How exciting it is to move into a new home and – a new kitchen! But before you let your enthusiasm carry you away, take some time to plan things out. You don’t want to spend hours every day searching for something. That’s just frustrating. Instead, follow these four unpacking tips to make unpacking a stress-free event.
1. Prep Cupboards, Drawers, and Pantry Before Unpacking
You’ll probably want to prep your new kitchen before opening a single box. If the home was sprayed for termites or other pests before you moved in – which is always a good idea – then you’ll want to wipe down all your surfaces to clean off the pesticide residue.
Line your shelves and drawers with some cute shelf paper and put in your drawer organizers too. The same goes in the pantry. Also, take just five minutes to look everything over and plan out where everything will go before you start unpacking – see point three below for details.
2. Unpack Boxes One at a Time
The reason you don’t want to have too many open boxes at once is that you’re going to quickly run out of counter space, you can’t always put things away immediately after pulling them out of boxes. This obstacle is common when moving from a larger kitchen into a smaller one with less storage space. Clutter can quickly make the task stressful, so take it one box at a time.
Also, if your boxes were in storage for a long time, you might want to wash the dishes and silverware before putting them away, so this is much easier to accomplish one box at a time.
3. Organize Dishes, Pots, and Pans According to Frequency of Use
When you unpack, you don’t want to just throw everything in the first available drawer or cupboard. Think it through regarding easy access. Items like glasses, plates, and silverware that get used every single day should fast to access – in drawers and cabinets at eye level – while items that only get used occasionally can be placed in those harder-to-reach cupboards above the refrigerator and above the stove.
The same goes for pots and pans. Frying pans might be used multiple times per day, while large pots might only be used once or twice per month. So, make sure that your everyday cookware doesn’t get buried way in the back of that low cupboard.
4. Take Your Time When Organizing the Pantry
Organize and plan out the pantry in your head before that first can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup hits the shelf. The last thing you want is to have a hungry family waiting in the living room while you scramble around trying to find this item and that item.
Again, think about access. Items used only occasionally can be put away on higher shelves. Extra paper towels and lighter items should go up on top where they can’t hurt anyone if they fall. If you use canned veggies, canned meats, and chicken broth almost every day, then don’t let them get buried down low or way up high. Put them right at eye level or chest level and organize everything into sections like so.
With organization, you can make quick work of unpacking your kitchen, just like the best moving companies. To find unpacking and other moving services in Philadelphia, reach out to Cheap Movers Philadelphia!