When packing and loading heavy furniture for your move, it's important to follow specific procedures to protect the furniture from damage and to prevent injury to yourself. Dressers are bulky and heavy items, which require at least two people to move and proper materials to limit unsightly scratches, dents, or chips. Learn some helpful tips on how to wrap a dresser for moving.
Empty the dresser
Leaving items inside the dresser will only make your furniture heavier and more difficult to move. So, before moving day arrives, empty the drawers of your dresser completely and pack all items properly in separate boxes.
Tip:Check out our guide on how to pack clothing for Moving
Remove shelves or mirrors
If your dresser has any attached shelves or vanity mirrors, use a screwdriver to remove them. Here are some important tips:
- Remember to keep track of any screws or bolts you remove during disassembly.
- Place the screws or bolts inside a zip lock bag and attach the bag to the shelf or mirror so you can find it easily when it's time to reassemble.
- Wrap shelves/mirrors in moving blankets and then bubble wrap for added protection. Never place bubble wrap directly on the surface of wood or glass; the air bubbles can leave behind impressions on glass and the plastic can trap condensation, which will ruin wood. It's also helpful to place cardboard over the glass before wrapping it for extra support.
- You can purchase large, flat boxes called telescoping boxes for mirrors to keep them extra safe during transit.
Packing and wrapping a dresser for moving
To protect against damage such as scratches, gouges, chips, or cracks, it's essential to protect and pack your furniture carefully. Here are some tips on how to pack a dresser for moving:
- If your dresser has delicate handles or knobs, wrap them in furniture blankets or bubble wrap to keep them protected. This will also prevent hanging handles from rattling during transit and leaving scratches on the furniture's surface.
- It's important to make sure the drawers do not slide out both during transit and while you are carrying the dresser. You can remove the drawers completely or simply make sure they remain closed by tightly wrapping and padding the dresser. If you opt to remove the drawers, you should wrap them carefully in furniture blankets.
- Place one or two large moving blankets over the top of the dresser, letting them drape over the sides.
- Use heavy-duty packing tape to secure the blankets around the dresser tightly. The furniture should be wrapped firmly so the blankets do not come loose during the move. Remember don't let the tape come in contact with its surface as it will leave behind a sticky residue and damage the finish. Wrap the tape four or more times around the dresser from top to bottom.
- Very carefully tilt the dresser up to tape the padding under the bottom. If the dresser is very tall, you may have to wrap the bottom in another moving blanket. To do so, lay another furniture blanket on the floor and place the dresser in the center of the blanket and fold it upwards, securing it in place with tape.
- If you have a very valuable antique furniture, you can secure it with furniture blanket, or you can use sheets of cardboard for extra protection.
- To keep the moving blankets even more snug, wrap the entire dresser in shrink wrap.
Note: Never wrap any wood furniture in plastic shrink wrap directly as plastic traps condensation and the moisture will destroy the wood's finish.
Moving a dresser
Never attempt to carry a heavy dresser by yourself. If you are not hiring movers to help you with the heavy lifting, enlist the aid of a few strong friends to get the bulky bureau out of your home and onto the truck. Here are some tips on how to move a dresser:
- Plan the route. Make sure your moving way is clear and free of obstacles. It is also helpful to measure the dresser as well as any doorways, hallways, or tight spaces it will have to pass through to make sure it will fit.
- Lift carefully. When you are lifting or moving a dresser by yourself, bend at the knees, not the waist, and keep your back straight and upright. Keep the dresser close to your body while carrying it.
- Use moving straps. These useful straps lower the dresser's center of gravity, redistributing the weight and making it easier to lift. You simply place the straps underneath the dresser and over your and your helper's shoulders. Since you do not have to bend, it puts less stress on your body and makes it easier to carry the cumbersome dresser.
- Be careful on stairs. When you are carrying a heavy furniture to load onto the truck know how many stairs you have to descend or climb in advance. Be careful and, if possible, have a third person direct you while the two of you carefully carry the dresser.
What's the best way to move a dresser to make sure that it reaches to your destination safely and unscathed? Hire professional movers! Whether you enlist the assistance of full-service movers or someone to just wrap and load the dresser, they will have the proper materials and know-how to protect and carry your furniture safely - and you won't wind up with a strained back!