As the Movers Who Care®, our help extends far beyond lifting your items and moving them from one place to the next. We’re here to help those who want to do the heavy lifting themselves, too!
While we’d prefer you call us and let us do the hard work for you, we understand there are scenarios where you need to get the job done on your own, and we want to ensure you have the proper information to do it safely and securely while avoiding damage and injury.
One of the most common furniture pieces to move is a couch. If you’re wondering how to move a couch by yourself, here’s a tip! Moving one piece of furniture, such as a couch, can range in difficulty depending on the size and shape of the piece. It’s because of this, there can be a difference between how to move a couch through a door and how to move a couch upstairs.
Since we’ve seen nearly every scenario of this, we’ve compiled some of the best tips you’ll find!
Steps to properly move a couch
First and foremost, the most important thing to remember when lifting an item like a couch is not to lift more than you can handle, as this can cause injury and damage to your items. Secondly, as you would with any type of heavy lifting, it’s crucial to avoid lifting with your back – use your legs for the lifting power.
1. Measure the couch
Grab a tape measurer or look at the info from when you bought it to find out the dimensions of the couch you’re moving. You’re not going to get very far if it’s bigger than a doorway or wherever it needs to go. Knowing the size is an important piece of information you need to determine right away.
2. Clean off the couch
This might sound obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning, you need to clean off the couch before moving. So, this means removing any pillows or cushions that come with it, as these will just be in the way during the moving process. Find a place to store these pieces you don’t lose track of them after you’re done.
3. Disassemble the couch
Many couches have pieces that need to be removed to move them, whether it be attachments or couch legs. Remove these, put them together in a box, and then begin the moving process so they aren’t in the way or run the risk of becoming damaged.
4. Using professional moving equipment and protection
Just like we’d do when moving a customer’s belongings, you should also utilize proper moving equipment and protection while moving your couch. From furniture sliders or a moving dolly to stretch wrap and furniture padding to keep it protected, there’s no such thing as too safe when it comes to these items. The last thing you want is to damage your couch.
5. Clear a path for moving
This is something that can get overlooked while moving, but it’s vital to a safe move: clearing out a path for moving. Wherever the couch might be going, you’ll want to be sure the point from A to B is clear of any clutter, debris, or loose items that could get in the way. This will also help in the prevention of any accidents or injury which could occur.
6. Utilize the help of others
Some people like to take care of things themselves, but moving a couch is not the time to try this. Couches are heavy, awkward, and usually require more than one person to get the job done. We’d never send out one individual to move a couch on their own, and you shouldn’t either. Have a family member or friend help you with the lifting and loading so you can avoid any accidents or injury.
7. Know your limits and when to stop
It’s natural to want to fight through adversity to get the job done, but one of the most important aspects of moving is knowing when it’s too much and backing off to find a new solution. Pushing yourself when something is too heavy or won’t fit is a recipe for disaster and will end up causing more problems than it’s worth. If the couch is too heavy or won’t fit, contact moving professionals to find a new solution.
