How to Move Heavy Furniture Alone: A Safety Guide

Moving can be a hassle, especially when handling large or heavy furniture. Hiring professional movers is expensive and your friends are not always free. Sometimes a move happens last minute or you must remove a piece of furniture quickly. Handling these issues and learning how to move heavy furniture alone is possible if you take the proper precautions and use the best techniques.

Following basic safety tips ensures you do not hurt yourself, damage the property or break items.

Prepare & Inspect Before the Move

Before you dive into the project, it is important to prepare. You should know how many items you have to move and where. For example, you may be taking an item between apartments, putting them into a truck or walking them to a different location. If you want to figure out how to move heavy furniture alone, follow some basic preventative steps such as:

• Clear hallways of toys, boxes and other hazards;
• Make sure doors are unlocked and easy to open and prop open;
• Explore the home or apartment to find a clear exit;
• Identify any dangerous areas (i.e. a counter that juts out);
• Inspect all of the items to be moved;
• Tell your neighbors so they can stay out of the way and remove items;
• Measure spaces to make the best plan for moving different items;
• Make sure the furniture can be moved into the new space;
• Wear comfortable shoes and close-fit clothing to avoid getting tangled up.

Caution Note to Stay Safe

• When you inspect all the furniture, you should know which items are heavier than others or oddly shaped.
• It is important to think through how to best position items to get them out of rooms, through hallways and down stairs.
• Some materials are more prone to damage than others. For example, a glass-top table may need to be wrapped before moving.
• Do not think you have to carry everything. Furniture sliders and other tools can be rented if you want to figure out how to move heavy furniture alone.
• Letting neighbors know about the move means that they will steer clear of the hallways or sidewalks. This just relieves another layer of possible issues.
• If you have a truck, think through how to position everything so that it is safe during transport.

The Best Techniques for the Actual Move

1. Turn Them into Pieces

The first step to learning how to move heavy furniture alone is to disassemble everything. Taking the legs off a table or breaking down a bed frame makes these items easier to manage.

Add bubble wrap or newspaper to fragile materials and you are ready to start moving.

2. Invest in the Right Moving Equipment for the Job

No one said you had to move everything yourself. There are furniture sliders, dollies, ramps, straps and more that people can rent from local businesses.

You can move some pretty heavy items as long as you have a strong furniture dolly with reliable wheels. This will keep you and your items safe.

3. Staying Safe Means Using the Proper Lifting Techniques

Otherwise, you could really damage your back and shoulders. Lift with your legs rather than your back. If possible make sure to push heavy furniture items rather than pulling or lifting them.

If you have to turn while moving, use your legs rather than your hips. Lastly, make sure you have proper balance and footing before moving anything.

4. Don’t Put Items Far from You

When holding heavy appliances or items, try to keep them close to your body. Investing in gloves could lessen the likelihood of your hands slipping. Grip is everything when moving heavy items alone.

Do not rush through this process. Take your time so your hands are secure and you know where you are taking an item.

5. Don’t Use the Floor

When possible, try not to slide items across the floor unless you have something under the furniture. This prevents scratching the floor. Taking the time to put furniture on a dolly or even a rug is worth it. If a couch has feet or a stand, try to remove these to avoid such scratching.

6. Moving Down or Upstairs Is Not Impossible

In addition to renting ramps, you can also make use of cardboard or an old rug to smoothly move heavy items yourself. Some people have even used an old sheet or comforter to get the job done.

The Aftermath of Your Move

After all the furniture is out, then it is time to inspect each item and the property.

• Be careful removing any protective items like bubble wrap. You didn’t learn how to move heavy furniture alone only for it to be damaged now.
• Do not panic if there are some issues. Most of them can be repaired. You can easily fix a scratched table or desk with some polish or paint.
• Similarly, some paint might have rubbed off on a wall or there could be scratches. Knowing the damage ensures you can fix it.
• Lastly, take some time to wipe off items. It is normal for there to be dust that settled on the couch or bed after a move.

Last Thoughts on Moving Alone

Moving by yourself is a way to save money or make the best of a last-minute decision. If you take the right precautions, it is possible to learn how to move heavy furniture alone without injury or issue. It all comes down to eliminating risks, preparing furniture and using the tools available.

It can feel impossible to move by yourself but it is possible. With the right equipment, you can move up and down stairs, between apartments and into your new home without an issue. Just make sure to keep yourself safe and to really use your resources!

The images are from depositphotos.com.