How to Protect Furniture When Moving

25 August 2024

Moving can be a stressful process, especially when it comes to ensuring that your furniture arrives at your new home in the same condition it left your old one. Properly protecting and packing your furniture is essential to prevent damage during transit. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, these tips will help you understand how to pack furniture when moving.

1. Preparing Your Furniture for the Move

Clean Your Furniture

Before you start packing, make sure all your furniture is clean. Dust and dirt can scratch surfaces during the move. Use a gentle cleaner suitable for the type of furniture you have. For wood, use a wood cleaner, and for upholstery, use a vacuum or fabric cleaner.

Disassemble What You Can

Disassembling furniture can make it easier to move and reduce the risk of damage. Remove legs from tables and sofas, take apart bed frames, and detach shelves from bookcases. Keep screws, bolts, and other small parts in labeled plastic bags and tape them to the corresponding furniture pieces.

Measure Doorways and Hallways

Before the furniture moving, measure doorways, hallways, and stairwells in both your current home and your new home to ensure that your furniture will fit through these spaces. This can help you avoid last-minute damage and frustration.

Read More: How to move furniture: 5 helpful tips

2. Gathering Packing Materials

Furniture Packing Wrap

Furniture packing wrap, such as plastic wrap or stretch wrap, is essential for protecting furniture during a move. It helps secure moving parts and protect surfaces from scratches and dirt.

Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap is excellent for wrapping delicate items and protecting edges and corners. It provides cushioning and helps prevent damage from bumps and impacts during the move.

Moving Blankets and Pads

Moving blankets and pads offer heavy-duty protection for larger pieces of furniture. They are thick and durable, providing a layer of cushioning that protects against scratches, dents, and other damage.

Packing Tape

High-quality packing tape is necessary for securing wrapping materials and keeping parts together. Make sure to use tape that is strong and will hold up during the move.

Read More: Slide & Glide: How to Move Heavy Furniture on Carpet


3. Wrapping Furniture to Move

How to Wrap Furniture for Move

Start by wrapping furniture in moving blankets or pads. Secure the blankets with packing tape, making sure the entire surface is covered. Pay special attention to corners and edges, as these areas are more prone to damage.

How to Shrink Wrap Furniture for Moving

Once the furniture is wrapped in blankets, use furniture packing wrap to secure everything in place. Stretch wrap can also help keep drawers and doors from opening during transit. Start at the bottom of the piece and work your way up, wrapping tightly to ensure everything stays secure.

Using Bubble Wrap

For extra protection, especially on delicate or valuable pieces, use bubble wrap over the moving blankets. This adds an additional layer of cushioning. Secure the bubble wrap with packing tape, making sure it doesn’t shift during the move.

4. Packing Different Types of Furniture

Upholstered Furniture

For sofas, chairs, and other upholstered items, start by covering them with plastic wrap to protect against dirt and moisture. Then, use moving blankets for additional cushioning. Finally, secure everything with furniture packing wrap.

Wood Furniture

Wood furniture requires special care to avoid scratches and dents. Use moving blankets and pads to cover the surfaces, and secure them with tape. Bubble wrap can be used for corners and edges. Avoid using plastic wrap directly on wood, as it can trap moisture and cause damage.

Glass and Mirrors

Wrap glass and mirrors in bubble wrap and secure with tape. For added protection, use cardboard or foam board on both sides before wrapping in moving blankets. Clearly label these items as "fragile" to ensure they are handled with care.

Beds and Mattresses

Disassemble bed frames and wrap each piece in moving blankets. Mattresses should be placed in mattress bags to protect against dirt and damage. For added protection, use bubble wrap on the corners and edges of bed frames.

Tables and Chairs

Remove legs from tables and wrap each piece individually in moving blankets and bubble wrap. For chairs, wrap the entire piece in a moving blanket and secure with tape. If possible, remove chair legs and wrap them separately.

5. Loading Furniture onto the Truck

When loading furniture into the moving truck, place heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on top. This helps prevent heavy items from crushing lighter ones. Use straps or ropes to secure furniture to the sides of the truck to prevent shifting during transit.

Don’t overfill boxes with heavy items. This can make them difficult to carry and increase the risk of the box breaking. Distribute weight evenly and use smaller boxes for heavier items like books.

6. Unpacking and Setting Up

When you arrive at your new home, carefully unload and unpack your furniture. Take your time to avoid damaging items during the unpacking process. Reassemble furniture pieces and check for any damage that may have occurred during the move.

Place furniture in its intended location as you unpack. This reduces the risk of damage from moving items multiple times. Use furniture sliders to move heavy pieces without scratching floors.


DON’TS When Packing Furniture for Moving

Packing your furniture for a move involves a series of steps that must be executed correctly to avoid damage. Here are some crucial don'ts to remember:

DON’T Pack Unwanted Furniture

Avoid packing and moving furniture that is too old, damaged, or obsolete. Such items are unlikely to serve you well in your new home and will only add unnecessary expenses to your moving budget. This is particularly true for inexpensive furniture like those from IKEA, which might not withstand the move or fit well in your new space.

DON’T Start Without Proper Supplies

Before you begin packing, make sure you have all the necessary packing supplies. Essential items include packing paper, bubble wrap, stretch wrap, and furniture blankets. Without these materials, you risk damaging your furniture during the move.

DON’T Pack Dirty Furniture

Packing furniture that is dusty or dirty can lead to damage. Abrasive particles left on the surface can scratch or wear down delicate finishes during the move. Clean your furniture thoroughly before packing to ensure it remains in good condition.

DON’T Use Bubble Wrap or Tape Directly on Delicate Surfaces

Using bubble wrap or packing tape directly on delicate furniture surfaces can damage the finish. Instead, wrap such items in soft packing paper first to provide an initial layer of protection. Then, use bubble wrap or moving blankets as a second layer to ensure maximum protection.

DON’T Leave Large Furniture Fully Assembled

If you have extra-large furniture pieces, don’t leave them fully assembled unless you are sure they will fit through all doorways and hallways along the moving route. Disassemble large items to make them easier to move and reduce the risk of damage.

DON’T Leave Large Areas Unprotected

Do not leave large, unprotected areas on your furniture pieces. Any exposed surfaces are vulnerable to damage during the move. Ensure every part of your furniture is adequately covered to prevent scratches, dents, and other forms of damage.

DON’T Rush the Packing Process

Rushing through the furniture packing process can lead to mistakes and potential damage. Take your time to assess whether you can handle the packing on your own or if you need professional help. This is especially important for antique or highly valuable furniture, which requires extra care. Professional movers and packers have the experience and tools needed to protect your furniture effectively during the move.

Additional Furniture Packing Tips

  • Label Everything: Clearly label each piece of furniture and its parts. This makes it easier to reassemble items and ensures nothing gets lost during the move.
  • Use High-Quality Materials: Invest in high-quality packing materials. Cheap materials can break or fail, leading to damage. High-quality moving blankets, bubble wrap, and packing tape are worth the investment.
  • Enlist Help: Moving large pieces of furniture is a two-person job. Enlist the help of friends, family, or professional movers to ensure everything is moved safely and efficiently.
  • Think about getting moving insurance. If you're handling the move on your own, you might be cutting costs, but you also miss out on the usual protection that professional movers provide. And let’s face it, mishaps can occur. Check out various types of valuation coverage and moving insurance to safeguard your stuff.
  • Begin with the heavy furniture. Load the heaviest pieces onto the moving truck first. This helps balance the weight, making the truck easier to drive. Plus, putting the heavier items against the wall will keep the center clear for simpler loading and unloading.

Conclusion

Knowing how to protect furniture when moving is essential to ensure that your belongings arrive at your new home in good condition. By following these tips and using the right packing materials, you can protect your furniture from damage and make the moving process smoother. If you need professional assistance, Move4U’s experienced labor is always ready to help with any kind of move, ensuring your furniture is safe and secure from start to finish.


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