Moving furniture is challenging, but you, along with the help of family members or friends, can do it safely if you know how. Here are some tips to protect you and your fellow movers and to prevent damage to your furniture and your house.
Get Help if You Need It
Be realistic about your abilities. Don’t attempt to move a large or awkwardly shaped piece of furniture by yourself, especially down a hallway or up or down a flight of stairs. There is a good chance that you would damage the furniture and your home and injure yourself.
Make a Plan
Discuss what you plan to move and how to do it. Choose a route and talk about how to get furniture through doorways and up and down stairs. Make sure everyone knows where the piece of furniture is going before you get started. Having a plan in place can help you avoid confusion, accidents and arguments.
How to Prevent Damage to Furniture and the House
Disassembling furniture can make it easier to move, especially through doorways. Remove anything that protrudes or that might come loose, such as legs, drawers, shelves and knobs. If you need to move a recliner, tie the footrest so it can’t pop open and injure someone or damage the house.
If you need to move large pieces of furniture, cover them with furniture blankets and plastic. That can help you prevent damage to the furniture, floors, walls and doorways that could be caused by scraping.
If you have to move a large chair or a couch through a doorway, turn it on its side so it forms an “L” shape, move one side of the “L” through the doorway, then rotate the furniture to get the other end through the doorway. If necessary, remove a door from its hinges so you have more clearance. You can also remove the molding from the doorway if you need a little more room to maneuver.
How to Avoid Injuries
To lift furniture, bend your knees and lift with your legs. Don’t bend at the waist or lift with your back because doing so could cause serious injuries. You can use lifting straps to reduce the amount of weight your back carries and to keep your hands free. Wear gloves to protect your hands from cuts and blisters.
When moving a tall piece of furniture, have one person carry each end. That can help you keep the weight centered and prevent injuries.
Avoid lifting furniture whenever possible. You can easily move large pieces by placing plastic furniture sliders or blankets underneath them so the furniture glides across the floor. That can reduce the physical demands on your bodies and protect the floor and the furniture from damage.
Communication is Key
When moving furniture, make sure that you know how to do so safely and that you and your fellow movers are on the same page. Misunderstandings can result in damage and injuries. Communicate before you start and throughout the process.
