Lifting heavy things the wrong way can cause serious pain or even damage your home and belongings. Moving big furniture and heavy boxes is never easy but with the right preparation and proper technique, you can handle them without hurting your back or scratching your walls. To avoid problems, anyone planning a move should learn and follow these tips for moving heavy items.
Plan Your Route
Before you start moving anything, figure out the path you’re going to use. The shortest way isn’t always the easiest one. Taking a slightly longer route might give you more space to move through wider doorways, avoid tight stairs or stay clear of obstacles like a fountain or a narrow hallway.
When you plan your path ahead of time, you can also protect fragile areas like banisters and set up useful tools, such as a ramp, to get through tricky spots more easily. Once you’ve chosen your route, clear it completely. Move any furniture, boxes or other items out of the way. When you’re carrying something big and heavy, it’s harder to see where you’re stepping which makes it easier to trip or lose your balance.
Get the Right Equipment
Moving heavy items is much easier when you have the proper tools. The right equipment helps you use less effort and also protects your home from damage. Depending on how big your move is, you may need:
- Dollies and Hand Trucks: People often mix up these two, but they’re a little different. A dolly is a flat platform with four wheels, while a hand truck has two wheels and an L-shaped frame. Both tools make it much easier to move boxes and large items, helping you avoid putting too much strain on your body.
- Ramps: Placing a ramp over your front steps or between different levels in your home helps prevent trips and falls. It creates a smoother and safer path when moving heavy items around the house.
- Moving Straps or Shoulder Dollies: These straps go under the furniture and around your shoulders. They help spread the weight more evenly across your body which reduces strain and makes lifting heavy items less tiring.
- Sliders: These are small pads you place under the legs or corners of furniture so you can slide it across the floor more easily. They help you move heavy pieces with less effort and protect your floors from scratches. If you don’t have sliders, you can use a blanket or towel. Just lift each corner, place it underneath and gently pull the furniture to where it needs to go. Thick blankets work better because they’re less likely to tear when dragging large items.
- Gloves: Wearing gloves keeps your hands safe from sharp edges and rough surfaces. They also stop dirt and natural oils from your hands from getting onto your belongings.
Remove and Empty Drawers
A single drawer may not feel heavy but when you’re moving a full desk or dresser, the extra weight makes a difference. If you can take the drawers out, remove them. If not, make sure they’re completely empty. The lighter your furniture is, the easier it will be to move and control.
Disassemble Your Furniture
If something can be taken apart, take it apart. Furniture that’s disassembled is much easier to carry and load. It also helps you use the space in your moving truck more wisely.
Use Proper Technique
Bending and lifting heavy things the wrong way over and over can cause serious back pain. Holding them unevenly can also lead to accidents. The safest way to move heavy items is to:
- Keep Your Back Straight: Keep your back straight while lifting so your knees and legs can handle most of the weight. Your core muscles will help you stay balanced and steady.
- Don’t Twist Your Back: Avoid twisting your back when carrying something heavy. It puts extra pressure on your spine and muscles. If you need to turn, move your whole body instead of just your upper half.
- Carry Items Close to Your Chest: Hold heavy items close to your body. This helps you stay balanced and keeps the strain off your back.
- Carry Items High and Low: When moving tall or long items, one person should hold the top while the other supports the bottom. This keeps the weight steady and stops it from swinging.
Wrap Furniture in Blankets
Moving blankets help protect your furniture from scratches, bumps, rain and dirt during the move. They also protect your home. You can cover doors, banisters and other delicate areas with blankets to prevent dents and damage.
Wrap each piece of furniture tightly, then secure it with plastic stretch wrap. Plastic wrap sticks to itself, so it holds everything in place without leaving sticky marks like tape does. This keeps your items secure, easier to carry and well protected throughout the move.
Wear Appropriate Shoes
When you’re moving heavy items, you don’t want anything falling on your toes. To protect your feet, always wear closed-toe shoes. Unlike sandals, they fully cover your feet, give better support, stay on securely and help prevent slips and blisters.
Ask For Help
Most heavy items in your home are simply too big to move by yourself. Ask a friend or family member to give you a hand. You can also hire a professional moving team. They come with the right tools, proper equipment and years of experience. Because they’ve handled heavy furniture many times before, they know how to move it safely through tight spaces without causing damage.
Moving with STI
STI is a full-service moving company. We don’t just load a truck and drive away. We help you through the entire moving process, from getting your items ready to carefully packing everything up. Our team can supply all the materials you need, including boxes, blankets and plastic wrap.
Our experienced movers in Phoenix know how to handle heavy items safely and efficiently. They can also take apart and put back together your furniture when needed. Every service can be adjusted based on what you need and what fits your budget. Contact us today for a free quote!
