Save your floors from the harmful impact while you move your furniture: valuable tips for you!
Moving furniture around from one place to the other in a room (no matter how small the space may be) can be very strenuous and energy-consuming. You might be tempted to drag them along the floors to help ease the load but DON’T. Be it floorings made of hardwood, carpet, or tiles, they are all usceptible to scratching, and this may damage their appearance.
If you’re planning a Do-It-Yourself redecoration or movement, other safe ways are to move your furniture without dragging and scratching your floorings. This post highlights some valuable tips that you will surely appreciate when you’re at your DIY chore. Follow this post for information on how to move furniture without scratching the floor;
How to move heavy furniture on wood floors: 6 tips
The following are tried and tested tips that could help you make moving pieces of furniture easier;
1. Find a helper
Yes, I know that you’re convinced that you want to try moving on your own. I’d advise that you rethink as moving on your own may be too challenging and associated with many risks, including damaging the hardwood or even sustaining an injury. Try to get as much help as you can around you. Reach out to strong people around you and enlist their help to move the bulky and heavy furniture.
You might consider hiring professional movers and renovators if you don’t have people around that you can rely on. They will be able to do this more carefully as they should be trained and experienced at it. That would be the easy way, but you should prepare to spend some money on that. Then it’s no longer a DIY project.
2. Keep the floor clear and clean.
Don’t underestimate the importance of moving on a clean floor. Before you start moving furniture, ensure that you have the floor swept and mopped. Otherwise, dirt and gravel can get trapped in the furniture when you drag the furniture, leading to friction against the hardwood. This friction will cause the sheen of the hardwood to wear out, ruining the finish of the floor.
When the floor is clear, it will be safer to drag (although it isn’t still recommended). If you can’t clean it well on your own, you hire professional cleaners. This will save you the time and energy that you would spend when you do it yourself.
3. Shed the weight of the load
If it is in any way possible to lighten the load of the furniture by disassembling and taking out its content, do it. If it’s a bed, try to dismantle the bed frame. Dressers with mirrors can also be separated by loosening the screws and nuts. Take out the cushions from that comfortable sofa, and take out everything on the shelves. This process may seem like it will lengthen your moving time, but it will surely lighten the load. Once you’ve taken the furniture apart, moving becomes more manageable. Meanwhile, it would be best if you noted the steps it took to disengage the furniture. You will need to couple it back after moving them.
4. Make use of moving blankets.
If you can find customized moving blankets to help you during your move, I recommend you make use of them. These blankets are made to be wrapped around the furniture and its edges. This way, you can easier push or pull the furniture along the hardwood and not be afraid of denting the surface.
Moving blankets offer better protection because they also prevent the furniture from scratching the walls during the moving process. If you can’t buy them, you can also use DIY craft to make one yourself. You can use large towels as an alternative for moving blankets. Cardboards can also be used but might need more crafty ideas.
5. Include heavy furniture sliders in your budget
Heavy furniture sliders or furniture moving pads are not usually used alone but are used with moving blankets (although they may still serve when used alone). These furniture sliders are used to glide the furniture after it is wrapped with the blankets. They are made of either plastic, rubber, or foam and can be found in online stores. All you need to do is fit them under the legs of the furniture and gently pull them across the room without scratching the floor.
Furniture sliders for hardwood floors are a significant innovation we will value for years to come. They can be used to move couches, tables, shelves, dressers, and even heavy home and kitchen appliances.
6. Get a dolly
There are many speculations that dollies may not be the best idea. Well, that’s not wrong. Some dollies (especially those made of hard rubber) may still starch against hardwood. If you use a dolly, you should get the inflatable rubber wheels as they are softer against the floor.
Wondering where to get a dolly? You can always purchase one or rent from a local equipment rental service around you. They may not have the dolly handy but should be able to provide you with a hand truck.
Over to you!
With these simple steps, moving your heavy furniture should be less challenging and safer for you. I hope you find these tips helpful and practical. Feel free to try it out on your own.
Happy Moving!
Liam Goddard is a furniture expert with many years of experience in this industry. He knows the business inside out and is always keen on exploring new solutions and possibilities – that’s what makes him the best person to ask whether you’re interested in the newest trends on the market, furniture design, or manufacturing process.