How to Move Heavy Furniture Without Killing Your Back (VIDEO)

The movers are gone. After looking around your new home – where everything is placed exactly as you had directed – you decide that it’s just not right. Absent those highly capable men (and women) you just sent on your way, how do you move heavy furniture?

I am barely 5’2″ and I have moved many pieces of furniture all by myself. My first piece of advice is to prepare yourself before the need arises. Shell out a few extra dollars on move day and buy a couple of the blankets that are are used to wrap your furniture. They will probably cost you between $15 and $25 each and they are well worth the investment.

If you don’t have any moving blankets, old sheets or blankets will work. In many cases, a few small pieces of a cardboard box is all you need.

The first thing you should do is measure. There’s no point moving a heavy piece of furniture to a place where it simply won’t fit.Then you should empty shelves and drawers, to make the item as light as possible.

Put small squares of cardboard underneath each leg of your furniture. You’ll find that even the heaviest piece of furniture should slide with ease. Squat a little and use the power of your legs. Your back will thank you for it. If you can get a good grip, pull rather than push. The power of physics will back you up. If the grip is awkward, pushing will be easier.

Better yet, put that moving blanket or sheet under the furniture and simply pull.

If it’s still too heavy, put broom handles under two sides of the furniture for makeshift rollers.

If you need to maneuver some stairs, lay your furniture down on a moving blanket or sheet. Make sure there is some extra blanket and pull or push – depending on whether you’re going up or down the stairs. You’ll want two people for this one to hold the piece stable on the downside of the stairs.

If you have tools like hand trucks, dollies and straps, then by all means, use them. Here’s a short video giving you some tips.

Of course, it’s one thing to move a piece of heavy furniture across the room. It’s an entirely other thing to move an entire household. There’s a reason that most movers are young and fit. Even with tools, it can be back breaking work.