Moving house can be a stressful whirlwind of checklists and cardboard boxes. Amidst the chaos, the one thing you want to avoid is arriving at your new home or opening your storage unit to find your beloved furniture scratched, dented, or broken. The secret to a damage-free move isn’t luck; it’s proper preparation.
Learning how to wrap furniture like a professional removalist in Perth is the single best investment you can make to protect your belongings. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from gathering the right supplies to mastering the techniques for different types of furniture.
Gather Your Supplies: Essential Furniture Wrapping Supplies
Before you even think about lifting a couch, you need to gear up. Using the right materials is non-negotiable for ensuring your furniture is protected against bumps, scrapes, moisture, and dust.
- Moving Blankets (or Furniture Pads): These are the heroes of furniture protection. Thick, padded, and durable, they are your first line of defence against impact damage. Don’t skimp here; proper moving blankets are worth their weight in gold.
- Plastic Stretch Wrap: Often sold in large rolls with handles, this is like cling wrap on steroids. It’s perfect for holding moving blankets securely in place, bundling items together (like drawers with their dresser), and providing a barrier against dust and moisture.
- Bubble Wrap: While not for every piece, bubble wrap is essential for delicate items. Think glass tabletops, mirrors, TV screens, and fragile furniture legs.
- Corrugated Cardboard Sheets: Large, flat sheets of cardboard are brilliant for adding an extra layer of rigid protection to large, flat surfaces like tabletops, headboards, and artwork. You can also create custom corner protectors.
- Packing Tape: You’ll need plenty of high-quality packing tape to secure cardboard and bubble wrap. A key rule: never apply packing tape directly to your furniture’s surface, as it can strip the finish or leave a sticky residue.
- Mattress and Sofa Covers: These are large, heavy-duty plastic bags designed to slip over your mattress or couch. They are invaluable for protecting upholstery from rips, dirt, and moisture, especially for storage.
- Scissors or a Box Cutter: For easily cutting tape, wrap, and cardboard.
- Ziplock Bags: For keeping screws, bolts, and other small hardware organised after disassembly. Don’t forget a permanent marker for labelling them!
The Pre-Wrap Prep: Don’t Skip These Crucial Steps
Proper preparation will make the wrapping process smoother and more effective.
1. Clean and Dry Everything: Start by giving all your furniture a thorough clean. Dust and debris trapped under a moving blanket can act like sandpaper during transit, causing fine scratches. Ensure every piece is completely dry before wrapping, as trapped moisture can lead to mould, mildew, and wood warping, particularly in long-term storage.
2. Disassemble What You Can: Remove what can be removed. This includes table legs, bed frames, shelves from bookcases, and knobs or handles from dressers (you can tape them to the inside of a drawer). This makes furniture less awkward to move and less prone to damage. Place all screws and hardware in a labelled ziplock bag and tape it securely to the main furniture piece.
3. Empty All Furniture: Remove all items from drawers, cupboards, and cabinets. A dresser full of clothes is significantly heavier, and the internal stress of moving it can damage the joints. Remove drawers completely and wrap them separately if it makes the main frame lighter and easier to handle.
The Core Technique: A Step-by-Step Guide to Wrapping Furniture
Once you’re prepped, it’s time to wrap. This general method works for most large items like bookcases, dressers, and cabinets.
Step 1: Drape with Moving Blankets
Completely cover the item with one or more moving blankets. Ensure there are no exposed corners or edges. For large pieces, you may need to overlap two blankets. The goal is to create a soft, padded cushion around the entire piece.
Step 2: Secure with Stretch Wrap
This is where the plastic stretch wrap comes in. Starting from the bottom, wrap it around the entire piece of furniture multiple times. Pull it taut as you go. The stretch wrap’s job is to hold the moving blankets tightly in place so they don’t slip off during the move. It also adds an excellent layer of protection against dirt and moisture. Go both horizontally and vertically to create a secure cocoon.
Step 3: Add Extra Protection to Vulnerable Areas
Identify the most vulnerable parts of your furniture – usually the corners and delicate legs. You can create your own corner protectors by folding pieces of cardboard and taping them in place over the moving blanket before you apply the stretch wrap. For extra delicate areas, add a layer of bubble wrap under the blanket.
Step 4: Label Clearly
Use your marker to label the wrapped item. Note what it is (“Master Bedroom Dresser”) and which way is up (“This Way Up”). This helps the removalists place it in the correct room and handle it appropriately.
Wrapping Different Types of Furniture: A Pro’s Approach
Not all furniture is created equal. Here’s how to tackle specific items.
Wooden Furniture (Tables, Desks, Dressers)
The biggest risk for wood is scratching and denting. After cleaning, drape a moving blanket over the surface. For dining tables, place a sheet of corrugated cardboard on the tabletop before adding the blanket for extra puncture protection. Pay special attention to the corners and legs, using extra padding. Wrap the entire piece securely with stretch wrap.
Upholstered Furniture (Couches, Armchairs)
For fabric and leather furniture, the enemy is dirt, rips, and moisture. If you have them, use dedicated plastic sofa and chair covers first. This provides the best protection. If not, you can use stretch wrap directly on the upholstery (for short-term moves) before covering it with moving blankets. The blankets will protect it from impacts, and the wrap will keep it clean. Ensure leather isn’t left in direct contact with plastic in a hot environment for long, as it can cause sweating and damage.
Glass and Mirrored Items (Tabletops, Mirrors, Picture Frames)
These items require maximum care.
- Use masking tape to create a large ‘X’ or star pattern across the glass surface. This won’t stop it from breaking, but it will help hold the pieces together if the worst happens, making it safer to handle.
- Cover the entire item in several layers of bubble wrap, taping it securely.
- Sandwich the bubble-wrapped item between two larger pieces of corrugated cardboard, creating a “cardboard envelope.”
- Tape all the edges of the cardboard securely.
- Clearly label in large letters: FRAGILE – GLASS and indicate which side should face up.
Moving vs. Storage: Key Differences in Wrapping Strategy
How you wrap your furniture should change depending on whether it’s for a quick move across town or for long-term storage.
- For Moving (Short-Term): The primary focus is on protection from impact, scratches, and scrapes. The moving blanket and stretch wrap combination is perfect for this.
- For Storage (Long-Term): You need to worry about everything above, plus moisture, pests, and dust. Breathability becomes important. Never store wooden furniture wrapped directly in plastic, as it can trap condensation and cause the wood to warp or grow mould. Instead, use breathable cotton dust covers or ensure the moving blankets are the only thing touching the wood surface. The plastic stretch wrap should go over the blankets, and you can even leave small gaps for air circulation if the storage unit is climate-controlled. For upholstered items, proper sofa and mattress bags are essential to keep them fresh and pest-free.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Wrapping Furniture
- Taping Directly on Furniture: This is the number one mistake. The adhesive can peel off the finish, stain wood, or leave a residue that’s impossible to remove. Tape only belongs on blankets, cardboard, and plastic wrap.
- Leaving It Uncovered: Assuming a short trip means you don’t need to wrap is a recipe for disaster. It only takes one pivot in a tight doorway to cause a permanent scratch.
- Using the Wrong Materials: Don’t use old newspapers (ink can transfer) or thin household blankets (they offer minimal protection). Invest in the proper supplies.
- Forgetting to Label: Not labelling is a huge time-waster during unpacking and can lead to fragile items being handled incorrectly.
By taking the time to wrap your furniture with care and the right materials, you’re not just moving boxes; you’re protecting your memories and your investment. A few hours of careful work will give you peace of mind and ensure your treasured pieces arrive at their new destination in the exact same condition they left. Happy moving