How to Move a Refrigerator the Smart Way

We all know that the kitchen can be one of the most (if not the most) difficult rooms to deal with when you’re moving. And that goes double when you consider appliances. While many people are simply having to deal with pots, pans, flatware, and the like, there are a lot of scenarios where you might find yourself having to figure out how to move a refrigerator in all its clunky glory. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

Refrigerators are big, bulky, and expensive. Knowing how to move a refrigerator correctly and safely then is crucial, since just winging it comes with a lot of risk—both to the appliance itself and, more importantly, to you. If you’ve got the time and the budget, we recommend getting a professional to pack up and transport your refrigerator for you. But if you’re going the DIY route, you’re not out of luck. Below, we’ll go over how to move a refrigerator from your old home to your new one, including how to prep your fridge for a move and how to carry it to and from the truck.

Note that the process of how to move a refrigerator starts before moving day, so be sure to go through these steps ahead of time and make a plan of attack.

Make sure you have the right supplies

If you’re going to be moving your refrigerator by yourself (and you’re not a professional weightlifter), then you’ll need a few things on hand to help you do it:

• • Packing tape
  • Moving blankets
  • Moving straps or bungee cords (multiple sets)
  • Appliance dolly

  Another key resource that you’re going to need here is a second set of hands. Due to the size and weight of refrigerators, they can be incredibly dangerous to move on your own. Have a friend, family member, or hired helper come assist you both when you’re moving the fridge out of your old home and when you’re moving it into your new one.

  Measure doorways

  Ideally you will just be able to move your refrigerator directly from the kitchen to the moving truck in the driveway, but that’s not always the case. Figure out what your route is going to have to be by measuring the length, width, and depth of your fridge and comparing it to the length and width of your doorways. It’s possible you will have to take an alternate route—such as taking your refrigerator outside through sliding back doors—and you’ll save yourself a lot of time later by figuring this out early on. Keep in mind that you may have to remove doors from their hinges in order to get the fridge to fit through them.

  Clean out and defrost your fridge 24 hours before moving

  Unlike many other appliances, you can’t just unplug your fridge and go. Refrigerators need to adequately defrost first, otherwise you’re going to end up with a slippery disaster. Likewise, you’ll want to make sure that it’s completely cleaned out—both of food and of and any food-related messes—since once the power is off there’s a potential for things to start rotting.

  Start by cleaning out the fridge and freezer. You can’t donate perishables, nor can you move them at room temperature, so your options are to eat what’s in there and then either toss the rest or pack it into a cooler with ice, provided you’re not moving very far. (You can find other helpful tips on what to do with food before moving here.)

  Once your refrigerator is completely empty, get to cleaning. Wipe down all surfaces with disinfectant, removing drawers and shelves as needed to get as deep of a clean as possible. If there are any unruly odors, clean surfaces with baking soda and vinegar, which should help remove them.

  Finally, defrost the fridge. Look in your owner’s manual for exact directions on how to do this. If you don’t have the manual on hand, you should be able to find it online. Generally, defrosting a refrigerator requires that you unplug it and disconnect the ice and water lines. Keep a few towels out for wiping off any puddles that form while the fridge is defrosting, as well as a hair dryer for getting rid of any stubborn patches of ice in the freezer. You want your fridge to be as dry as possible when it’s time to move.

  Pack Your Refrigerator Carefully

  A large part of figuring out how to move a refrigerator is determining the best way to pack it up for transport. Not taking proper care when it comes to packing your refrigerator can lead to safety concerns and damage on the road. It can also mean a broken fridge when you arrive at your final destination.

  To pack it correctly, start by carefully coiling any power cords and/or lines and securing them close to the fridge with packing tape. If you don’t want to put tape directly on the cords themselves, wrap them in a layer of plastic wrap first and then apply the tape.

  From there, use packing tape to seal the doors shut. Then wrap moving blankets around your entire refrigerator and secure them in place with moving straps or bungees—one toward the top of the fridge and one toward the bottom.

  Getting Your Refrigerator Ready for Transport

  This is where things start to get a little tricky. Have your appliance dolly and your helper with you, and carefully slide the unit out so you can get around it on all sides. Slide the dolly under the refrigerator from the side, being sure not to snag it on any part of the moving blanket. Then slowly maneuver it up onto the base of the dolly until it’s standing upright.

  Take your other set of moving straps or bungee cords and use them to secure the fridge to the dolly. Since weight can easily shift when you’re moving your refrigerator to the truck, it’s important that it is secured on the dolly as soundly as possible to prevent it from tipping over.

  How to Move a Refrigerator Up or Down Stairs

  In a perfect world you’d have a linear path to follow from kitchen to truck—or at least an elevator—but such is the case that you might find yourself facing a set of stairs. Don’t panic though. The key here is to go slow, and to follow best practices for getting a refrigerator up or down stairs.

  To do it, keep the refrigerator on the dolly and have one person go in front while one holds on to the dolly from the back. Tilt the dolly so that the fridge is resting at a 45-degree angle toward the person in the back, then very slowly go up or down the stairs one step at a time, with the person in front serving as a guide and helping distribute some of the weight. Don’t try to lift the dolly—instead, push or pull it carefully and gently. Slow and steady wins the race here, so take as much time as you need to get where you need to go safely.

  Loading and Unloading Your Refrigerator

  This part should actually be pretty easy. Using a ramp, guide your refrigerator—dolly and all—either up into the moving truck or down off the truck as needed. Don’t try to lift the fridge on or off the truck, since even a small slip up can result in you dropping it.

  If you can, keep the fridge on the dolly for the entirety of transport. Just double check first to ensure that the moving straps securing the refrigerator to the dolly are still in place and that they’re nice and tight.

  Setting Up Your Refrigerator in Your New Home

  Once you’ve unloaded your refrigerator into your new home the hard part is over! Now you’ll just want to be sure to set it back up properly. Look in your owner’s manual to see if there are any guidelines around how long you have to wait to reconnect the fridge, as you may have to hold off for a few hours, especially if you transported the fridge on its side. Look up as well how long you have to wait between reconnecting your fridge and storing food in it—usually there’s about a one to three day lag before it’s able to safely store perishable food products.

  Don’t Want to Move Your Fridge On Your Own? Hire Some Pros

  A professional moving company may be your best bet if you have any concerns about packing and transporting your refrigerator. To find reputable movers near you, check out our free online moving company directory. Be sure to get at least three quotes so that you know you’re getting the best deal possible on your move.