Appliances will be a special sub-project of your move.  Though we wish it were so, these heavy-duty machines are not as easy as packing in a box or simply unplugging and carrying onto a truck.   In some cases, you’ll have to get a professional to do the job to ensure safety.  Whether something as large as a refrigerator or small as a microwave, keep these principles in mind when handling appliances for your move:

Clean out the buildup.  Stoves and vents will have oil residue on them that can leave stains on anything they touch.  Washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators will have excess water lingering around in them.  Dryers may have insect nests in their vents. 

Be mindful of loose parts.  Fridge drawers, microwave plates, lint traps, hoses and so on will need to be wrapped up and packed separately to avoid movement during the move.  The tub inside the washing machine will either need to be bolted down or somehow secured with a manufacturer’s tool for doing so. 

Ask the experts.  Whether getting advice, ordering instruction manuals that go with your appliances, or hiring someone, make sure that you do things the right way when it comes to appliances.  This goes especially for the installation of your equipment when arriving at your new home.  Not all things will fit the way they did previously.  If you have an icemaker or water dispenser operating in your refrigerator, follow detailed instructions on handling the connections, or get a plumber to do it.  Where gas-powered appliances are concerned, hiring an expert a necessity, not an option.  An experienced professional will need to cut off the gas range and secure any lines or loose parts so as not to be a hazard during or after the move.   

Protect your investments.  Scratches and dents are a commonality when moving appliances.  Make sure you, or your movers are using lots of blankets to cover the surfaces of your machines so they still look as sharp in your new home as they did in your old one.  Also, either tape, or tie down the doors and openings of the appliances so they are not flying open during the ride to their new destination.

Transport safely.  Don’t push, pull or try to carry an appliance on your own.  It’s not worth the risk, both to good physical health and to the appliance itself.  Use a proper dolly meant for large items, and get help by working in a team with these ones.  Also use bungee cords or some other method of tying down the appliance to the dolly so that it doesn’t shift – a risk for damaging walls along the way.  It would even be best to think ahead about the route the appliance will take to get to and from the truck. 

With your appliances, it is better to be safe than be sorry.  Mishandling may have ugly consequences and, in the long run, may cost you more than the hassle of training yourself with manuals or hiring someone to move them properly.  When in doubt, get help.