come first.

    Illustrative example: the fridge is switched off the evening before with a tray underneath for the meltwater, and in the morning the inside is wiped down and the door left ajar.

  8. Label and stack the boxes

    Mark every box with the room, the contents and, where needed, a fragile warning and which way up it goes. Keep the finished kitchen boxes in one place, heavy ones at the bottom and light ones on top, so that they are easy to carry out in order on moving day.

    Illustrative example: a neat stack by the door is labelled 'Kitchen 1 of 6', 'Kitchen 2 of 6' and so on, so at the new place you can see at a glance whether every box has arrived.

Common mistakes

  • Stacking plates flat with nothing between them
  • Packing all the dishes into one huge box that is hard to lift
  • Leaving gaps that let the contents roll around
  • Moving open packets of grains, oil and spices without a tight lid
  • Forgetting to defrost the fridge and dry out appliances
  • Not labelling boxes, or writing only 'misc'
  • Packing what you need for breakfast together with the best dinner service

Other options

  • If you run short of boxes, bags and lidded plastic containers work for unbreakable utensils
  • If you run short of paper, use towels, oven gloves and soft textiles as padding
  • If you are really pressed for time, give some rarely used dishes to friends or to charity and move only what you need

Check yourself

  • I have set aside a minimal kit of dishes for the last few days
  • The bottom of every box is taped and lined with a soft layer
  • Plates stand on their edges and are wrapped one at a time
  • Glassware is on top and the box is labelled fragile
  • Dry goods are tightly sealed
  • Small appliances are dry, with detachable parts packed separately
  • The fridge and washing machine are prepared as their instructions say
  • Every box shows the room and its contents

Catalogue of practical articles

This is where standalone practical articles for English-speaking readers who are moving on their own will be gathered: each one deals with a single task and sets out what to do, step by step, without unnecessary theory.

Topics in progress

  • Dismantling a wardrobe and bed without losing the fixings
  • Packing books, paperwork and photos
  • Lifting and carrying safely as a pair
  • Your first three days in a new home

Catalogue rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish advertising for movers, carriers or shops, rankings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers on preparation, moving day, helpers and what to do with things you no longer need.

  • Reference

    A moving glossary: packing materials, furniture fixings, loading and inventories.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: a one-bedroom flat, moving with children and pets, closing a country house for winter.

Based on

  • Furniture and household appliance manufacturers' instructions (general recommendations)
  • Occupational safety rules for loading and unloading work (general provisions)

This guide offers general advice on preparing for a move and handling your belongings with care. Rules for carrying particular items are set by the carriers themselves, and furniture assembly by the manufacturer's instructions, so in any specific case follow those first.