It is inevitable, you’re going to have to lift or move heavy furniture in your home at some point. You can move heavy objects while rearranging, cleaning or moving your home entirely. You can also help a friend, family member or a neighbor when moving into a new house. One of the main challenges with moving heavy furniture is the objects causing injuries due to their weight, size and people’s limited skill set on how to do it right. However, you can reduce succumbing to potential injuries by following the proper lifting techniques.

How To Move Heavy Furniture By Yourself

When moving heavy furniture alone, Puget Sound Moving suggests the following tips to do it right and avoid getting injuries:

i. Examine the Furniture You are About to Move

You need to examine the size and weight of the furniture you are about to lift. If the furniture is too heavy, you need to look for comfortable pick up spots to decrease the chance of getting injured. In addition, you will be able to move the furniture with ease because you will have a good grasp and control of the furniture. In case you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask.

ii. Check the Surroundings and Take a Safe Route

Before you start lifting or moving around with a heavy object, you need to check your surroundings for your safety. If there are any obstacles, clear them to avoid tripping and choose a safe route. Be mindful of uneven floors and stairs whether you are going up or down.

iii. Get Into Position

Whether you are lifting or moving furniture, your position can determine how you move and how safe you are. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart to provide balance and moving. When grasping the furniture, you should bend your knees, squat down to the floor and grasp with both hands.

iv. Lift and Carry

You should keep the item close to your body to facilitate movement and support. Remember, when carrying the furniture, the moves should be slow and smooth to avoid jerky movements. Finally, use your hips to lead and change direction because it is easier unlike using your entire body.

v. Drop the Load

Once you’ve reached your destination, you should do it slowly and in a steady manner to avoid injuring yourself/others and probably damaging the furniture. Therefore, hold the furniture close to your body as you squat and then set it down gently. Since you will not be doing it alone, you can coordinate with the others by counting, using facial expressions or body languages.

How to Move a Couch Upstairs (and Downstairs)

If your couch is too wide to go through the door, you will have to consider the length of the couch. For your couch to go through the door, its length should be shorter than the height of the door. In addition, you need some space on either side of the doorway (at least a foot) to create enough space to maneuver. However, if the inside space in your house is a narrow hallway and the couch does not fit, you may have to remove the door to gain additional space for the sofa to pass through.

Moving furniture upstairs is harder and more demanding than moving it downstairs due to the effort, skill and equipment needed for the job. If your couch is heavy, you can hire a professional moving company to help you with the moving process. Alternatively, you can ask for help from colleagues, friends, neighbors and family members especially if you are moving the sofa down a few stairs.