How to Move Heavy Furniture
To Lessen the Load, Call in the Expert Furniture Movers in Melbourne
July 2017
When moving house, one of the hardest tasks can be finding effective ways to move your large furniture and other heavy items. Physically, it can be quite a demanding task, not to mention the increased risk of injury. Straining your back, neck or other body parts can be a huge inconvenience and cause significant delays on moving day. Further, when moving heavy furniture, there is an increased risk of damaging other parts of your home such as the walls, doors and flooring which can happen all too easily if you’re not moving these items correctly.
We’ve put together a list of tips for you to help make moving heavy items as easy and injury-free as possible.
Moving Tips for Heavy Furniture
1. Positioning of your grip:
On furniture pieces such as dressers, bookshelves, filing cabinets and large tables, it is best to make it a two-person job. Having two pairs of hands and extra strength will make balancing the heavy item easier, as well as being able to negotiate doorways and hallways. Be sure to get a firm grip on the base of the furniture, and be sure to bend at the knees to avoid straining your back. Tipping it slightly sideways and matching angles whilst carrying will make it easier going up and down stairs.
2. Create a makeshift ramp and rope pulley:
Especially helpful if moving heavy items on your own, you can use plywood to create a ramp to easily slip over doorways and small steps. Tie a strong piece of rope around the item and make sure it is secure before moving, and then gently release the heavy item down the makeshift ramp. Whilst doing this it is best to use gloves to protect from rope burn - especially if you are lowering an item down an entire staircase.
3. Use blankets to protect furniture:
Wrapping blankets around furniture that you don’t want to get scratched or to scratch other items is a hugely effective way to prevent damage. Wrap your furniture or line the edges with materials such as blankets and towels and you won’t have to sort out damaged items and walls later.
4. Furniture Sliders:
You can buy furniture sliders from your local hardware store, and these can be invaluable and make even the heaviest of furniture easily slide across the room. Simply place the sliders under the corners of the item and it will be ready to push.
5. Stand couches up on their end:
Most couches and sofas will be too long to easily manoeuvre through doorways and around corners. With the assistance of another person, turn couches up vertically keeping an angle on it so that it doesn’t hit the roof and get stuck in doorways.
6. Don’t have sliders? Use moving blankets.
Moving blankets work in a similar way to sliders except you place the whole item on top of the blanket. Put the blanket under the item and pull the blanket in the direction you want to go, this should make it a lot easier to slide across the room.
7. Lighten the load:
If you are moving items that can be taken apart, make sure you utilise this as much as possible. For example, you can take drawers out of chests, and empty out bookshelves and blanket boxes, making it a lot easier to lift and transport. Also, don’t forget about chairs and tables that can be disassembled; often sofa chairs and couches have legs that can be removed which will make it easier to lift but also easier to manoeuvre around corners and hallways.
8. Use straps wherever possible:
Utilising moving and lifting straps decreases the strain put on your back and neck as they effectively disperse weight to different muscles and areas of the body. They allow you to use your stronger muscles groups to bear the brunt of the load therefore decreasing risk of injury.
They are also helpful for items that don’t have easy to grip ledges or handles and allow you to get taller items through doors without the risk of the furniture tipping over. Invest in straps that can be adjusted in length as these allow you to transport a range of different sized items securely.
9. Many hands make light work:
Don’t underestimate the value of getting a couple of your friends to come and help move the heavier items, this will not only get the job done quicker but also decrease the risk of injury if heavy items are divided up.
Transporting your large and heavy furniture can be a precarious and potentially dangerous activity. If this sounds like too much effort, or if you don’t think you could quite manage the heavy furniture you need to lift on moving day, you should consider a professional relocation company.
Melbourne’s leading removalist company, John Ryan Removals, are experienced furniture removalists. We moving heavy furniture in all shapes and sizes, meaning you can have plenty of time to focus on the multitude of other tasks that need to be completed for a successful move.
To find out more, contact our friendly team or request a free quote.