It is one of the questions people ask most before a move: do the drawers really have to be emptied, or can the chest of drawers go on the truck full? The short answer is yes, empty them. Moveall’s terms ask for furniture to be emptied of loose items and for loose items to be packed in cartons, and they say items that are not packed may not be moved or may cost extra. Here is why, and what it means for each kind of furniture.
Why full furniture is a problem
- Weight. Clothes, papers and books are heavier than they look. A full tallboy can weigh several times as much as an empty one, which makes it harder and slower to carry, especially on stairs.
- Strain on the furniture. Drawers and runners are built to slide, not to carry their contents while the whole piece is tilted and lifted. The extra weight pulls on joints, bases and runners, and older furniture is the most at risk.
- Things move inside. Loose contents shift as the piece is carried and as the truck moves. Hard things scratch the inside of the drawers, and breakable things break.
- Drawers slide out. A heavy drawer can slide open mid-carry and fall, damaging itself and anything below it.
Furniture by furniture
| Piece | What to do |
|---|---|
| Chests of drawers and tallboys | Empty every drawer into boxes. The empty drawers can usually stay in and be wrapped shut. |
| Wardrobes | Take everything out, including what is on the floor and the top shelf. Fold clothes into boxes. |
| Display cabinets and hutches | Take out every ornament and every glass shelf, and wrap them separately. |
| Bookcases | Books into small boxes. A bookcase is carried empty. |
| Desks and filing cabinets | Empty them. Pack papers in boxes and keep important documents with you. |
| Bedside tables and sideboards | Empty the drawers and cupboards, and clear the tops. |
| Fridges and freezers | Empty, defrost the day before and leave the doors open to dry. |
What about the bedding and the clothes on hangers?
Bedding goes in boxes or bags, with one set of sheets per bed kept aside for the first night. Clothes on hangers can be folded into boxes, or kept on their hangers in bags for a short move if you are carrying them yourself. Ask your removalist what suits the move you have booked.
If you run out of time
Emptying furniture always takes longer than people expect, because every drawer turns out to hold more than you thought. Start a week before the move with the drawers and cupboards you use least. If time is short, Moveall’s Wrap & Pack team can do it: it packs all approved household items and supplies the boxes and packing materials. See furniture packing and moving in Adelaide.
Old and heavy furniture
For antique chests and dressers, emptying matters even more. Old runners and joints do not take the weight of their contents being carried, and old drawers can fall out easily. Take the keys out of the locks and keep them with you. If the drawers are loose, tell the crew so they can be wrapped and carried separately. More on antique and heavy furniture.
The rest of moving day
Emptied furniture is the start. For how the furniture is wrapped, carried and placed, see furniture removalists in Adelaide. For getting every room of the house ready, see house furniture removals in Adelaide, and for packing your own boxes, our guide on how to pack furniture for moving.
Talk to us about your furniture