Summary: Moving a cabinet is often heavy, cumbersome, and delicate, especially when dealing with large or valuable pieces. Proper preparation, such as emptying the cabinet and protecting loose parts, prevents damage to the cabinet, walls, and floors. Using tools like hand trucks, moving blankets, and straps makes lifting and moving safer and easier. For large, heavy, or delicate cabinets, it’s advisable to hire professional movers to ensure the cabinet arrives at its new location undamaged. Additional tools such as a moving lift or temporary storage can make the move even safer and less stressful.
Moving a cabinet might sound like a simple task, but it often isn’t. It’s heavy, bulky, and can easily get damaged if you’re not properly prepared. From scratches on the wood to crooked doors or broken shelves: a cabinet is more fragile than you think.
Lifting is also a factor: moving a large wardrobe or display cabinet on your own can lead to injuries or damage to walls and floors. Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a professional, it helps to know what to look out for. In this article, you’ll discover practical tips for moving your cabinet to its new location safely and stress-free.
Moving a cabinet yourself: should you or shouldn’t you?
How easy it is to move a cabinet depends on the cabinet itself. Small cabinets can sometimes be moved easily by one or two people, but large, heavy, or fragile cabinets require much more preparation and care. Narrow staircases, tight passageways, or fragile parts such as glass, hinges, and shelves greatly increase the risk of damage. Even a sturdy wooden cabinet can get dented or scratched if you’re not careful.
Safety is also a major consideration: lifting a heavy cabinet without help can lead to injuries, especially on stairs or uneven floors. Moving on your own may save on labor costs, but it poses risks to both you and the cabinet.
If you want to do it yourself, thorough preparation is essential. Make sure you have enough help, use moving blankets, straps, or a hand truck, and plan your route in advance. For large, heavy, or valuable cabinets, it’s often wiser to hire professional movers. That way, you can be sure your cabinet will arrive safely and undamaged at its new location, and you’ll save yourself a lot of stress and extra work.
Step-by-Step Guide to Moving a Cabinet Yourself
We sometimes find that people who are moving are overly anxious. It’s annoying and, above all, a shame. We do understand, though: after all, they’re literally handing over their valuable and cherished belongings and meeting our movers for the first time. They’re so afraid that glasses will break, a painting will get damaged, or that beautiful antique cabinet will take a serious beating. What they don’t realize, of course, is that all our movers are experienced. Most of them have even been doing this work for years. You might move a few times in your life, but they move every day. And of course, they encounter challenging situations. Sometimes they have to look at a situation from multiple angles to choose the best approach, but it always works out.
- Preparation
- Empty the cabinet completely: remove all items, shelves, and drawers to reduce the weight and prevent damage to your belongings.
- Protect loose items: Wrap loose shelves, doors, or glass panels separately in bubble wrap or blankets.
- Measure doors and passageways: check whether the cabinet will fit through narrow doors or up stairs, and consider an alternative route if necessary.
- Protecting the cabinet
- Moving blankets or protective wrap: Wrap the cabinet in moving blankets or bubble wrap to prevent scratches and dents.
- Straps: Use straps to keep the blankets in place and provide extra stability, especially when transporting them in a vehicle.
- Move
- Use tools: A hand truck or dolly makes lifting and moving heavy cabinets much easier and safer.
- Ask for help: Make sure at least two people lift and move the cabinet, especially when going up or down stairs or through narrow passages.
- Keep the cabinet upright: do not tilt it unless it is absolutely necessary to fit it through a doorway. Tilting it may damage the doors or shelves.
- Loading and Transportation
- Secure it firmly: Secure the cabinet firmly in the moving truck so that it cannot shift during transport.
- Drive slowly and carefully: avoid sharp turns, rapid acceleration, or sudden braking to prevent damage to the cabinet.
- Unloading and Placement
- Unload carefully: use the same tools and approach as when lifting items at your old home.
- Setup: Place the cabinet in the correct spot, check to make sure it is stable, and do not remove the protective materials until the cabinet is securely in place.
- If necessary, reassemble: put the shelves, drawers, or doors back in place and check for any damage.
A cabinet is often heavy, bulky, and sometimes fragile, especially if it’s large or expensive. It would be a shame if your cabinet were damaged during the move or if its doors and shelves became misaligned. That’s why we recommend that you don’t move your cabinet yourself, but instead hire professional movers. Do you have questions about how Oomen Movers can help you safely move your cabinet? Feel free to contact us and let our experienced movers do the work for you, so your cabinet arrives at its new location undamaged and stress-free.
How can I prevent scratches and dents when moving a cabinet?
Proper protection is essential when moving a cabinet. Wrap the cabinet completely in moving blankets or bubble wrap and secure it with straps. Remove loose parts such as shelves and drawers and pack them separately. This minimizes the risk of scratches, dents, or damage to fragile parts. Walls and floors should also be protected with blankets or carpet while lifting.
In addition, the material of the cabinet plays a role. Wooden cabinets are susceptible to scratches, dents, and moisture, while metal or plastic cabinets are less likely to get scratched but can dent or warp. Glass or fragile cabinets require extra protection, such as double layers of plastic wrap or special corner protectors. By taking the material into account, you can provide optimal protection for the cabinet during the move.
What tools are useful when moving a cabinet?
Using the right tools makes moving a cabinet much safer and easier:
- Hand truck or transport dolly: for moving heavy cabinets in a controlled manner.
- Moving blankets or protective film: protects the wood from scratches and dents.
- Straps: Keep the blankets in place and ensure that the cabinet remains stable during transport.
- At least two people: for lifting and maneuvering through narrow passageways or up stairs.
Moving a Cabinet with a Moving Lift
Moving a large or heavy cabinet can be quite a challenge, especially in homes with narrow staircases, upper floors, or difficult passageways. A moving lift offers the ideal solution for this. With a moving lift, the cabinet can be moved up or down through a window or balcony, without having to carry it down narrow staircases or through tight hallways.
This not only reduces the physical strain, but also minimizes the risk of damage to both the cabinet itself and to walls, floors, or doors. When combined with tools such as moving blankets, straps, and a hand truck, the move proceeds in a controlled and safe manner. This ensures your cabinet arrives at its new location without any accidents or dents.
Using a moving lift also saves time and energy and provides extra assurance that everything will go smoothly. For added peace of mind, you can also take advantage of insurance coverage for your household goods during transport, so your wardrobe is fully covered against any damage.
Moving a Cabinet with Storage
Sometimes it’s not possible to move a cabinet directly to your new home. For example, if the move-in dates for your old and new homes don’t align, or if there’s temporarily no place to store the cabinet. In such cases, professional storage can be a practical solution.
When storing the cabinet, it is important to prepare it properly: it should be empty and, if possible, protected from dust and moisture. Loose parts, such as shelves or drawers, can be stored separately to prevent damage. The storage area should be dry, clean, and well-ventilated to ensure the cabinet remains in optimal condition.
As soon as the cabinet comes out of storage, it’s important to move it carefully and place it in the right spot. Check to make sure the doors, drawers, and shelves are still working properly, and remove any protective materials. This will keep your cabinet in top condition and make the move as stress-free as possible.
How much does it cost to move a cabinet?
The costs depend on several factors:
- Moving on your own vs. professional movers: Moving a cabinet yourself can save on labor costs, but it carries risks such as damage to the cabinet, walls, floors, or doors. Professional movers ensure safety, efficiency, and a minimal risk of damage, but this, of course, comes at a cost.
- Size, weight, and type of cabinet: Large or heavy cabinets, or cabinets made of delicate materials such as glass or veneer, are more difficult to move and often require extra help or equipment, which can increase the price.
- Distance and location: Is the cabinet being moved within the same building, to a different floor, or to a different residence? A large number of stairs, narrow hallways, or the use of a moving elevator can affect the cost.
- Equipment: The use of moving blankets, straps, a hand truck, or a moving lift may affect the price, but ensures safer transport.
For a complete and accurate overview of the costs for your specific situation, we recommend requesting a no-obligation quote from Oomen Verhuizers. That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect and won’t be faced with any surprises.
Let us move your closet safely
A cabinet can be heavy, bulky, and fragile, especially if it’s large or valuable. Moving one requires experience, precision, and the right tools to prevent damage to the cabinet, walls, or floors. By hiring professional movers, you can be sure that your cabinet will arrive safely and undamaged at its new location. Oomen Movers has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to ensure the move goes smoothly and under control. This not only makes the move safer but also much less stressful for you and your cabinet. Contact us to discuss your options.
