Whether you are cleaning the home for festive purposes or shifting into a new place, it is crucial to be careful when moving large appliances. If shifted without proper care, it can ruin the flooring, damage the appliances, and most commonly hurt your back. But the good part is that shifting larger or bulky appliances can seem much easier and convenient when you plan the shifting process perfectly, like a pro!
Whether your kitchen or other chosen areas have natural wooden flooring, laminate flooring, tile flooring, or carpeting; you can protect the same from dents, dings, and rips which can happen when shifting the chosen home appliances.
We have listed a few tips and techniques that can help you shift the large home appliances, that don’t damage the floor and allow you to clean the surfaces without any hassles:
A)Create a Plan
Before you even gather your tools and equipment, it would be wise to come up with a solid plan.
Measure the Appliances and Pathways
First and foremost, measure the large appliances i.e.fridge, dishwasher, etc. and the pathways you plan to pass through. So, if you have a narrow foyer, hallway or door, then passing the appliance through these openings may not be the ideal choice unless you get a professional’s help to shift the same.
That’s why when buying a new home appliance like a washing machine or fridge, make sure that the place or area where you plan to put the same is large enough to accommodate the same and move out the existing home appliance.
Empty the Contents Inside
Before shifting the large appliance, ensure to remove the contents inside the same. For instance, any food items and beverages should be removed from the refrigerator before shifting their placement for a time being or for moving purposes. The additional weight of the contents can be minimized and you can then conveniently shift the appliances from one space to another.
Also check that the appliance doors are secured properly, as during the shifting process, the lids or shelves of the appliance may come flying in the middle of the moving process.
Clean the Floor
Dirty surfaces create more friction on the floors and will turn out to be a huge hindrance to moving appliances from one place to another. Small rocks, large dirt clumps, etc. are common finds that accumulate below or behind the larger home appliances.
Removing the dirt from the floor can ensure the costly flooring doesn't receive stains and scratches. The best way to clean the floor is to slightly tilt or shift the appliances and get rid of dirt and dust. Ensure that you have help with you when performing the cleaning tasks!
B)Keep the Moving Equipment Handy
There are certain tools and equipment that come in handy when moving bulky appliances. The below-mentioned tools can be utilized to transport heavy appliances and are super useful in keeping the floor scratch-free:
Hand Carts and Dollies
Hand carts and dollies are specifically used to move large, heavy appliances. You can lean back the chosen appliances over these tools and push the same with the support of handles. You can borrow these from the home improvement stores for shifting purposes.
Hand Truck and Stair Climbing Cart
Use a hand truck or stair climbing cart for moving heavy appliances up and down a set of stairs. It eliminates the cumbersome task of climbing up or down the appliances much easier and keeps them safe too.
Plastic Floor Guides
Plastic floor guides are specially designed for shifting heavy appliances and objects. You need to slightly lift the appliance and slip the floor guide under the same to shift the appliances without hurting the floor.
Carpet and Plywood Squares
You can create an easy DIY floor guide using carpet or plywood remnants. Keep this handy floor guide under the leg of the appliances by keeping the carpet side facing the floor and protecting them from possible scratches.
Air Sled
An air sled is a device that makes a convenient solution to move appliances. You simply need to slip the device underneath the appliance, plug the wire, and fill the air with a pumping mechanism. This allows for lifting the appliances without much effort and transporting them without getting the floors or appliances damaged.
C) Clean the Flooring, under the appliances
Once you have shifted the chosen appliances from their original location, it is a better idea to clean the flooring beneath the appliances.
Sweep and Mop -
Clean all the dust and grime with a broom and then mop the area. Allow the area to dry or use a steam cleaner to speed up the cleaning process.
Vacuum -
If the flooring is carpeted, then vacuum it thoroughly. Cleaning under the appliances is considered to be an occasional occurrence, so ensure to keep the space tidy and move back the appliances where they were originally kept or replace them by placing the things of your choice.
Conclusion
Moving or shifting the refrigerators, washing machines, washers, dryers, and other larger appliances seems like a daunting task. The simplest way to move things is to measure them, tape the doors or lids, gather the right tools, and shift them for cleaning the floors or shift them to another location. If required, don’t hesitate to call for a professional who can manage such daunting tasks skillfully and in a hassle-free way!
Also Read: 15 Must-Have Kitchen Appliances For The Modern Home
