Whether you’re moving home or putting items into storage, one of the biggest challenges you will face is getting your furniture from one place to another. Large, bulky items like sofas, bookcases, tables, display cabinets, and the like, can all be difficult and potentially dangerous to move unless you know what you’re doing.
As a well-established provider of removals in Leicester, we have plenty of experience moving large pieces of furniture around. In this blog, we offer some handy tips to help you make the move with the minimum of risk:
Protect your feet
One of the biggest risks involved in moving heavy furniture is suddenly losing your grip and dropping it on your foot. For this reason, it’s essential that you wear strong and sturdy footwear to minimise the potential damage from falling furniture. If you’ve got steel-capped boots or a solid pair of hiking boots, that would be ideal. If not, simply look for the most robust pair you have that actually fit you. What we’re trying to avoid here is bare feet, open-toed shoes and sandals, or anything else that leaves your feet exposed and unprotected.
Lift with your legs
This is common advice for lifting heavy objects and one that’s worth repeating. If you lean forward from an upright position to lift a heavy object off the floor, you are likely to tear all kinds of muscles in your lower back.
The trick is to make use of your most powerful muscle group which, for most people, is typically their leg muscles. Bend your legs at the knee, keeping your back and torso straight. Get a good grip on the piece of furniture in question and raise yourself to a standing position by straightening your legs.
Empty out cupboards and drawers
This feels like an obvious thing to do, as a professional removal company, we can promise you not everybody thinks that way! Whether you’re moving a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a bookshelf, a vanity table, or any other piece of furniture that provides storage space, make sure all its contents are removed and put into boxes. This can even apply to furniture. Taking the seat cushions and pillows off your sofa might not seem like it’s making a difference, but you’d be surprised.
Dismantle your furniture
If you are able to take your furniture apart without hurting yourself or damaging the item, you should do so. Even something as simple as removing the legs from a table or the doors from a cabinet can make all the difference in terms of size and weight.
Know where you’re going
Few things are more frustrating than having lifted up your heavy furniture, only to have no idea where you’re putting it or how to get there.
Whether you’re leaving it outside for the removal company to load onto the truck or taking it into your new home at the other end of your move, you should plan the journey from point A to point B. Not only does this limit the amount of time you spend holding heavy items, you also get to clear away any trip hazards of obstructions.
Few things are more frustrating than having lifted up your heavy furniture, only to have no idea where you’re putting it or how to get there. Whether you’re leaving it outside for the removal company to load onto the truck or taking it into your new home at the other end of your move, you should plan the journey from point A to point B. Not only does this limit the amount of time you spend holding heavy items, you also get to clear away any trip hazards of obstructions.
Whether you’re putting your furniture in to self-storage or taking it to a new property, the team at Stokes Removals can help. Call 0116 239 3000 to discuss your requirements and request a free, no obligation quote.
