Three Last-Minute Moving Tasks You Need to Remember

You’ve got your boxes packed, your movers scheduled, and most of your moving tasks finished. Congratulations!  You’re almost there. Don’t get caught off-guard, though, by these often-overlooked moving tasks. Moving day will be busy enough- you don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute to get these done! Prepare Your Refrigerator and Freezer for Moving You can’t move a refrigerator or freezer without defrosting them first. Stand-alone freezers need at least 48 hours to fully defrost, so be sure to unplug it two full days before your moving date. Your refrigerator should be shut off at least 24 hours before your move. After you have unplugged your fridge and freezer, remove all of the items and clean all surfaces. Mold and bacteria can grow in a closed fridge during transit---don’t leave behind any food or crumbs to get them started. When you’re done, leave an open box of baking soda in the open fridge to absorb moisture. At this point, if you’ve hired the movers to finish preparing your fridge and freezer, your job is finished. If not, there’s more to do.

• First, consult your owner’s manual to see if there are special instructions for moving your fridge or freezer. If you don’t have the manual, try manualsonline.com or the manufacturer’s website.
• Remove and pack any removable drawers and shelves.
• If the shelves and drawers aren’t removable, you’ll need to pad them with something so they don’t get knocked around in transit.
• Tape the plug to the back of the unit.

Do yourself a favor and in the weeks ahead of your move, try to “eat your way through” your kitchen. Limit what you buy at the grocery store and start using up the food you have in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. This will save you time, money, and help you avoid wasting food. For any non-perishable food you don’t eat or won’t be taking with your, contact Move for Hunger. Participating moving companies will pick up your non-perishable food items and deliver them to nearby food pantries free of charge. It's not easy to live without a refrigerator, even for a day or two. Keep a cooler and ice on hand with some drinks, milk, and anything else you may want during the next couple of days. Disconnect Your Washing Machine and Dryer Did you think that disconnecting your washer and dryer was a simple as unplugging them from the wall?  Think again. Moving these appliances can be dangerous if you don’t know how to do it properly. Take a look at the steps below to get an idea of what’s entailed in moving these appliances. If it seems beyond your skill level, hire a professional. Moving companies themselves don’t offer this service---it’s that complicated. However, a move coordinator from the moving company can arrange the services of professionals for you. To prepare a washing machine for moving:

• First things first! Look at your owner’s manual for instructions specific to your particular model.
• Gather moving supplies, such as packing blankets, a hand truck, slip-joint pliers, etc.
• Unplug the washer. Use a zip tie to secure the plug to the back of your washer.
• Shut off the water supply.
• Drain the supply hoses and drain hose. Remove the supply hoses completely and pack separately. Attach the drain hose to the back of the machine.
• Use a wet vac to remove all the water from the washer. You don’t want excess moisture to breed mold.
• Insert the transit bolts. These keep the washer drum immobile and protect it from being damaged. Transit bolts normally come with your washer when you buy it, but they can be ordered from the manufacturer or an appliance store if they’ve gone missing.

To prepare a dryer for moving:

• Unplug the unit and zip tie the cord to the back.
• Gas dryers require the gas supply to be shut off completely. Again, if this is beyond your skill level, you’re much better off having a professional do this for you. You’ll need a pro to reconnect the dryer in your new place.
• Disconnect vents from the back of the unit and the exterior wall. Pack vents separately.
• For gas dryers, it’s recommended to buy a new gas line and vent hose instead of moving your existing ones.

Pro tip: Plan your laundry days so that you are doing you last loads of laundry the day before you need to disconnect your washer and dryer Get Rid of Items That Movers Cannot Move There are a whole host of items that moving companies are prohibited from moving. Some are common sense, but some you’ll probably find surprising. You want to make sure these items are out of your house (and properly disposed of) before moving day. Flammables and chemicals

• Fuels/oils
• Batteries
• Explosives (you probably don’t have to worry about this one!)
• Bleach
• Paint/ paint thinners

Note that anything flammable, or chemical cannot just be thrown in the trash or poured down the drain. Be sure to check with local public works agencies to properly dispose of these hazardous materials. Perishable Remember how we said to eat through your kitchen or donate food in the weeks before your move? Another reason is that none of these items can be packed on the moving truck. Except for some snacks you might bring with you, everything here has to go.

• Refrigerated food
• Open boxes of food
• Produce

Living Things

• Houseplants
• Outdoor plants

This may seem surprising, but there are actually a lot of good reasons for not allowing transport of indoor and outdoor plants from place to place. The soil plants are grown in have microbes that may not cause harm in one geographical area, but could put plants and agricultural crops at risk in another. This is true for insects that may be hiding in your plants as well. If there are plants that you don’t want to leave behind, check with the  National Plant Board. They have information on regulations and state laws, but it may be time-consuming to find out about your specific plants. You can always give your plants away to local friends and save yourself the trouble. For a more complete list of prohibited items click here. Need a professional to help with that washer and dryer?  Need help coordinating your move? Follow this LINK to talk with a representative. https://calendly.com/armbrustermoving