With the proper techniques, moving a heavy piece of furniture doesn’t have to be difficult.

Techniques for Moving Heavy Furniture

Rent or borrow a furniture dolly:

A dolly helps distribute weight vertically, giving you a boost on transporting heavy items.

Purchase and use furniture slides:

Slides are usually made of plastic and are placed under each corner of an item to make it glide across the floor. In addition, glides mitigate the risk of damage to your tile, floor or carpet.

Use moving or furniture straps:

Use straps to transfer weight off your back and arms when lifting heavy items. Always adjust the straps for the job.

Break furniture down into small parts:

Disassemble removable pieces of heavy furniture like drawers, shelves, legs, racks and knobs to lighten the frame.

Bend at your knees, not your waist:

When lifting heavy furniture, remember to carry the weight in your legs or arms and not in your back. Squatting at your knees when lifting instead of bending over places majority of the bulk on your legs and arms and not on your back. Carry items close to your body to maintain balance and utilize your upper arms and shoulders.

Don’t twist your body while you’re lifting or carrying:

While lifting heavy furniture, try as much as you can to keep your body still. Twisting can lead to injury.

Recruit friends and family:

Ask for a few friends or family to help if you will have to lift anything tall or heavy by yourself. If you don’t find anyone to assist, think of hiring a professional, moving services provider.

Use protective equipment:

Personal protective equipment like heavy duty gloves and closed toe shoes help protect your hands and feet while lifting heavy items.

Remove molding:

Protect furniture and doorways by removing molding to make extra space to maneuver and avoid likely damage to the doorway resulting in costly repairs.

If moving heavy furniture seems like too much work, use the free moving directory to find reliable movers in your area who will get the job done fast.