Moving a student kitchen is a chance to reduce what you carry before buying more storage boxes. Check ownership in a shared home, then separate the items you use from damaged or unwanted pieces. Do not pack someone else's appliance simply because it has lived in your cupboard all year.
Clean and dry cookware, containers and appliances according to their instructions before packing. Moisture trapped in a closed box can create an unpleasant surprise when you unpack. Allow enough time for parts with seals or narrow openings to dry fully.
Keep sets of parts together
Match lids to bases and label accessories with their appliance model where useful. Put removable small parts in a suitable separate package so they do not scratch food-contact surfaces or disappear inside a larger box. Keep manuals or digital copies accessible.
Protect sharp knives with appropriate guards or secure protective packaging, clearly marked so nobody reaches blindly into the box. Separate fragile glass items and avoid placing heavy cookware on top of them. Choose boxes you can lift safely rather than filling one large box with every pan.
For appliances, follow the manufacturer's transport guidance. Refrigerators and other equipment may have specific positioning and restart instructions. Do not improvise based on how a different appliance was moved previously.
Use original protective packaging if available and suitable, or pack securely with appropriate materials. Avoid pulling or carrying equipment by a cord, lid or component not intended as a handle. Keep damaged items out of service rather than treating the move as a chance to hide the damage in packing tape.
Unpack around the first meal
Keep a small set of essentials easy to find: a suitable pan or pot, a utensil, a plate or bowl and cleaning supplies. This lets you make a simple meal without opening every box immediately.
Inspect the new kitchen before placing appliances. Check dimensions, suitable outlets, required clearances and any accommodation rules. The arrangement that worked in the previous apartment may not be appropriate in the new one.
After unpacking, check for damage and confirm that all components are present before use. A careful move is not only about preventing breakage; it also makes the new kitchen usable without a week of searching for one missing lid.