Moving Heavy Things – How to Move Bulky Items

December 30, 2019 / Posted in How-to
Michael Vaughan

Moving through the Bay Area, Michael works as a freelance writer in the moving and transportation industry.

Are you moving on short notice and need to tackle the relocation process on your own? It won’t be an easy task, especially when it comes to moving heavy things, like your old wardrobe, a new king-size bed, and other bulky furniture pieces. Maybe you’re wondering how to move bulky furniture alone and for free because you’re relocating on a budget, and can’t hire professional movers with years of experience to do the job. Whatever the case may be, you can count on the following tips on moving large items safely and other things.

Getting a book or manual can help show you how to lift bulky objects safely.
Trying to move a piano without proper equipment is not recommended.

Doing everything on your own can seem very challenging at first, but remember that you can count on your friends, family, and relatives to help you out for free. At the end of the day, no matter how strong you are, you won’t be able to carry that huge couch all by yourself. Be it a used piano, your expensive sofa, a box full of books, or the wardrobe that’s been in your family for years, add whatever you want on the list – it’s not worth getting a hernia in this life. So read on to find out how you can go about transporting weighty items, without the risk of injuries or damages to your belongings. We hope that you’ll find the following tips useful, not only for your current situation but in the future as well. Perhaps you’ll be wondering how to move a pool table or a piano in the future.

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How to Begin With Moving Heavy Things

First, let us get started with what exactly you will need to make sure that your bulky furniture is transported safely and in one piece. You’re not the first nor the last person wondering how do you move large furniture alone.

People have come up with all kinds of solutions to this problem, and even books have been written about it, not a book, but books, so if you prefer that way of learning, you can find a book online or look at your local library. Pages and pages have been written by the most experienced professionals in the world to help you do things in the right way.

From the best techniques, you can use various tools and equipment which can make the whole relocation process a breeze. You should keep these in mind, along with the most common moving mistakes you should avoid. All of these tips should help if you’re planning on leaving your large items in storage for a while, too.

couple carrying boxes
Lifting boxes require the use of lifting techniques that are safe.

What Tools are the Best to Use When Lifting Heavy Objects?

There are all kinds of tools that you can use to lift cumbersome items. Whether it is a piece of furniture, or boxes full of heavy books, nothing in the world can seem so heavy as lifting things such as furniture without proper equipment. Depending on your financial situation and your plans for the future, you will have two options. If you’re relocating on a budget, you can rent the necessary tools and supplies, or ask someone who used them and borrow these things for free. On the other hand, you can buy them if you think you’ll be using them a lot in the future.

  • Moving dollies– one of the most common tools when it comes to relocation, which comes in two varieties, is a two-wheel dolly or the larger four-wheel dolly. You can find them for an affordable price or rent them out.
  • Lifting straps– a very handy device that can help to distribute the weight of the item you’re carrying. They are easy to use and can be adjusted to suit your needs, which is why builders use them.
  • Furniture sliders– when transporting heavy furniture, you will be concerned both about your possessions as well as the floors you’re transporting them across. Furniture sliders are placed between them to help in avoiding any damages to your carpets and floors.
mover and a dolly by the truck
A dolly is a must, and you can rent one out if you don’t have the means to buy one

Like Professional Movers, You Can Learn the Technique Too

One of the most important tips for relocating heavy items is to put safety as your number one priority. Forget about the things you used: bare hands, improvised tools, etc. No matter how strong and healthy you are, you have to keep in mind that you can get injured when lifting furniture or a pile of books. Because if a book falls on you, it is not the end of the world, but if a piece of heavy furniture falls, that could cause life-threatening injuries. But there are various techniques for lifting, which you can learn and find useful for the rest of your life.

From a professional point of view, one of the essential tips is to use your legs, not your back, to carry any hefty items. So instead of bending over, you should squat down and lift. And while you’re carrying your bulky sofa, don’t twist or make any fast movements. This is one of the main reasons for relocation-related injuries, and nothing in the world can hurt like a twisted ankle, especially if something else falls on top of your leg.

Do not pull your belongings, as this puts a lot of stress on your back – push instead, it’s far safer and much easier to do. Whether you’re wondering how to prepare your piano for a move or any large piece of furniture, you should follow these lifting techniques. And one last thing, always make sure you have a clear view of the space, so do not add too many things on a pile, because if something is hindering your view, you can trip or hit a wall.

Another use of the dolly is for transporting items down the stairs.
Make sure that nothing is hindering your sight while carrying bulky objects.

Manage Your Move and Plan Every Step in Advance

Once you’ve sorted out all of the equipment you will need for the task, it’s time to organize the whole relocation process. Especially if you’re relocating during the holidays, you will want to have the entire process on a tight schedule.

Take as much time as you need to plan everything out. You can use blank pages to create an inventory list of your heavier belongings, plan when to move them and where to store them. The easiest way to go about this would be to go from the bulkiest and heaviest to the smaller ones. From the heavy objects that perhaps require help, to a book. Remember that safety is your number one priority throughout the relocation process. So make sure that you have a clear path to the truck, no slippery surfaces or items in the way as you’re transporting the cumbersome belongings.

Then you will want to plan out all the steps of the relocation. You can create an inventory list of your heavier belongings, plan when to move them and where to store them. The easiest way to go about this would be to go from the bulkiest and heaviest to the smaller ones. Remember that safety is your number one priority throughout the relocation process. So make sure that you have a clear path to the truck, no slippery surfaces or items in the way as you’re transporting the cumbersome belongings.

person sitting on the floor filling out a checklist
Preparing a simple checklist of your items and steps of the relocation will make the move easier

New Year Resolutions: Never Move Heavy Items Upstairs Alone

Do not judge a book by its cover, because some smaller objects can seem lighter than they are, and moving them can hurt you seriously. One of the most common questions when moving bulky items is how to move them up and downstairs. This makes the whole process much more complicated and daunting. And the most crucial advice is to never do it by yourself, even if it’s a smaller but heavier item you’re worried about.

The safest way to go about it so as to have the person who is lower on the stairs be the captain. They will set the pace, while the other person follows. Take your time to do it as safely as possible, and take a rest if needed. In case you’re afraid of messing this up, it may be more advisable to book movers for their packing and moving services and leave it to the professionals.

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