Moving house often means finding solutions for bulky items, such as heavy furniture, and how to get them safely to a new house.
Hiring professionals is always a good choice, as this will certainly make the process easier as they will already have equipment and tools such as lifting straps, dollys and plenty of truck space for loading all of your big furniture items safely.
That being said, preparing for transporting heavy items out the door can be made even easier when you assist your moving team with carefully getting belongings ready.
In this guide, we look at how to safely move everything from big, bulky boxes, washing machines and pianos, to fridges and more.
Let’s start with tips for packing extra-large boxes safely.
Packing big boxes, the right way
Unlike smaller boxes, where items can easily be fit in snugly, large boxes need extra protection to ensure belongings will not easily move around and easily damage.
The type of moving boxes you should look out for are heavy duty containers that are padded and that can hold anything from lots of books to kitchen items and more.
If you are using cardboard boxes, you must use thick wrapping paper and heavy duty packing tape for extra security to ensure your moving supplies are better protected in case of boxes being dropped or bumped against the wall.
This doesn’t need to be costly – something as simple as thick blankets can already provide considerable padding, and you can also use bubble wrap as needed.
Another important consideration when packing big boxes is to cushion your heavy items properly.
Again, thick moving blankets can be used in between items, or even clothes or foam sheets.
Often, moving companies provide packing supplies and packing services, so if you would prefer to have your belongings packed in such a way that they are safe and professionally secured, check whether you can order this as an additional service.
If you have several awkward items or bulky items that could be a challenge to pack, getting services from professional movers who also package belongings will certainly take away some of the stress of moving.
Getting appliances ready for a move
What to remember when moving a refrigerator
When you need to remove a fridge or freezer, it is important to not wait until the last minute before getting these items ready.
As tempting as it may be to continue using these appliances until shortly before your move, it is best to already start preparing around a week before and removing items.
During this time, you can either call on friends or family to store items that will not easily spoil, or simply donate items that you will likely not eat.
Once you cleared out your fridge and freezer, you can remove drawers, egg holders or other loose compartments, before unplugging and defrosting as needed.
Have towels ready to soak up water inside your fridge as it defrosts, and remember to keep the doors open.
Defrosting completely usually takes around two days, so ensure you plan accordingly.
Once your fridge and freezer are completely dry, you (or your moving team) should ensure all doors are taped shut. Also, a fridge especially should never be laid on its side, as this could damage the fridge compressor.
Keeping these tips in mind, a fridge or freezer can then be moved to a moving truck via a dolly, where it will be secured inside with straps or rope to keep it from moving around during transportation.
What to remember when moving a dishwasher
To get your dishwasher ready for transport, it is important to first switch it off and unplug it.
Next, you will need to shut off the water supply line using an adjustable wrench – remember to have towels ready for water messes.
Carefully remove the drain hose, and rinse it before storing it for your move.
Next, take out all loose parts, and store them in a moving box, after which you can cover your dishwasher in full with bubble wrap, including underneath.
What to remember when preparing a stove or oven for a house move
Moving a stove can be tricky, and it is best to let a professional team handle any heavy lifting, as they will ensure that the stove will not get damaged.
However, before moving your oven, it is important to give it a proper clean – the last thing you want is a sticky stove that is not easy to secure, or that brings dirt and grime into your new home.
Also, work with a professional team to safely disconnect your stove or oven, and carefully wrap your stove to ensure it has enough cushioning and that the doors are secured.
How to best get your washer and dryer ready for a home move
Draining your washer and dryer properly is an important part of the moving process.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of excess water is to set your machine on its spin cycle, which will drain water via the drain line.
Let your machine dry for at least 24 to 48 hours, and ensure that all hoses are properly drained.
You can again use blankets to provide extra padding for the outside of your washing machine, and then cover it with plastic wrap for extra protection.
How to move big furniture items
Every home has different types of large furniture items that will need to be moved.
Here are some examples:
Work desks
The first thing to do is to remove all drawers, empty them and throw away any clutter. Then, wrap the drawers individually.
If your drawers cannot be removed, ensure that they are securely taped shut and will not easily move around during your move.
Furniture pads, moving blankets, as well as foam padding can all be used to safely wrap a desk – do remember that if any parts of your desk can be moved separately and easily assembled, it might be more convenient to wrap these items on their own to make transport easier.
Couches
Considering that moving can get dusty when you are moving multiple items, it is best to protect your coaches and sitting chairs with coverings such as old blankets, taped snugly around your furniture, and then covered with plastic or bubble wrap.
Don’t forget to protect and wrap your chair legs as well, as you do not want to arrive at your new home with fresh scratches on your furniture.
Pianos
When moving an upright piano, you first need to lock the lid to protect the keys. Alternatively, if your lid doesn’t lock, use tape that will not damage the surface of your piano.
Use bubble wrap to secure your piano’s pedals, and use moving blankets to wrap and cushion your piano.
Dresser
When you have a dresser to move, it is best to have furniture blankets, plastic wrap and cardboard pieces ready.
The cardboard pieces can provide important protection for dresser edges or other decorative areas, while plastic wrap can ensure that drawers remain in place.
Always empty a dresser first before wrapping it in furniture blankets and plastic wrap, and if your dresser has a mirror, remove it and wrap it safely to ensure no cracks or damage happen during your move.
TVs
Easy does it when wrapping a flat screen TV for a big move.
Start by placing a moving blanket on the floor that is big enough to cover the screen.
Then, with the screen facing upwards, gently place your TV on the blanket, then wrap it with your moving blanket.
Secure the edges of your TV with packing tape, then wrap again with bubble wrap or packing tape.
Checklist: Extra moving tips for moving big furniture items
- Always measure doorways in your old home and new house – this will help your moving team to have the best possible routes when needing to move big items hassle free.
- Also consider whether items will need to be carried up or down stairs, and ensure your movers know when they will need to use stairs during moving day.
- If you have lots of bulky items that need to be moved, try to not move during peak traffic times or other busy times in the neighbourhood that you are moving to. This will ensure no frustration will be caused by your move, and that your moving truck will not be in anyone’s way.
- Get ready to protect your floor when you are moving with big furniture pieces and large appliances into your new home. Rugs, sheets or cardboard pieces are all good ideas for keeping floors safe and scratch free.
- If you can disassemble certain furniture pieces, wrap all pieces individually and carefully. This includes chair wheels, or even in some cases chair and table legs, which will make it easier to carry furniture through doorways.
- Any small fragile items that could easily bend should be safely packed in moving boxes, with enough padding to protect them during a move.
- Always start packing items that you will not be using for a while first. This will make it easier to get a good start to be in time for your move.
Saving space: Why it is important to declutter before moving
If you are already moving with lots of bulky items and other furniture pieces, the last thing you want is to add unnecessary items to the bulk of your move.
These items could be books that you have read or might not read, kitchen items that have been gathering dust in the cupboard, or even appliances that could be regifted, donated or sold.
Decluttering offers a perfect time to get rid of stuff you do not need, and to only take those items that you will use to your new place.
This will ensure that your new home is clutter free, from the start.
Also, have a plan in place to get rid of empty boxes once you have moved into your new home.
A good idea is to recycle boxes if possible – this will ensure your move doesn’t cause too much waste.
Need more information about how to transport big items when moving?
Our skilled team of movers will be happy to assist you with the whole process of moving large and heavy items to a new home, as well as setting your mind at ease on moving day with moving tips.
Contact us today – we look forward to hearing from you!
