How to Prepare Wooden Furniture for a Long-Distance Move

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Furniture

close up of a wooden bench

Moving out is already a very long and complicated process to organize and prepare for. When you add wooden furniture into the mix, things only get more difficult. Wooden furniture needs to be properly prepared and packed for a move to make sure it doesn’t get damaged. And if you’re moving long-distance, you need to pay extra attention since it only adds more risks. All in all, if you’re prepared for it, moving wooden furniture is guaranteed to go wrong one way or another. So, doing some research beforehand is very much recommended if you want to avoid unnecessary damage and complications. In order to help you out with this, we put together a guide on how to prepare wooden furniture for a long-distance move, and we hope you find it helpful.

Stock up on the right moving supplies

While packing tape, bubble wrap, and cardboard boxes are a must for any move, in order to properly prepare wooden furniture for a long-distance move you’ll need a few extra things. Namely moving blankets, plastic stretch wraps, furniture pads, and corrugated cardboard sheets. These supplies are a must if you want to ensure your wooden furniture doesn’t get damaged during transit. Moving blankets to move heavy pieces more easily, and the rest to make sure the furniture is properly wrapped for the move. These supplies are typically available at local hardware stores, but moving companies also tend to rent them out. And when it comes to movers, remember that furniture removal companies are essential if you want to avoid unnecessary trouble with the move. This is pretty much the only way to guarantee nothing goes wrong or gets damaged while your belongings are being transferred to your new home.

Dismantle your furniture where possible

Most wooden furniture can be easily dismantled and reassembled. So, in order to make transferring the individual pieces significantly easier, take the time to dismantle whatever you can. Take bed frames apart entirely, take the tops and legs off tables, remove knobs from desks and dressers, and remove the legs and cushions off chairs and couches. This will make the furniture much easier to handle, and it will be significantly simpler to pack. And, of course, physically moving the furniture is much easier when it’s in pieces. Experts from Heart Moving Manhattan note that dismantling furniture also makes it much less likely to get damaged during transit. As such, taking the time to dismantle your furniture before packing it up is, really, only beneficial. And while it’s hard to find time for anything during a move, doing this will save you a lot of time and effort in the long-term.

Clean your furniture before packing it

The next step to take in order to prepare wooden furniture for a long-distance move is to clean it thoroughly. This is important because dust and debris can scratch your furniture while it’s being transferred. Even when the furniture is properly packed, there is going to be some friction present. This friction is more than enough to lead to very noticeable scratches on your furniture. So, before you get to packing, clean your wooden furniture as thoroughly as you can. And besides, if you take the time to clean the furniture before the move, you won’t bring any unnecessary dirt into your new home. And when looking for movers to help you out, remember to ask the right questions. It’s important to know that you can trust your movers before you hire them. As such, the right line of questioning is invaluable in making sure the potential movers are trustworthy.

Pack the individual pieces properly

The only way to properly prepare the furniture for transport is to wrap it properly. Use plenty of wrapping materials and make sure every surface is properly covered. When it comes to smaller pieces, pack them into boxes and make sure you don’t misplace any of them. It’s incredibly common for these small pieces to get lost after a piece of furniture is dismantled. So, ideally, you should pack the smaller pieces as you’re dismantling your furniture. And remember, towels, sheets, and even socks can be used to effectively wrap wooden furniture. As a matter of fact, this is in some ways better than using regular moving supplies. And when it comes to the moving process, remember that using self-storage has its benefits. Especially for long-distance moves, having a storage unit can be incredibly helpful and save you a lot of time and pain throughout the moving process.

Load the moving truck properly

There is a specific order in which you should load your furniture into the moving truck for it to be safe. Start by putting the heaviest pieces against the walls of the truck. This will help distribute the weight evenly across the moving truck and leave room for both loading and unloading the truck. Next, place boxes on top of the heavier pieces of furniture, and finally place the smallest pieces and boxes on top of those. This will help make sure nothing gets crushed during transit and make it much easier to unload the truck once you arrive at your new home. All in all, as long as you’re careful and organized with loading the truck, you shouldn’t have any issues. Of course, you can never be too safe when it comes to protecting your belongings from damage. But your movers should be able to cover everything you miss.