Most kitchen appliances are big, heavy, and somewhat fragile. That is a recipe for disaster when moving, but you can dodge all of the potential problems if you take the time to it right. Some appliances may be easier than others, but all of them require a special process when moving.

Small Appliances

Your small appliances, such as blenders and microwaves, will be the easiest to pack. You should start the process by cleaning them, and waiting for them to dry completely before packing. Remove all of the parts that are meant to detach easily, then wrap the appliance and any removed parts with newspaper or linens. Be sure to avoid packing peanuts, since they can easily get into the mechanisms and cause jams. Secure the appliances in a box where they will not move by plugging any gaps with more packing materials.

Refrigerators

Moving a refrigerator is a massive project that requires special tools. You should make sure that you have all of these items before you get started:

• Appliance dolly
• Drill or screwdriver
• Measuring tape
• Moving blankets
• Rope
• Plenty of help!

Start by emptying out the refrigerator and defrosting it. Try to eat all of your food before you move to make sure that you don’t waste any!

You will need to unplug and disconnect your fridge a few hours in advance. This can be tricky, and every model is unique, so follow the user manual carefully. Measure your fridge carefully and plot a route out of your home. You may need to remove doors from hinges or get rid of other obstructions to prepare the path. Take care with this step so that you don’t have to stop and improvise a new plan once your fridge is on the move.

Load the unit onto an appliance dolly, tilt the fridge back, and slowly walk it to your moving truck. Take your time, especially if you need to go down any stairs. It can help to bring a spotter to make sure that you don’t run into anything.

Ovens

The most important step when removing an oven or a stove is determining if it uses gas. If your model does use gas, you must turn the gas off before you can detach it. Failure to do so may lead to a gas leak, which is extremely dangerous.

The rest of the process is similar to moving a refrigerator. Start by disconnecting the electricity or any other attachments according to the user manual. Carefully move the oven onto the dolly, secure it in place, and wheel it out to the moving truck. You will most likely need to move the oven away from the wall before loading to get enough space and to prevent damage to nearby counters and other furniture.

Dishwashers

Moving a dishwasher is complicated, and many people may need help to get the job done. Start by unloading it. Once it is empty, you can move on to disconnecting it from the home’s power system. That may mean unplugging it, or it might take a trip to the circuit breaker box. Detach the dishwasher from the wall or counter, lift the feet, and move it a little bit away from the wall. This is to give you some space to work, and pulling it too far will cause problems.

You will now need to turn off the water supply and disconnect the dishwasher from it. All dishwashers will have two water lines, one for the supply and one as a drain, and you need to disconnect both. The manual should be your guide to this process. Once that is done, you can check your work. If everything seems ready, you can move it fully away from the wall, wrap it in a protective layer of blankets, load it onto the dolly, and move it to the truck.