7 secrets to move heavy furniture on your own

Nicolas is single, and he lives alone. He often moved for his job and used the service of a furniture storage company several times. As with any move, there are heavy pieces of furniture. However, with a little ingenuity and by applying a few tricks, it is possible to get out of it properly and limit injuries or embarrassing situations.

“I once jammed my back moving a low sideboard, just pushing it home. But, unfortunately, a bad gesture can happen quickly, and it doesn’t just happen to others! says Nicolas.

Alone, it is impossible to carry such a piece of furniture up the stairs, transport it on the sidewalk, transport it in the moving truck, or even in the box rented for storage. So, finally, Nicolas called on 2 people found on a muscle arm rental site.

Moral of this little story:

Plan before undertaking the movement of particular objects.

Thinking of moving heavy furniture?

We interviewed experienced movers to get lots of advice on how to move this kind of object.

Here is a list of tips:

Assess if you need additional help.

To move a heavy and bulky piece of furniture, we all need help. Just for safety: a large and heavy object can very easily fall on us. You can quickly become unbalanced.

Avoid dangerous areas.

It is essential to avoid moving heavy or large pieces alone on stairs or in a steep area. The slope and the speed taken at this precise moment can quickly take over your strength. An injury happens quickly in this kind of situation.

This misadventure happened to Quentin, 25 years old. He rented a cellar from a resident of his neighborhood in Liverpool. The stairs to access the storage place were old—a narrow stone spiral. Pressed for time and at the time of lowering the door of his 2.5-meter high wardrobe, bought from Ikea, he was unbalanced by the gravity of the slope and bad support. Despite the shallowness of the steps, he miraculously caught himself by rubbing against the walls.

Result of the maneuver: a few scratches on the hands and elbows (nothing for the ankle or the knees, fortunately!) and a badly damaged closet door. The latter to continue her race, all alone, just at the bottom of the stairs. Luckily no one was at the reception!

Use the right tools to make moving easier.

Get a loan, rent, or invest in suitable equipment. Plastic pads under the furniture legs make it easy to slide a sofa or dresser. A table on a rug or blanket and the bulky object will have to be pushed. There are straps for carrying. It’s a great way to reduce fatigue. For a large chair, you can pass the straps at its bottom and use your arms to lift or move it. There are straps, which two people can use to transport large pieces of furniture without getting tired. Click here to get more information about protective packaging.

Take precautions to prevent injury.

Prevention is better than cure.

Whenever you transport a large or heavy piece of furniture, from your home to the van or from a vehicle to the storage box, we recommend that you practice as follows:

• Always lift with your legs, not your back. We push on his legs!
• Bend your knees and not your pelvis (your waist).
• Do not use carts loaded with items that you will need to push higher than your chest.

Rest assured, most centers offer free, on-site trolleys suitable for the greatest number, small or large. You will also find hand trucks and pallet trucks. A range of tools, just for you! Simple and practical, right?

Always wear appropriate clothing and closed shoes even if the outside temperature is in summer. But, of course, we don’t wear flip-flops!

And of course, if you have the time, practice doing the best exercises to prepare for your move.

Protect furniture and doors.

There is a good chance that you will hit a door frame, that you will damage a piece of furniture during the maneuver, or that you will make scratches”.

“Special moving blankets or bags like a sofa and rug storage bag, mattress moving cover, etc., are an excellent way to protect furniture and cardboard angles. Both for transport and for storage,” he says. Visit Britwrap.com to buy moving blankets or bags or another protective packaging in UK at affordable rates.

Transporting furniture up and downstairs

There are many aspects to consider when transporting furniture up and downstairs. The most important are:

• Furniture typology _
• The weight of the furniture
• Their dimensions
• The shape, width, and length of the stairs

The best way to transport furniture is to use a professional electric stairlift to minimize the physical impact of transport.

If the piece of furniture is not particularly heavy, certainly weighing less than 100 kilos, you can use an electric wheeled stair climber. Moreover, If you use a wheeled hand truck to transport furniture, however, you must balance the weight of the furniture on the stairs during transport to prevent it from falling. If the piece of furniture is very heavy, its risk of tipping over on the stairs is very real.

Lighten the load!

Remove any loose parts. This will lighten the load to be carried.

We will empty his wardrobe and his dresser before moving it. Books, clothes, etc., are removed. Use small boxes for books. You will wear these individually. One trick is to use a wheeled suitcase. Once filled with books and various objects, they will be easily transportable and well protected.

In the case of a sofa, the cushions are removed. You will wear them separately, individually, in the case of large cushions.

For a bookcase, the shelves are removed. Most often, they are not screwed to the furniture. They will fall off during transport.

Trying to save even the smallest pound can cost you dearly!

Better to spend a few pounds on sliders, straps, and blankets than to pay a doctor, physiotherapy sessions, osteopathy… Not to mention the loss of time.

It is always possible to rent certain items such as a hand truck or a trolley.

Invest a minimum to save thousands of pounds! And don’t forget the moving checklist! Click here to read more articles.