Moving heavy furniture in your home like a couch, refrigerator or a solid wood dresser can be a challenge that risks not only injury to your body but also damage to your floors and walls. But a little careful planning, along with the right techniques and tools, can make moving heavy items safer and easier.
Tips for Protecting Your Floors While Moving Heavy Items
It can be upsetting to dent or scratch your floor while moving heavy furniture, especially if you’ve just installed new flooring. Protect your floors while moving heavy furniture and appliances with these tips.
- Sweep floors to remove debris that could leave scratch marks when trapped under heavy objects
- Cover high traffic areas with moving blankets, rugs or cardboard
- Protect hardwood and LPV flooring from heavy appliances with Masonite sheets or plywood
- Lift items rather than dragged to prevent dents and scratches
- Utilize hand carts and dollies for rolling heavy items
- Use sliders, hard plastic ones for gliding heavy items over carpet and felt sliders for hard surfaces
Tips for Protecting Your Walls While Moving Heavy Items
Corners, doorways, long narrow hallways and stairwells can make moving heavy items difficult. Protect your walls from digs and scratches while navigating tight passageways with these tips.
- Apply foam padding or pool noodles to protect vulnerable corners and edges
- Wrap furniture in moving blankets or bubble wrap hard edges to cushion accidental bumps
- Line narrow hallways with cardboard and secure in place with painter’s tape
- Wrap banisters and door frames with blankets to prevent damage
- Use spotters to help you navigate large items through tight corners and doorways
- Take apart furniture when possible to make it easier to maneuver
Tips for Protecting Your Back While Moving Heavy Items
Moving heavy furniture can be back-breaking work. Protect yourself with these tips.
- Bend at your knees, lift with your legs and hold heavy items close to your body
- Use lifting tools like straps, dollies and hand carts to reduce stress and physical effort
- Know your limit, take breaks when needed and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Push instead of pull. It’s generally considered safer and more efficient, utilizing
- Make items lighter and more stable by removing legs, drawers, doors and cushions
- Clear your route to prevent tripping over any obstacles that could throw you off balance and your back out of whack
- Get help. Most large, bulky and heavy furniture and appliances require at least two people to lift. Protect yourself with an extra set of hands for a smooth coordinated move. If you don’t have a lifting partner, contact Couple More Guys™ to schedule a two-person moving crew.
Safely Move Heavy Furniture with a Couple More Guys™
At Couple More Guys™, our crews are trained to navigate difficult moving situations with precision and care, maneuvering tight corners and stairs while limiting personal injury and damage to your belongings. Whether you are moving one heavy item or emptying out your entire home, we can help. Leave your heavy lifting to us.