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Moving furniture upstairs can be complicated. You stand the risk of seriously hurting your back and damaging the furniture if you try to do it without help. The moving process can remain tricky even with help.
This post will discuss best practices on how to move furniture upstairs. You can also read up on what moving supplies and equipment to use and whether you should move heavy furniture by yourself. Read on to learn more!
Best Practices for Moving Furniture Upstairs
Let’s get right in on the best practices to move furniture upstairs.
Analyse the situation
First, take the time to assess the situation before tackling the move. This includes comparing layouts and measuring the dimensions of staircases and hallways. This is a way of ensuring that the furniture can be manoeuvred through the staircase. Consider the full size and weight of the furniture and follow the process of disassembling furniture before moving it upstairs.
Downsize your belongings
A second thought may make you realise you do not need specific furniture. In such cases, reducing the number of items or furniture pieces you need to carry upstairs is possible.
You may decide to retain, donate, sell, or dispose some furniture. Downsizing and decluttering during your moving process streamlines your home organising activities and goes a long way to reduce moving costs and stress.
Strategise the move
Moving furniture upstairs requires a well-thought-out strategy. You may need to plan the moving process, collate moving resources and tools, and get help from professional movers.
For instance, you may need a powered stair climber or a stair climbing dolly based on the types of furniture and the types of stairs. You also need to know what large furniture requires disassembly and how to navigate challenges such as straight staircases, spiral staircases, and tight corners.
After considering the weight and size of heavy furniture, household belongings, and electrical appliances, you can take steps to buy or rent the needed equipment, such as furniture sliders, moving straps, carrying straps, or floor runners.
Use protective coverings
Protecting your floors, walls, and staircases is usually needed. You can use protective coverings, including moving blankets and plastic wraps on the walls and stairs, to prevent damage during the move.
Pack strategically to move furniture upstairs
There is a need to pack strategically to successfully overcome the challenge of moving furniture upstairs. Always be mindful that you will need to carry the furniture pieces upstairs. So, do your best to keep the weight of furniture pieces manageable. This way, they will be easier to lift and carry.
Protect delicate items with moving blankets
A protective measure for fragile items is to use bubble wrap, moving blankets, or packing paper to secure them. Moving blankets are especially great for protecting heavy objects. A pro trick to move your furniture after taking it upstairs is placing another blanket beneath it and slowly pulling the edges.
Hire professional movers to move heavy furniture
Moving furniture upstairs is not something to take lightly. It can be even more taxing to move heavy furniture by yourself. It is safer and easier to hire professional movers with experience navigating staircases to move heavy furniture upstairs. If, for any reason, you do not want to hire professional help, then get your friends and family members to help carry heavy items.
Gather moving supplies and equipment
The right furniture moving equipment can make all the difference in moving furniture upstairs. Consider getting the following moving equipment.
Moving dolly or hand truck
You can use moving dollies to move heavy items. It is best to get one with stair-climbing capabilities to move heavy furniture upstairs. Shoulder dollies are especially useful for moving heavy furniture.
You don’t need to be the strongest person to connect the lifting straps to shoulders and use shoulder dollies to move furniture from room to room. However, using them to move heavy furniture upstairs is not ideal.
Furniture sliders
Furniture sliders that are specially designed for heavy furniture are helpful tools. You can use sliders to glide furniture items over carpets and along floors.
Straps and ropes
You will need either straps or ropes to secure the furniture to your dolly or hand truck. This will add stability and prevent accidents as you navigate the stairs.
Use proper lifting techniques
Remember to implement proper techniques when moving heavy items upstairs. This will help you avoid straining your back. Bend at the knees to pick up heavy pieces of furniture and lift with your legs.
Also, keep a straight back throughout the process. Most importantly, ask for help if the furniture is too heavy. They can help you share the load capacity. Relieve stress by taking breaks when you need them.
Tips to Move Furniture Manually
You usually need a minimum of two persons to move heavy furniture manually. Here’s a way to move large pieces of furniture on stairs.
- This method of lifting furniture involves tilting the furniture backwards toward another person.
- One person holds the top end, and the other holds the bottom.
- Do not try to use your back to lift the furniture. You should instead bend at the waist. This is a way to move heavy furniture without injuries or damaging the furniture.
Tips for Moving Heavy Furniture
With the right tools, you can slide furniture and move it upstairs without lifting and carrying it. Here are some valuable tips to move furniture upstairs by yourself. Of course, it is advisable to do it with the help of your friends.
Using furniture sliders
Using furniture sliders is one of the easiest ways to move heavy items. You can buy them from hardware stores. Moving the furniture is as easy as carefully placing the sliders under furniture corners and pushing it. It is best to push from the bottom to reduce the risk of heavy furniture tipping.
Using lifting straps, moving blankets, and hand trucks
- Connect lifting straps to your shoulders to distribute the weight of heavy furniture. Again, using something other than a shoulder dolly to move heavy furniture upstairs is best.
- Use moving blankets to protect the furniture by putting it under the heavy furniture. Secure the blanket and pull it in the preferred direction.
- You can use hand trucks to move tables and dressers. However, do not attempt to move large pieces of furniture with them. Only use them to move furniture that you can carefully maintain in a vertical position. Otherwise, the furniture may fall off.
- Likewise, you should preferably get help to lift your furniture onto moving dollies instead of attempting it yourself.
Using furniture pads
Furniture pads are a great aid that helps prevent damaging effects on walls while moving furniture. The furniture pads or corner guards protect walls by cushioning the impact of large items. You can wrap the sharp edges of furniture with bubble wrap or padding.
Take precautions
- It is advisable to use three people when moving upstairs with furniture. One person should be at the top, another in the middle to control movements, and one more person at the bottom to organise the process.
- You need at least two people to carry furniture such as large dressers.
- You should bend from the knees when lifting heavy items to prevent serious injury.
- It is reasonable to wear a brace or some form of back support when moving heavy objects. This will help relieve abdominal pressure.
- Keep the objects close to your body when moving them. This will help reduce strain on your arms.
- Do not pile up more than three boxes when using moving dollies. Use a bungee cord to strap boxes together and pull the dolly as you carefully move backwards, a step at a time.
Should You Move Heavy Furniture By Yourself?
The best advice is to avoid trying to move heavy furniture by yourself. It’s easy to make mistakes when moving a heavy piece of furniture. This is especially the case if you do not have the right furniture moving equipment.
Get Professional Help Moving Furniture Upstairs
You have now read up on many best practices for moving furniture upstairs. You also know why you should not move heavy furniture by yourself. Professional movers have the necessary tools and equipment to help lift heavy furniture and boxes.
They know the exact equipment to use to move heavy furniture up the stairs. For instance, they have different strap systems, mattress slings, and other equipment so the furniture-moving process does not damage the furniture.
