June 7, 2024
When the relocation day comes near, one of the things you should learn is how to protect floors when moving. Whether you have hardwood or any other kind of flooring, protecting it should be high on your list of priorities. If you don’t know how to go about it, you should follow these simple tips and avoid any unnecessary stress and additional costs.
Before you start relocating your furniture, make sure that the floors are well-protected. One of the best ways is to put your old blankets and rugs to good use. Regardless of the type of flooring you have, you’ll achieve two important goals if you cover it. First, you will keep the water and dirt away, and second, you’ll protect the floor from scratches, dents, and scrapes.
When using blankets and rugs, all you should do is put them along the walkways and, if necessary, fix them in place with appropriate materials. That way, you will assure that the protection you’ve provided won’t move or slide around, and prevent any kind of deadly accidents, including slipping and falling.
Another way of protecting your floor is by using cardboard. The whole idea is to place large sheets of thick cardboard in the areas where most of the moving activities will take place.
The main advantage of cardboard is that it is cheap and easy to find. You probably have a few boxes somewhere in your home; not the best-sized boxes for moving, but good enough to break them apart and cover your floors to save them from dirt and mud.
On the other hand, plastic protection will save your carpets during the move. Although it can be considered an expensive investment, the carpet protection film is quite efficient, especially if you own lighter colored or antique carpets. You should not forget to protect them and avoid any damage when relocating heavy furniture and other bulky items in your home.
Keep in mind that moving large items will be much easier if you have the right equipment. Heavy and large pieces should not cause you trouble if you use a dolly or furniture sliders.
When you decide to rent a dolly, choose the one with two wheels or a furniture dolly with four wheels. You can rent it from a local mover or buy a new one from a home improvement store. Just make sure that the dolly you choose has rubber instead of metal wheels that can scratch or smear the floor.
The best way to save a hardwood floor when relocating appliances or any heavy item is to use furniture sliders – flat pieces of durable plastic with fitted hard rubbers. All you should do, if you want to move a bed or couch, is to put a slider under every leg of the item you want to move, so that you can safely slide it across the room.
Additional note: Whenever you can, push the heavy items, don’t pull them.
On the other hand, if your relocation budget doesn’t allow buying a furniture slider, you can easily create a DIY alternative. You can slide the objects across the floor without damaging it by using four pieces of protective blankets or pieces of thick cardboard.
Don’t get surprised by the number of household items that can be used as tools for relocating heavy items and protecting floors. It all depends on your creativity, but one common way is using mats and doormats.
To avoid any unnecessary mess during the move, you should purchase doormats. Outdoor types of doormats are real life savers if you are moving in winter or on a rainy day. Doormats will take all the extra mud and snow off the shoes, making it easier for you to clean up after the heavy items have been moved. Also, doormats could prevent any kind of slip-and-fall type of injuries.
Another great way to save the floor is by making paths of mats that can be walked on through the house during the move. Using rugs and mats to create pathways will help absorb the moisture of the movers’ shoes. Just be careful when you install the mats and make sure they don’t slide around when walked on.
Those who are serious about protecting their floor during the move won’t forget about using shoe booties as an additional level of protection. If possible, you could suggest to the people who enter your home to wear them. Shoe covers are inexpensive but very efficient in keeping dirt, dust, and other debris from ruining your tiled, laminate, hardwood, or carpeted floors.
Floor-runners are self-adhesive coverings made of carpeting or neoprene. If you purchase the top-quality ones, you’ll notice that they have a non-slip surface on the bottom; therefore, these protectors will not slide or move when used.
When sold in large rolls, floor-runners are ideal for protecting stairs and other home areas proven to be slippery and dangerous. It could be said that the only disadvantage is that you have to spend some money on them.
If you’re still not sure about how to keep your old and new home intact when relocating, consider using professional moving services. Not only will highly trained movers preserve the floors of your home, but they will also do all the heavy lifting on your behalf. You can also choose packing services and have your precious belongings safely wrapped and transported to your new residence without you lifting a finger.
