Protect Your Furniture During a Move Using These 6 Tips

Some people find moving exciting, for others, it’s tiring. But one thing everyone has in common: having to move their belongings from one place to another — safely and in one piece.

It’s important to know that you have a variety of choices when it comes to protecting your furniture and here are tips to use during the move.

1. Stock up on packing supplies

Before you do anything else, you need to go shopping for packing supplies since you will need more than just cardboard boxes. Here is what needs to be on your list for the store:

• Packing tape
• Painter’s tape
• Plastic wrap
• Plastic bags of various sizes
• Boxes (cardboard and plastic)
• Corrugated cardboard sheets
• Covers for couches, chairs, and mattresses
• Styrofoam balls and sheets
• Bubble wrap

This may seem like a lot, but the way you pack the furniture may determine its fate during transport. For example, plastic wrap will keep everything in place, while bubble wrap will protect it from getting damaged.

2. Clean your furniture before moving it

Cleaning furniture before packing can prevent dust, mites, and dirt to damage it when wrapped. It may take a couple of days for your furniture to get unpacked which increases the risk of mold and odors developing. If possible, perform a deep cleaning on seating sets, chairs, beds, and any other furniture with upholstery and fabric. 

Wipe wooden, metal, glass, and other surfaces with a microfiber cloth to remove dust and use appropriate cleaning solutions for stubborn dirt. However, make sure that everything is dry completely before wrapping it up since humidity is a breathing ground for bacteria and may cause permanent damage.

3. Pay attention to wrapping

We already mentioned plastic wrapping and bubble wrap as the best options to protect your furniture during the move. However, you can additionally protect it with blankets placed between wooden pieces to avoid damage when they touch.

When it comes to mirrors, create an “X” on their surface with painter’s tape so if they do break, the glass won’t shatter. Moreover, use corrugated cardboard sheets on both sides of the mirror or glass surfaces before applying bubble wrap.

4. Choose experienced local removalists

For example, let’s say you have to move priceless pieces across Sydney. Since any damage to these items can ruin their value, you need to find experienced removalists for the job. You want a company that is up-to-date with daily urban developments in the city to avoid traffic jams, potholes, and road works.

Start looking for your removalists by asking friends for recommendations and reading testimonials on message boards. Also, make a list of what kind of service you expected from a moving company to speed up the choosing and elimination process. 

5. Dismantle your furniture

Dismantling your furniture may be the best you can do but only if you know how to assemble it when the move is over. Find a user manual that came with your furniture or contact the manufacturer for one. You can also take pictures of the whole process so you know how to put it back together by retracing your steps.

To make sure every piece is accounted for, store small things like screws, nuts, bolts, handles, and other hardware in separate plastic bags. This is also a service you can ask of your removalists which can come in handy if you are not skilled with dismantling and assembling.

6. Mind the way you place items into the truck

It’s not good to approach placing things into a truck without a plan and strategy. Place boxes on the back wall of the truck, focusing on heavy ones and those without any breakable items. Square furniture goes next and you need to separate it from these boxes with blankets, Styrofoam sheets, or corrugate cardboard for added cushion.

Stack lightweight boxes on the square furniture and make sure they are tightly packed, so they don’t get scattered all over the truck during transport. Additionally, ropes and hooks can keep certain bulky pieces in places, especially items with upholstery and mattresses.

The bottom line

Even with the utmost care, it’s possible to damage the furniture during moving. Hiring removalists can be a good idea to minimize those odds, especially if you hire a company offering valuation coverage and insurance. If you plan to do it all by yourself, make sure to buy more than enough bubble wrap, dismantle what you can, and recruit help for heavy lifting.