Utmost care must be taken while moving and rearranging expensive furniture. If one follows these simple tips for packing and moving, the risk of damage to the furniture itself, or the floor or walls, can be considerably reduced to near nothing.

First, and foremost: There should be an adequate number of individuals available to help lift items, especially heavy ones. Thought and consideration can prevent damages to furniture. For larger pieces, consideration should always be a factor of the move. Use care when lifting, and be aware of your environment.

Preparation and Planning

Study the whole situation before you take on the challenge. Measure the dimensions of the furniture piece you intend to move. In addition, measure any doorways or hallways through which it must pass.

Do:

Have a plan. Know where you are going and how to get there.

Don't:

Guesstimate. Take measurements to make sure your piece will fit.

Assessment of the Furniture

First of all, start by assessing the shape, weight, and size of the furniture. If you need to move the piece through a door, narrow hallway, or up a flight of stairs, take measurements and assess what is the best way to carry the furniture so that it passes through.

Removal of Attached Parts

Empty all the contents of drawers, shelves, etc. Remove any drawers or shelves if possible, or if not, make sure that they are not going to open while you carry them. You may simply stretch wrap. Remove any other parts that are easily dismantled or removed.

If you are moving dressers or some larger pieces of furniture, take all the contents out from the furniture and place them into moving boxes.

Lifting & Moving Techniques

Save Your Back

There is a correct way to lift. Lift with your legs--not your back. To lift properly, (Squat) bend your knees, begin lifting with your legs first, and be certain your upper back is straight. If you lift with your back, you will invite injury. Do not bend your back, hold it to the lowest point. Keep the furniture close to your body and do not twist.

Tip: You might consider using a belt when lifting heavy furniture. This will protect your back and help you lift more. Wear a Safety belt to protect your back when moving heavy furniture.

Position the Weight

Decide which part of the furniture piece is the heaviest or built the strongest, and carry or handle that part. If you just grab or yank, you could end up yanking off the back of a bookcase or pulling off the top of a stand.

Team Moving

When two people are carrying something big, watch and alert each other for obstacles like walls, doors, steps, holes, or turns, doorknobs, wall lights, ceilings, fans, overhead objects, objects on the floor, and your step.

Communication

Two persons carry furniture. The person at the rear should guide the person who is at the front of the furniture, advising him of obstacles, such as doorways and turns, since the person at the front will have their back toward such obstacles.

Spotting

Do have an extra person to "spot" you while you move. Watching your steps, furniture's corners, end to end and tops to bottom.

Walking Furniture

Walk the furniture piece, literally. Lean it back onto its back edge or legs and walk left side then right side forward. Or if you can't lean it back, just push left side forward, then right side forward. Do it in baby steps and you will eventually get it moved.

Equipment & Tools

Dollies & Hand-trucks

If you can get the furniture onto wheels and roll it, you can save a lot of effort. Use a dolly. The wheel was invented for ease.

Moving Straps

Furniture moving straps enable two people to lift furniture much heavier than they otherwise would be able to.

Furniture Sliders

Put sliders underneath, then push the furniture to the desired spot. Protects floors and makes moving easier.

Moving Pads

The moving pads will protect your furniture and keep it from being scratched during the moving process.

Dollies, Sliders, and Hand-trucks

Think about the surface over which you are moving the furniture, whether it is slippery, uneven, or sensitive to damage. Sliders can facilitate the task significantly. Put sliders underneath, then push the furniture to the desired spot. Another option is to use a dolly.

Tip: When using a hand-truck, position it beside a wall and then push or pull the furniture forward to load it so the hand-truck won't roll away.

Furniture Moving Straps

Moving straps can also make the moving of large furniture easier. Professional movers use STRAPS for the very heavy pieces of furniture. The moving pads and sliders will protect your furniture and floors, and will make it easier on you. Yet the moving straps will not just facilitate the moving of the furniture, but help you save your back from injuries.

Furniture Specific Tips

Kitchen Appliances

Heavy kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and cookers can be moved with less effort if you spread some dish-washing detergent on the floor to decrease the friction. Be careful not to slip! If you have to move a tall refrigerator, stand behind the appliance, lean it towards yourself, and move forward by pushing first one side, then the other.

Fragile Furniture

Be careful of fragile furniture. Ex... weak particle board furniture or parts easily to come off if held by them. Hold by bottom or something solid. Don't hold by the legs. Know how to hold a piece of furniture. Not sure, ask!

Warning:

No shortcuts when handling the furniture. Make sure all loose things are secure from falling. Ex... shelves, doors, and drawers.

Moving Furniture over Flights of Stairs

Carrying furniture up or down the stairs can be tricky if you are alone. Using two boards as ramps, you can push the item up or down by laying it sideways. Another useful idea is to put some cardboard or an old rug/sheet beneath the furniture that you wish to move and then just pull it. This trick can protect the floor surface and at the same time, it is an easy and inexpensive way to move things.

Long Furniture

Long furniture turns corners better standing up long way. But remember top heavy.

Safety & Protection

Back Safety

Don't forget to lift with your feet first and keep your back straight in order to avoid any injuries. Avoid twisting and take your time when start moving.

Floor and Wall Protection

Not only do you want to handle your furniture properly to protect the piece, but you also do not want to damage your floors or walls. Protect furniture and the home.

Critical Warning:

DON'T DROP HEAVY FURNITURE ON ANY TYPE OF FLOOR. Put things gently down to prevent crack a ceramic floor or scratches to wood floors.

Make sure you protect your floors if they are hardwood or any other easily damageable surface. Use furniture moving pads or some kind of blankets to cover the floors.

Hazard Alerts

Alert others of walking hazards and obstacles in moving path, Ex.. uneven, cracks, bumps, wet, nails, pictures, lights, sharp objects, highs and lows. Alert others of fragile boxes and things that needs attention.

General Safety Rules

Do:

  • Remove obstacles and avoid low hanging objects
  • Use furniture sliders and moving straps
  • Be careful of wet floors, steps or truck deck
  • Clear any obstacles in the pathway
  • Take measurements before moving

Don't:

  • Use cotton gloves, they will slip
  • Drag furniture across the floor
  • Rush. Take your time and stay rested
  • Guesstimate measurements
  • Drop heavy furniture on floors

Truck Loading and Unloading

Loading Order

Big things first into truck. Beds, couches, thin flat glass/mirrors/TV, then large furniture. Because we load them first in that order.

Bring uniform size boxes / furniture for ease of stacking. Always keep boxes upright the way you found them. Unless permission from owner. Never lay on side or upside-down. Some boxes may have liquids inside.

Loading Safety

  • Watch for no bottom boxes. Light boxes stacked on top.
  • Never slide furniture over the metal edge of the truck.
  • Be careful sliding items on floor of the truck. Legs might get caught or snagged resulting in a broken leg.
  • If stacking a load on the dolly, be careful where you push, not the top.
  • If you did not load the furniture in the truck, don't attempt to unload it because it maybe unknown unpacking hazards.
  • Never drop, throw, bounce or handle boxes too rough. We don't know what's in them.

Fragile Handling

Handle glass with care. Never let glass touch metal, cement or ceramic tiles. Or it will surely break. Take lamp shades off. Position blankets over furniture, then secure it by shrink wrapping. Especially couches. Using only shrink wrap on furniture will not protect it from scratches.

Final Reminders:

Think!!! Be careful!!! You break it, you'll responsible!!!

Remember that large and heavy furniture is difficult to move and it requires planning and measuring. Moving large pieces of furniture is not impossible though and there are great tools that will facilitate the moving. Consider all details tough and safety first.