The kitchen is one of the most used areas of any home. It's where you'll find all your silverware and plates, which need to be packed when it's time to move. Here are a few tips to help with packing these items before the residential movers show up.

Start Early

You can switch over to paper plates and plastic silverware for the final weeks or days before you move. This will not only allow you to pack your silverware and plates early, but will also eliminate some, if not all, of the dishes you'd have to do. You'll need that extra time for the move, anyway.

Get the Right Supplies

When you're packing, one of the most important things you can do is get the right supplies together. For packing silverware and plates, you'll need plenty of bubble wrap, cardboard dividers and medium-sized boxes. You'll also need plenty of packing tape and the right color marker for labeling the boxes.

Packing Plates

Packing up your plates isn't as easy as just throwing them in a box with some padding. If you pack them the wrong way, they are more likely to break, even if the box isn't moved around much.

The best way to pack plates is to put bubble wrap or packing paper at the bottom of the box. You will also want to wrap each plate in packing paper or bubble wrap. Then, wrap three plates into a bundle and use packing tape to hold them together.

Make sure you pack the plates on their edges. If you pack plates one on top of each other, they are more likely to break. It's also a good idea to put a horizontal cardboard divider at the top of the box to create a level base. After you're done, make sure to label the box as fragile.

Packing Silverware

Packing silverware isn't exactly straightforward either. You should wrap the pieces in newsprint or plastic wrap to keep your pieces from tarnishing. If you have a silverware chest, you want to fill the voids in the chest with packing paper to keep the pieces from moving. You can also wrap the chest in a large towel to ensure it’s fully protected.

Packing Other Kitchen Items

Along with silverware and plates, you may need to pack pots and pans, glassware and appliances. Each of these should be packed in a specific way.

• Pots and Pans - Pack pots and pans by size with the largest filled with smaller pots. Use packing paper to separate each one and place the set upside down on packing paper inside the box.

• Glassware - The best way to pack glassware is to wrap it in packing paper or bubble wrap. Then, put each piece in a divided box specifically created for glassware.

• Appliances - Appliances should be wrapped in packing paper or bubbles wrap and put into boxes separately. It's not a good idea to pack multiple appliances in one large box.

There are several things in your kitchen you will need to pack. Make sure you do it right or you could end up with broken or damaged items. If you want to make sure your items are fully protected, hire a professional moving company to handle the packing.