heavy furniture

Moving heavy furniture can be a stressful affair. Not only do you risk damaging your valuable items, but you also put your safety at risk. With this in mind, you should always seek help from professionals with the right equipment and techniques to move heavy furniture safely. Read on for tips on how to move heavy furniture without compromising your safety or damaging your furniture.

If you are relocating and wondering how to move heavy furniture, you need a viable plan and the right equipment for the job. Below are two main starting points to ensure your move is successful.

Assess and make a plan

Moving heavy furniture requires a meticulous strategy to ensure an efficient and time-saving process. Create an inventory of all the heavy furniture you will be moving and identify what you need to lift and move the items. You also need to formulate the order in which you will move your items. Note that bigger pieces go in first. Lastly, measure both doorways and furniture to know which items will go through and what you have to disassemble.

Gather your equipment

Before moving your furniture, ensure you have all the equipment you need to facilitate the process. You can acquire tools to move heavy furniture either by renting or buying. Some of the items you will need include moving straps and sliders, moving blankets, moving dollies, and packing tapes.

Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself

If you plan to move heavy furniture without professional help, knowing how to go about it prevents injuries and damage to your items. With the right equipment, you can successfully move heavy furniture with the following tips.

Break furniture down into its smallest parts

For furniture like sectionals, beds, or shelves with detachable parts, break them down as much as possible. Ensure that you store all the removable items safely to avoid losing them during the process.

Follow proper lifting techniques

When moving heavy furniture, follow proper lifting techniques for your safety. Bend at your knees instead of the waist to protect your back and keep items close to your body when carrying for balance. Be careful not to twist your body when carrying or lifting to avoid injury from the sudden movement.

Huge items can sometimes obstruct your view and block you from seeing where you are going. Always keep your eyes facing forward instead of on the ground to avoid accidents.

How to move heavy furniture with moving tools

If it is your first time, you may be wondering how to use moving equipment to move heavy furniture. Below are ways to use moving tools when moving heavy furniture.

  • Forearm Forklift. A forearm forklift is a moving strap that you wear on your forearms to help you pick up and control large items when moving. However, they are not ideal for carrying too much weight as forearms are not strong enough compared to shoulders.
  • Moving straps. You can wear moving straps on your shoulders, forearms, or across your chest when moving or lifting heavy furniture. To use moving straps, you need to wear them appropriately and position the straps beneath the item you are moving before carrying it.
  • Furniture sliders. Sliders protect your wood floors from scratches when moving furniture. Place the sliders under each leg with the smooth surface facing downwards before pushing your furniture to your desired location.
  • Furniture dollies. Furniture dollies are flat platforms with four wheels ideal for use on flat surfaces. Remember to secure your items with a strap when moving using a furniture dolly.
  • 4-Wheel Hand Carts. A 4-Wheel hand cart is an L-Shaped four-wheel platform whose wheels are completely beneath the platform, raising it off the floor. Therefore, you need to lift your item onto the cart as it doesn’t have a lever.
  • Hand Truck. It is the most used moving tool, having  2 wheels attached to an L-shaped metal frame. It helps movers carry heavy belongings from one place to another. 
  • Truck Loading Ramps. Truck loading ramps can help you move furniture to the back of your truck or even upstairs. When using a truck loading ramp, keep the angle low to avoid straining when pushing your items over.

What are the Best Tips for Moving Heavy Furniture?

Use the below tips to move your heavy furniture successfully.

  • Carry Tall Items High and Low. Tall items like dressers require two people to move. Tip your furniture backward so that it slants downwards. With one side elevated more than the other, one person can carry the top while the other carries the bottom.
  • ‘Hook’ Chairs Around Corners. Moving chairs through doors can be stressful due to the angles that prevent them from going through directly. Hook chairs around corners by turning them into L-shapes and getting them through, starting with the back. You can then curl them around the doorframe to get them through.
  • Furniture Carrying Straps. When looking for furniture carrying straps, opt for adjustable straps for objects and movers of different sizes. A shoulder dolly is especially ideal as it allows you to move heavier furniture. Also, your shoulders can withstand more weight compared to your forearms.
  • Don’t Carry or Drag—Slide. Instead of carrying or dragging your furniture, slide them using moving sliders. Not only does sliding take less effort, but it also protects your floors and furniture. If you can’t find moving sliders, you can improvise using readily available materials like plastic container lids, moving blankets, towels, and Frisbees.
  • Protect Furniture With Blankets and Plastic. Wrapping your furniture with blankets and plastic film protects the edges and finish from damage. While you can rent moving blankets and plastic, you are better off buying yours so you can always have them in case you need to move.
  • Make a Mattress Sling. When moving your mattress, use a rope and pipe to make a sling. You can then position the mattress over the sling and move it with the help of your partner. Carrying the mattress this way is easier than bundling it over the distance.
  • Plan Where It Lands. Have a sketch of where you want everything to go, so you don’t have to keep moving furniture once they are in the building. You can even indicate in every room where every piece of furniture will go for easy placement.
  • Remove Your Door Stop Molding. Your door stop molding could be all it takes for your furniture to get stuck. Removing your door stop molding adds some space for easy passage of furniture.
  • Disassemble Furniture. Moving furniture in pieces is better than carrying it whole. Your items become lighter and can easily get through small spaces when you move them as pieces. From beds and recliners to shelves and racks, always disassemble and detach furniture whenever you can.

While the above tips can help you move heavy furniture successfully, you should always seek help if you cannot accomplish it alone. Connect with industry experts who offer professional moving services, so you don’t have to worry about moving heavy furniture when relocating. Contact a reliable agency today for timely and quality moving services.

Author’s Bio

Robert Benson is a Creative Writer and Blogger possessing immense experience in writing informative content related to moving and packing. He is also a moving consultant in Sunshine Movers, helping people to make their move easy and successful. He has gained significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 10 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process

By Anurag Rathod

Anurag Rathod is an Editor of Appclonescript.com, who is passionate for app-based startup solutions and on-demand business ideas. He believes in spreading tech trends. He is an avid reader and loves thinking out of the box to promote new technologies.