How to move a heavy cabinet

Every person has probably at least once had to move massive furniture at home to update the interior, carry out general cleaning or repair work. Questions often arise about how to quickly and safely carry out the rearrangement, so as not to damage the flooring or the product itself and avoid other troubles. To do this, you can use one of the folk recipes or modern methods.

Ways to move a heavy cabinet

Moving bulky pieces of furniture requires a lot of strength and skill. It is especially difficult to move massive chests of drawers and cabinets without legs when there is nothing to grab onto. The problem could be solved by hiring loaders, but this method is very expensive. You can do it on your own if you use some tricks. First of all, you need to do a little preparatory work, namely:

1. Empty the product from its contents. A wardrobe or bookcase already has a lot of mass, and things add extra weight to it.Also, during the rearrangement, something may fall out, this will complicate the already difficult work. When putting things away, arrange them so that they do not interfere with transportation in the future.
2. Remove removable shelves, drawers and rods. Of course, there is no need to completely disassemble the entire structure; you just need to lighten it as much as possible.
3. Secure the opening doors (otherwise they will interfere at the most crucial moment). You can use regular masking tape.
4. Wash the floor thoroughly with any cleaning product - this will not only make moving a heavy cabinet easier, but will also reduce the risk of damage to the floor covering.

REFERENCE! It is contraindicated to move massive furniture in a room with a freshly painted floor - at least a week should pass for the surface to become strong enough.

After all the preparatory work, proceed to the main task. Some methods can make it much easier to move a heavy cabinet to the right place. The following will be a description of popular methods, just choose the best option for your case.

Using raw potatoes

One of the simplest folk recipes is the use of ordinary potatoes. The fresh root vegetable, which contains starch, provides slip and allows you to move heavy objects without causing damage to the floor. The cabinet can be moved using this method on the following floor coverings:

• laminate;
• linoleum;
• parquet;
• plank floor (only if there are no large gaps or differences between the elements).

To carry out the work, the tubers are thoroughly washed and cut into circles approximately 1 cm thick (the most common option) or cut in half.

ATTENTION! Potatoes need to be prepared immediately before use so that their surface does not have time to lose the moisture necessary for the furniture to slide.

To rearrange the cabinet, you need to slightly lift it and place potato pieces under the bottom. If the product is too massive, you should make more pads so that the cabinet does not simply crush them. Next, carefully move the structure to the desired location, remove the potatoes and wipe off any wet marks. Similarly, you can use lard skins by placing them at the corners of the cabinet. True, at the end you will have to thoroughly wash the parquet to remove any remaining greasy marks and specific aroma.

Using a wool rug

Another “old-fashioned” method is to move bulky furniture on a blanket or thick woolen rug (it is recommended to use old things so as not to worry too much about them during the process). By carefully spreading the fabric under the cabinet, you can move it without much effort, while protecting the parquet from scratches and the product from possible damage.

IMPORTANT! Rearranging using this method should be carried out by at least two people, so that one person pulls the rug, and the other person pushes the cabinet itself from behind. Otherwise, the backing may slip out, and you will have to lift heavy furniture once again.

Apply wax or soap

You can move a heavy object relatively easily using some available tools:

• laundry soap or soap solution;
• paraffin or wax.

Carefully rub the floor along the intended path of movement so that a visible layer of lubricant forms on the surface, ensuring sliding. After completing the work, everything can be easily washed with warm water.

ATTENTION! This method can only be used on smooth and hard floor coverings without any unevenness.

Furniture conveyor to help

Not long ago, a device appeared for heavy shelves and chests of drawers, which consists of a special jack for lifting furniture and small stands with wheels. Thanks to this invention, you can independently, without outside help, transport the cabinet to the desired location and at the same time:

• save time, nerves and health;
• do not scratch the floor and protect the piece of furniture from chipping;
• move furniture on any surface, including deep-pile carpet (to do this, you just need to choose a model with large wheels);
• save on the services of a loader - it’s easier to purchase a small set once and use it for a long time than to call a team each time and pay a lot of money, in addition, in many cities you can rent a transporter.

Modern ways to move a cabinet

The effectiveness of traditional methods has been tested for decades. However, progress does not stand still; various modern means can greatly facilitate the rearrangement of large-sized furniture. These include the above-mentioned furniture conveyor, as well as:

• tightening belts;
• garden or hand cart.

Tightening straps are textile elastic bands with fasteners that tightly grip the cabinet during rearrangement. The design is designed for two people. The belts are highly durable and easy to use. Many craftsmen also use an ordinary cart. With its help, it is possible to rearrange heavy objects with significant savings in time and effort.Only if the cabinet is quite wide, you will need someone's help to hold the opposite edge of the product for safety.

Choosing a method depending on the floor covering

We have already named the most popular folk and modern methods of moving heavy furniture. Let us remind you once again which of them are suitable for working on a particular coating:

1. For smooth surfaces (like laminate, parquet or linoleum) it is permissible to use any of the described solutions. Choose what will be simpler and more accessible for your situation.
2. For soft surfaces (carpet or carpet) options with wheels, like a furniture conveyor or cart, are suitable. Sometimes 3-4 kitchen rolling pins are placed under the cabinet and moved during transportation, but this is a rather labor-intensive process.

Precautions when moving the cabinet

It is important to think in advance about how you will carry out the entire rearrangement process and assess your physical capabilities. Whatever work option you choose, you must remember safety precautions. Following simple rules when moving the cabinet will help you avoid injuries and other unpleasant consequences:

• first free the product from things and removable elements, secure the doors;
• wash the floor in the room and make sure that no objects interfere with you when moving;
• check in advance that all necessary supplies are available;
• do not try to lift and move heavy elements without special devices or additional working hands;
• Make sure the furniture is in the correct position while moving.

The risk of injury increases if you do not take a stable position and hold the furniture awkwardly. There is no need to rush or make sudden movements.It is also important to correctly assess your physical capabilities and ask friends for help or still hire a team of movers, because health is priceless.