The Best Way to Move Appliances Without Injury

Let’s be honest - no one looks at a fridge and thinks, “Yeah, I could totally toss that in the back of the truck myself, I’m strong.” Even though this seems simple, every moving day across the country, people throw out their backs and twist their knees trying to wrangle refrigerators, dishwashers, and dryers like they’re in an Ironman competition.

Appliances are awkwardly shaped, heavy, and surprisingly love to fall on your big toe. They’ll try to hurt you if you’re not prepared. We will talk about how to move them safely, efficiently, and with your spine still intact and your dignity running strong.

Never underestimate the appliance and it’s strength. They may look like innocent blobs of stainless steel, but these things are heavy, bulky, and love to fight back when tipped at the wrong angle. Planning is not optional, it's essential. As funny as it might sound, your moving plan is your guardian angel.

Before you even look at your appliances and get a feel that you will be moving them, gather your tools and do it right. The right equipment is the difference between an easy move and a great video of you flying backwards down the stairs and falling on your tailbone.

What Do You Need:

• Appliance dolly (with straps): Don’t use a regular dolly unless you enjoy tipping your dryer into a wall and tripping over it.
• Moving straps or forklift straps: Good for distributing weight (and giving you that Iron Man vibe). This is a no-brainer, so things won’t move around.
• Work gloves: For grip, protection, and style like a pro.
• Moving blankets and padding: Wrap up your appliances like fragile burritos. We all love a Chipotle black bean special, so give that dryer some love and reward yourself with a fat one.
• Furniture sliders: If your appliance needs to move across floors, first you will need these tiny sliders to slide in style.

Bonus tip: Rent these tools if you don’t want to own them forever. Hardware stores and moving companies like iMoving have rentals available so you won’t need to keep all these extras in the garage.

You know what’s worse than hauling a fridge across the house? Realizing it doesn’t fit through the doorway. You know what’s even worse than that? Your wife’s “I told you so.” That really will string.

Measure:

• The appliance from all angles
• Doorways and hallways
• Stairwells and the sharp turns
• Truck openings

If it’s tight, remove doors — both the frame and sometimes the appliance’s doors.

Pro tip: Removing the doors from a fridge often drops a few inches off its size. Just don’t lose the screws as they are special and you don’t want all your food going bad in the new home.

Every appliance has its own prep ritual. Treat them right, and they might not try to kill you on the way out. Forget this step, and you can be sure you will be cursing yourself.

Fridge

• Unplug 24 hours before moving to let it drain
• Remove all food (seriously, it’s not worth keeping and borderline dangerous)
• Clean and dry completely
• Secure doors with rope or moving tape

Washer

• Disconnect water lines and drain them
• Dry the drum and hoses
• Tape down the lid and cord

Dryer

• Unplug and detach the vent hose
• For gas dryers, call a pro to disconnect, as this can be dangerous
• Tape the door shut

Dishwasher

• Disconnect water and drain lines
• Dry the inside thoroughly
• Secure the hose with a towel or rubber band

You’re not just moving a heavy object in this move, you’re guiding a bulky, rigid, possibly wet rectangle through a maze of corners, pets, and random furniture.

• Remove rugs, toys, shoes, anything you can trip on should be gone like the wind
• Prop doors open
• If you’re in an apartment, reserve the elevator and parking ahead of time for the movers

This is where things get real. Position the dolly under the center of gravity of the items. This is usually low and to the back of the heavy appliance. Strap the appliance tightly to the dolly and pray things go well when you tip it back

Lifting tips (seriously important for your back):

• Bend your knees, not your back (your back didn’t ask for this)
• Lift with your legs bent and keep your core tight
• Don’t twist your body ever- pivot your feet as needed

Going downstairs? One person on top guiding, one below supporting the weight. Slow and steady helps you cross the finish line.

Appliances go in first, towards the back, upright and toward the front of the truck (near the cab). That keeps the weight balanced inside. The weight distribution is key for a safe drive.

• Use ramps if possible (your knees will thank you later)
• Keep appliances upright to protect their internal components (especially fridges which tipping will cause issues)
• Strap everything down to the wall rails inside the truck so nothing moves later

The last thing you want is your dryer taking a tumble onto your antique dresser and crushing your kid’s favorite mirror.

You did it. You got it there.The journey is almost over, but keep reading as the unloading is just as risky as the loading.

• Make sure the path is still clear at your new home
• Roll the dolly backward off the truck — don’t pull it toward you and don’t use your back to push off the weight.
• Communicate with your moving team like you’re defusing a bomb and understand the dangers

Once your fridge or washing machine is in its new home, don’t plug it in immediately.

• Refrigerators: Let it stand for at least 3–6 hours, especially if it was tilted at any point. This allows internal fluids to resettle and things to set in right.
• Washers/dryers: Reconnect hoses and power, then test it empty first.

• Don’t go at it alone — even if you bench 300 lbs in that gym. Ask your friends or hire moving labor pros through iMoving to get the job done right and safe.
• Wear shoes with grip — flip-flops are not forklift-friendly. Your oes will thank you later. 
• Lift smarter, not harder — a dolly is your best friend, not a luxury. This is a thing you should never save on.
• Know your limits — it’s cheaper to hire help than visit urgent doctor care.
• Leave gas lines to professionals — seriously, don’t mess with gas unless you don’t like your life.

Sometimes the best move is not to move it yourself. If you have:

• A multi-floor home with lots of curvy stairs
• Gas appliances
• Extra large homes
• A bad back, bad knees, or bad luck with heavy things

Services like iMoving let you compare pro crews who are experienced in appliance transport so you don’t become an injured story.

Moving appliances safely is all about preparation, professional tools, patience, and not trying to be a hero. Trust us: no one gets a trophy for manhandling a refrigerator alone - just a chiropractor appointment and a handful of Advil.

No go out and gather your gear, clear your path, use your legs, and give your machines the care they deserve. We hope you trained for this mission. Your spine will thank you. Your appliances won’t say anything, but trust us, they’ll appreciate it too.