Moving has a lot of challenges. One of the things you may be dreading is packing up those big, heavy appliances for the move. When it comes to moving your refrigerator, washer and dryer, and other large appliances, observing some basic safety rules can help ease some of the stress and make moving day easier.
Here’s how you can move those bulky appliances safely, without damaging your appliances or your new home.
Equipment checklist for moving large appliances
While most of your packing and loading can be done with cardboard boxes and some good, strong tape, you’ll need a few additional tools to move your appliances safely. These include:
- Furniture dolly: It’s possible to move large appliances without a dolly, but moving companies do not recommend it. If something goes wrong while trying to carry a stove or a refrigerator, it can result in serious injuries or major damage to the appliance. If you don’t own a dolly, you can usually rent one from the company where you’re renting a moving truck — or consider borrowing one from a friend.
- Furniture straps, rope, or stretch tape to secure the appliances in the truck.
- Furniture blankets or another type of padding (household blankets can also work for this purpose) to protect the appliances and the other items inside the truck.
- Furniture glides / sliders: These small, smooth felt-backed discs are helpful for moving heavy furniture and help prevent damage to flooring.
Preparing your appliances for the move
Here’s another great moving safety tip: You should prep your large appliances, beginning a few days before the move, so everything is ready to be relocated on moving day with a minimum of fuss.
Refrigerator: Unplug your fridge a few days before you’re moving, empty the contents and allow it to dry, and then clean it thoroughly. For refrigerators with ice makers, don’t forget to detach the water lines as well! If your refrigerator has removable parts, such as shelves or drawers, these should be packed in a separate box or container to prevent breakage.
Washing machine: Disconnect and drain all hoses, and then thoroughly clean and dry the washer. The connector ends of the hoses can be wrapped with towels or sheets and placed inside the barrel for transportation.
Dishwasher: Disconnect and drain all hoses, and leave the dishwasher door open for at least a full day to allow the inside to dry (this prevents mold from forming). Thoroughly clean the inside of the dishwasher.
Clothes dryers and stoves: Unplug and thoroughly clean the appliances before moving. If you have a gas dryer or stove, make sure you have qualified service technicians to disconnect the gas lines and then reconnect these appliances at your new home.
Moving large appliances: It’s better together
Finally, keep in mind that you should have at least two people in the process of moving large, bulky appliances. Even if one person can manage the dolly, it’s a good idea to have an extra set of eyes to spot obstacles or tight spots you may need to get around or through.
With these safety precautions for moving appliances, you can enjoy a low-stress moving day and reduce the time it takes to get settled into your new home.
