If you’re looking at big move in the near future, it would come as no shock to anybody to find out that you probably have a lot of things on your mind.
After all, moving is rarely the simplest or cheapest process to go through. This is especially true when you’re taking a look around at all of your furniture.
Furniture can be quite heavy! When you are deciding how you are going to move your furniture, you’ll essentially have one of two choices to make.
You can either get in touch with furniture movers to get the job done for you, or you can get the proper equipment and a little bit of help to do it yourself.
If you end up having to go with the latter option, then having a good idea of what you’re doing will go a long way in helping you move your furniture safely and with ease.
To make sure you’re caught up on the best and safest ways to move your furniture using trusted equipment like lifting straps, grab a piece of paper and make sure you’re taking notes.
The Different Types of Lifting Straps for Moving
There are two main types of lifting straps to help you move heavier items a little easier. Depending on how you’d like to move things, you’ll have a decision to make between the two. You can expect to find shoulder lifting straps and forearm lifting straps.
- Shoulder lifting straps: These types of moving straps can be a little more expensive than their counterparts intended for forearm use, but shoulder lifting straps are worth spending just a little extra scratch for the added safety. Shoulder lifting straps feature slings that go over each shoulder to give you extra stability and confidence when moving your heavier items.
- Forearm lifting straps: Forearm lifting straps are intended to be placed on either side of a heavy piece of furniture or large appliance, attached safely, with the other part of the strap going around your forearm and the forearm of a moving partner on the other side of the item to safely move it.
Now that you’re a little more informed on the two different types of lifting straps, you’ll have to decide which one is preferable for you, as well as learn how to safely move your items with each kind of lifting strap.
If you’re planning to move the DIY (do it yourself) way without using movers, then making sure you have some lifting straps on hand for the heavier items (such as furniture and appliances) will be a boon for you and the folks giving you a hand.
Make sure you keep the following safety tips in mind so you can make sure you are safely moving your items with your lifting straps.
Safely Moving Your Stuff Using Shoulder Lifting Straps
If you and your moving partner have some shoulder lifting straps, then make sure you keep some of these tips in mind when moving your furniture and appliances from inside your home to the moving truck.
- Make sure you have the shoulder lifting straps fitted to you properly. You should have the harness positioned over each shoulder, with the straps coming to a sort of “cross” in the back. On your front, the straps’ buckle should be lying down flat.
- Make sure you’re buckled up properly. You should have the longest strap lying underneath the item you are planning to move. Take one end of this long strap, attach one end of it to the harness, then bring it up around the bar. Your moving partner should also be “suited up” properly this way.
- If needed, adjust the length of the strap to better fit yourself and the item you are attempting to move. If the strap is too long, you’ll find that you’re going to have difficulty lifting anything at all up off the ground. This is why it is so important to make sure your straps are situated just right around not only yourself but the item, as well.
- Make sure you lift using your legs. Bend your knees, and place your hands on either side of the object you’re moving to make sure you are stable. Ensure your partner is doing the same thing, and work together to lift the item up simultaneously.
- Move the item carefully, working closely with your partner to navigate your way to the moving truck. Once you get there, lower the item to the floor carefully, and then remove your shoulder lifting straps.
That’s it! If you work safely and make sure you are buckled up properly, you should find that using shoulder lifting straps to move things with the help of a partner is really quite simple.
Safely Moving Your Things With Forearm Lifting Straps
What if you chose forearm lifting straps for the job? No worries, here are a list of steps you can follow (with a helper!) to make sure you are using your forearm straps safely while moving your stuff.
- You’ll want to begin by placing the moving straps around the object you are trying to move. If you’re moving a piece of furniture with legs, then make sure the straps are running parallel, on the “inner” side of the legs, which would be underneath the piece of furniture if it were standing up.
- Make sure you have the right-sized arm loops for your arm. Usually, forearm moving straps will have several different sizes of arm loops in order to properly fit items of all different shapes and sizes. Carefully bring your arm through the arm loop, and make sure the strap is long enough for the job. Have your moving partner do the same.
- Get ready to move! Bend your arms and make sure your straps are snug and secure on the upper half of your forearms, and use your legs to lift up the item in tandem with your partner.
- With the item lifted up on either side, work together with your partner to slowly move it through the house and outside into the moving truck. Once you’re inside the trailer, slowly work the item down onto the floor and undo your forearm lifting straps. You’re done!
It really is that simple. You’ll find with a little extra help from a moving partner and your choice of two different kinds of lifting straps, you should be able to move just about any of the heavier items in your home with ease, whether they are pieces of furniture or huge kitchen appliances like refrigerators or ovens.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve never moved anything using lifting straps before, then don’t be surprised if you still have a few questions. You have the basic process of safely moving your items with lifting straps, but to make sure you’re fully up to speed on this way of moving your stuff, let’s make sure you’re caught up with some of the questions commonly asked by others who are brand new to moving things with lifting straps.
Do lifting straps really work?
Yes, lifting straps really do work! They help you and your moving partner by allowing you to easily move your things, taking a heavy load off of you.
They work, essentially, by helping provide you with more leverage when you are lifting up on something heavy. Using lifting straps, you will also be greatly reducing the strain on your shoulders, back, and legs.
Who are lifting straps best for?
Moving straps are for anyone who is planning a big move and plans to go the DIY route with their moving. This means rolling up your sleeves, finding a little help for the sake of safety, and packing up and moving your things by yourself.
Lifting straps come in handy by reducing the load on you and your help, allowing you to more easily lift up the heavy stuff you have to move to the moving truck, whether it is heavy appliances or your living room furniture. Alternatively, if you prefer not to go the DIY route, you can also consider hiring long distance moving companies to handle the heavy lifting and transportation of your belongings.
How much do lifting straps cost?
The exact cost of your lifting straps will depend on what type you decide on, as well as that brand you choose. Typically, lifting straps are quite affordable and can even be had for under $20 depending on where you look. This affordability makes it simple for you to pick up enough moving straps for you and your help to safely move your heavier items around.
Confidently Move Your Heavy Items
If you’re planning a move without using movers to make things a little easier, then you’re probably going to be looking for ways to make things a little safer and more convenient for yourself and the people helping you. This is where lifting straps come in. No matter what kind you choose, you will be able to move your things with safety, confidence, and without having to worry about throwing your back out or hurting yourself.
Once all that heavy stuff is loaded up, all that is left is for you to load up in the moving truck and take off to your new home. Once everything is unpacked there, your move will be complete and you can finally relax.
