Moving can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to relocating bulky furniture. It's important to have a plan before tackling the relocation process to ensure your belongings arrive at your new home safely and securely.
Then, consider hiring professional moving companies in Westchester, NY, to assist you. As movers with extensive experience handling large and heavy furniture, they can provide you with essential tips and tricks for furniture transport, plus help you avoid injuring yourself during the process.
In this article, we'll discuss moving your bulkiest belongings without breaking your back, so keep reading to learn more.
14 Tips for Furniture Moving
Moving heavy furniture can be difficult, whether relocating your home or rearranging it. These simple techniques will help you move awkward, heavy items without damaging your back, the furniture, or home. Use your head and not your back to move heavy items.
1. Carry Tall Items High and Low
Moving a tall dresser, file cabinet, or shelving unit is difficult. It's easier to do it with two people. One person should carry the top of the item while the other person carries the bottom. The weight is evenly distributed, and the item will not swing out of control. The item can also be transported up or down the stairs easier, as the carrying angle roughly matches the slope.
2. Chairs That ‘Hook’ Around Corners
Large easy chairs can be difficult to move. Take the advice of professional movers and “hook up” large chairs to corners. Turn the chair to look like an “L,” then backward move it through the doorway. It is best to curl (hook) it around the doorframe and slide it through.
3. Move a Couch: Stand Couches on End
Moving a couch horizontally through a door and down a hall may be difficult. Place the couch on the end before you enter the hall and slide it up to the doorway. You will almost always be able to hook the couch through the door. Start the top of the hook away from the opening to gain a few inches.
4. Shoulder Dolly Straps for Furniture
Straps that move and lift (a shoulder dolly is an example) may lift a lot of weight off your shoulders using leverage and powerful muscles. These straps also free up your hands to move awkward objects. They can be difficult to use on stairs, as the weight is transferred to the mover.
5. Furniture Carrying Straps
It would help if you looked for adjustable straps for different lengths of objects and different sizes of movers. These Forearm Forklift Lifting and Moving Straps are perfect for moving on flat surfaces.
6. Slide, Don't Drag or Carry
Furniture slides are available in many sizes and shapes online at home centers. You can also make your furniture sliders using plastic container covers. Frisbees are great for this. Use hard plastic for carpeting and a soft pad for hard flooring.
7. Protect Furniture With Blankets and Plastic
Moving blankets can be a great way to protect your home and what you are moving. Renting them may be cheaper, but buying several at a home center or on uhaul.com will ensure you always have them. You can use them for many other purposes. Put moving blankets around dressers, tables, and other pieces of furniture to save their delicate edges and finishes. Secure the blankets with stretch film. Stretch film is available in 20-in. Stretch film is available at moving outfitters and home centers for about $20 per roll.
8. Make a Mattress Sling
It's hard to move a heavy mattress. Although many mattresses come with handles, they are not designed to be carried. These handles need to be stronger because they were made to assist you in positioning the mattress. You can carry the mattress much easier by making a rope sling. This will give you more control and that of your assistant. The rope should be threaded through the handles of the mattress. Slide a 5-in. Over the rope ends, slip a 5-in. Lose and tie PVC pipe over the ends. Flip the mattress so that the sling lies on the bottom.
9. Box Springs Can Be Folded and Cut
Does your box spring not fit around your corner or in a stairway? You can buy a “split box spring” designed for this purpose (and spend several hundred dollars) or cut and fold your current box spring to fit. It's possible to fold and cut your box spring in a clever, simple way without damaging it. Remove the fabric cover (the hardest part is to remove the staples). Place the box spring on its back. Cut through the frame to the middle crosspiece left or right. Do not cut through the crosspiece. This should be done on both sides as well as in the middle. Fold the box spring in a book-like manner and then move it. Strap it to stop it from opening. Screw a 1×2 against the inner frame and the cross pieces of the center to reinforce the frames. Staple the fabric back into place.
10. Plan Where It Lands
Decide where you will place your furniture when moving into a new home. Create a layout and a floor plan with measurements for each room before you move. Measure your furniture. You (or someone else, if not you) can then place the furniture where you want it and never have to touch them again. Tape a copy of your plan on the wall in each room to make things easier for the movers.
11. Remove the Back of a Recliner
The brackets can be found on either the inside or outside of the frame. You may need long-nosed pliers to lift the locking levers. Slide the back straight upwards to remove it. Lift a recliner by its sides and not the footrest or backrest. The footrest should be tied in place to prevent it from opening.
12. Take Apart What You Can
Remember: Remove the legs if you need to move a couch through a narrow doorway. This will make it smaller. You can use the same principle to make any furniture piece lighter or sleeker: Remove all knobs, drawers, shelves, and racks.
13. Remove Your Door and Stop Molding
Sometimes an extra 1/2 inch is all it takes to get through a doorway. It only takes 1/2 inch to pass through a narrow doorway. If the space created by removing the doors needs to be increased, you can pry the mold off the door. This will give you an additional 3/4 inch.
14. Ramp it Up (and Down)
Create ramps using blocks, scaffold planks, and lumber to move items.
Conclusion
Furniture relocation is a daunting task, especially when moving bulky items. However, with the right techniques and tools, you can move your furniture without causing harm to yourself, your belongings, or your home. It highly recommends considering professional movers in Westchester, NY, such as Abreu Movers, to assist with furniture relocation. We have the expertise, experience, and tools to ensure a stress-free moving experience. Remember to plan, use proper lifting techniques, protect your furniture, and remove any obstacles that may obstruct the moving process. So, whether you move DIY-style or hire professionals, prioritize safety and efficiency to achieve a smooth relocation process.
If you are looking for professional moving services in Westchester, NY, Abreu Movers is here. Contact us today to learn how we can help you relocate your furniture and belongings.
FAQs
Is it good to be active?
Increased physical activity can reduce your risk of severe health conditions at any age. Even a simple daily walk around your block or a quick 15-minute workout can keep you healthy for many years.
What is the ability of your body to move heavy objects?
Physical strength is defined as the ability of your muscles to lift heavy objects and perform functional movements.
What is used to move heavy items?
Pulley. A piece of equipment that is used to lift something heavy. The wheel is attached to a chain or rope fastened to whatever you're trying to lift.
What is the best way to move furniture safely?
Avoid using extreme or sudden forces, for example, when pushing, lifting, or moving heavy furniture. To reduce strain, focus on maintaining good posture and body positioning. If you feel fatigued, take a break. Before moving anything, make sure the load is secure and balanced.
What is the best way to move a heavy object or item?
Lift slowly by straightening both your knees and hips, not your back. Don't bend your back, and keep it straight. Hold the weight as close as you can to your body, around the level of the belly button. Take small steps with your feet when changing direction.
Eric Chandler is a versatile entrepreneur with expertise in both writing and the moving industry. With years of experience as a writer, he has a talent for crafting engaging content on various subjects for major publications and online platforms. Eric also owns a successful moving company that provides reliable and efficient services to clients across the country. His extensive knowledge of the moving process, from packing to delivery, has earned him a reputation as a trustworthy moving expert.