Decluttering, Packing and Self Storage: A Comprehensive Guide On Moving To Manchester With Your Kitchen Equipment

Manchester, thanks to the many opportunities it has afforded to its residents, has become one of the most popular moving destinations in the UK today. In fact, annually, thousands of people move into Manchester from London alone!

If you, too, are planning on moving to Manchester, you should know that preparing, packing, and transporting your belongings for the big move can be pretty tricky. After all, it requires a lot of patience, a lot of time, a lot of effort, and lastly, a lot of money.

You will also want to know that above all else, the kitchen is the most challenging place to prepare for a home relocation. It is, after all, full of tools, equipment, and appliances that are often fragile and expensive.

And so, to make sure that packing and moving your kitchen tools and equipment goes as smoothly as possible, we have gathered a list of tips you may find helpful throughout the process.

Tips For Moving To Manchester With Your Kitchen Equipment

Because preparing your kitchen for a house move can be overwhelming and time-consuming, we have condensed the entire process into four easy-to-digest parts. Each step will walk you through the most crucial parts of the task, thus helping you make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Step 1: Declutter And Sort Through Your Belongings

Sort through all the items in all the drawers, cabinets, cupboards, and shelves in your kitchen. Classify your belongings into two main categories, “keep” and “dispose.” You may then further classify the dispose category into three, namely, “sell,” “donate,” and “throw away.”

By doing this, you are, therefore, minimising the items you will have to pack and transport all the way to Manchester. Moreover, this means you won’t have to deal with too many unnecessary things while unpacking your stuff and arranging everything in your new home.

If you are not too sure about which items you should keep and which items you should dispose of, take into consideration the following:

• How often you use the item. If you use them regularly, or at least semi-regularly, you may opt to keep them.
• Are you planning on upgrading to a new fridge or a new microwave? If so, then this is the perfect time to let go of the old one! The same goes for items you already have duplicates of.
• If you haven’t used something in six months, the chance of you ever using it again is much lower.
• There is no use holding on to something that no longer works. If it’s defective, get rid of it.
• Does it hold sentimental value, or are you just keeping the item for the sake of it? If it’s the latter, you’ll be better off letting go of it.

During this process, it is very likely for you to find items that you will want to hold on to no matter what and things that you know you will for which you will eventually find use. For such items, it would be best to keep them in a self storage unit in the meantime.

Step 2: Prepare Your Packing Materials

As already mentioned, items in the kitchen are often fragile, expensive, or both, it is crucial for you to find the best packing materials for the job. That means you cannot simply go for the first set you see. Rather, you should do some research and find out the best type of packing materials suitable for your belongings. Ask yourself:

• How big are the items I want to pack?
• Are the original boxes for my appliances still available?
• Will everything fit into cardboard boxes, or do I need to find an alternative?
• How many layers of protection do I need for my items?

By answering these questions, it will be much easier for you to determine the quantity and type of boxes and other packing materials and equipment you need. The most common ones you will surely need, though, are boxes, packaging tape, bubble wrap, packing sheets, and possibly packing peanuts.

Also, remember to never settle for the cheapest option available. Often, cheap packing materials are flimsy and weak, thus exposing your belongings to more damage. So, always be on the lookout for high-quality packing materials instead.

Step 3: Consider Finding A Self Storage Unit In Manchester And Hiring Professional Movers

There are many reasons for you to look into self storage in Manchester. First, of course, is to store the non-essential kitchen items that you still want to keep after decluttering your kitchen. By doing this, you are effectively freeing up more space in your new kitchen!

With this extra space, you’ll either have the room to move freely or set-up brand new kitchen equipment.

You may also use the storage unit to temporarily store all of your belongings, including those outside the kitchen, while you get your new place ready.

Whichever the case is, though, always remember that if you are planning on using a self storage unit for your kitchen tools and appliances, you will want to use a climate-controlled unit. Such units will ensure that your belongings are not exposed to extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, moisture, and anything else that may cause damage or harm.

You will also want to think about hiring professional movers to help you pack and move your belongings. After all, these people will have the necessary tools, knowledge, and experience to ensure that your items are packed and transported safely and as securely as possible. If, however, this is not something you are interested in doing, you may proceed directly to the next steps.

Step 4: Embrace An Efficient Packing System For Your Stuff

Next, figure out a system that will make the task of packing the stuff in your kitchen as quick and as easy as possible. For example, you could make use of the process listed below:

1. Identify the items you will still need during the packing process. This will often include kitchen essentials such as a couple of pans, cookware, etc.
2. While packing your items, start with the items you use the least (i.e., cookbooks, small kitchen appliances, oven mitts, baking utensils, etc.) After this, work your way through non-perishable food, cookware, flatware, glasses and mugs, and appliances in that particular order.
3. Look into pressing some items for the move. Set aside these items, if you find this worth doing.
4. Make sure to include padding and extra layers of protection (i.e., bubble wrap or packing paper) around your items. You will also want to make sure your items do not absorb too much vibration while in transit by adding some cushion or packing peanuts to fill the empty spaces within the box.
5. If you are packing some appliances, be sure to consult the user manual or the manufacturer for packing and transportation tips. Some items will require gentler handling, after all.
6. Fortify the sides and bottom of your boxes with tape.
7. Always remember to label all sides of each box legibly. Make sure to include the room each box belongs in and a quick overview of the items inside each one. If items are fragile, ensure it is indicated on the box, too. (i.e., KITCHEN – Mugs and Glasses – FRAGILE)

Once you have packed, sealed, and labelled all your boxes properly, your items will be ready for transport. As you go through the process, do not hesitate to look back to this guide or any other like it!

Meanwhile, if you think you are going for a storage unit, a moving company, or both, make sure to have at least three companies in the running before you decide which one you want to work with. Always thoroughly examine the prices presented to you to make sure that you are getting the best deals possible!