Preparing a Refrigerator for a Move

When people move, they often leave their appliances behind. There are several reasons why they do this, but one of the main ones is that they are difficult to move. The people moving into the house are often more than willing to pay a little extra for those appliances, if they are in good condition, so they don’t have to move their own appliances from their old location. However, there are some cases where you have to move your large appliances yourself because they are better than the ones already there or because your new place simply doesn’t have them. Probably the most cumbersome of all appliances to move is the refrigerator. Here are some tips from professional movers on how to prepare a refrigerator for a move.

First, get all the supplies you are going to need to move your refrigerator in one place. You should get a large dolly designed for moving, moving straps, cleaning supplies, blankets, packing tape, a marker and scissors. You will need to plan ahead because moving a refrigerator takes about 12 hours to complete from start to finish. This is not a task you can do at the last minute, so be sure to use your time wisely.

Now, you need to take everything out of your fridge, including stuff that is in the freezer. Eat or donate any perishables and pack the other items you are bringing to your new place. If you are moving a long ways away from your current home, do not take any fridge items with you. Simply buy new food when you get to where you’re going. You should also take any magnets off and papers off your door before moving your fridge.

Next, unplug the fridge and allow the freezer time to defrost. You will need to give it between six and eight hours depending on how much frost your freezer has accumulated. The best time to defrost a fridge is overnight so you don’t have to wait for it to be done. After you defrost the freezer and wiped out the inside of both the fridge and freezer, you should remove the shelves and any other loose containers from the fridge. Wrap these shelves in moving blankets or some other packing material that will protect them during transport. Make sure you label your shelves so you can put them back where they belong when you get to your new home. Tape the fridge doors closed.

Your fridge is almost ready to be loaded onto the moving company's truck. Be sure to wrap the power cord around the refrigerator so it doesn’t cause a hazard while you move. Now you can either move the fridge yourself or have someone help you do it. Either way, it will be much easier to move after you have prepared it correctly.

John Cherry - About Author:
John is a shrewd consumer who writes about personal finance, finding deals, and local consumer home services like: movers in Miami and movers in Baltimore.

Article Source:
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