Before your move, you should inspect your major appliances, such as the washing machine, before moving day per your moving checklist. Moving a washing machine showcases multiple difficulties because of its weight, size and delicate wiring. Handling and transporting a washing machine becomes difficult to manage unless you have appropriate knowledge, safety procedures, and proper equipment.
When handling washing machine transport, it is best to hire professional movers who can perform local moves, including office removals, and interstate relocations, but you may decide to do it yourself to reduce moving costs. This guide provides detailed instructions for how to move a washing machine, so follow it precisely.
Engaging professional washing machine movers offers numerous benefits, including an experienced and smooth transition. However, if you choose the DIY route, this guide provides an accessible, step-by-step process on how to move a washing machine yourself.
Related: How to Move Fridge
What to Do Before Moving a Washing Machine
Here are the initial five essential steps for moving a washing machine:
Get Assistance
Due to a washing machine’s significant weight and size, attempting to move it completely alone is unsafe. Therefore, “by yourself” in this context means you’ll be handling the moving washing machine without professional movers, but you will still require at least two helpers to move it from one house to another safely.
Call family members, friends, or neighbours who can help you with the move.
Consider Renting or Buying an Appliance Dolly
Because of the machine’s weight, lifting and carrying a washing machine by yourself is impossible. Using a moving dolly will enable you to transport the appliance safely from your current house through the transport vehicle. Moving companies and truck rentals can provide appliance dollies for rent. You can buy one as an expense that may pay off for future house moving.
Collect the Necessary Materials
So, what are the essentials for a moving washing machine operation?
You’ll need thick, padded blankets to protect the appliance from bumps and scratches during the move. Secure your washing machine for transport using moving straps or rope and packing tape.
In addition to these packing materials, ensure you have a pair of slip-joint pliers and a small bucket or container to collect water when you disconnect the washing machine for draining.
Equipment Needed To Move A Washing Machine
- Dolly
- A bucket
- Moving Straps For Your Dolly
- Packing tape.
- Moving Blankets
- A wrench/Pliers
- Shipping Bolts
Look for The Washer Transit Bolts
Washing machine shipping bolts are crucial metal rods used to secure the drum and prevent movement during transport. It’s essential to have these transit bolts installed before moving the washing machine because vibrations during transport can easily damage the drum’s suspension. Locate your washer’s shipping bolts. Contact a reputable local appliance store for help if you can’t find them.
Locate Your Washer’s Instruction Guide
Even if your washing machine is working perfectly, its user manual provides instructions on how to transport it safely, including how to install the transit bolts and any other specific pre-move preparations. If you still have the manual, that’s ideal. If not, you can easily find it online by searching for “[washer brand] [washer model] user manual.”
How to Move a Washing Machine: Step-by-Step Guide
Eventually, most of us will encounter the task of relocating a heavy appliance, and moving a washing machine often ranks as one of the toughest. Understanding how to move a washing machine requires fundamental knowledge to avoid appliance breakage and prevent harm to yourself.
While the preferred method is using professional movers who can perform different moving services such as packing and unpacking, you can perform the task independently by following these moving tips and guidelines to safely and effectively move your washing machine.
Step 1: Empty the Washing Machine of All Garments
Before you move your washing machine, take a moment to inspect inside the drum – that lost sock might just be lurking within!
Step 2: Clean the Washing Machine drum
Take this chance to inspect your washing machine drum for any detergent buildup. Running a short wash cycle with just water or using the appliance’s clean cycle will freshen the drum and help clear out the drain lines simultaneously.
Step 3: Dry Washing Machine Drum
To prepare your washer for moving day, it’s best to ensure it’s as dry and clean as possible. After running the clean cycle, leave the door open for 24 hours to allow the drum to fully dry. If you don’t have enough time, carefully wipe away any remaining moisture with a cloth.
Step 4: Disconnect From the Electricity Supply
For your safety, always disconnect the power supply before handling any appliance. Unplugging your washing machine is crucial to prevent potential electric shocks and other dangers.
Step 5: Shut Off the Water
Disconnecting your washing machine from the water supply is essential for maintenance or repairs. To do this safely, locate the shut-off valve near your appliance first. Then, turn it clockwise, being careful not to disturb any water drain lines to avoid unwanted leaks.
Step 6: Allow the Hose to Drain
Remember that some water will inevitably remain in the hoses when handling a washing machine. Therefore, take your time and drain each hose individually to ensure your safety and prevent accidental spills.
Step 7: Ensure the Safe Removal and Packing of the Hoses
The next step involves disconnecting the washing machine’s water supply hoses. Use pliers to carefully detach them and then place them in a large plastic bag. Put this bag inside a labelled cardboard box for safekeeping during the move.
Step 8: Attach the Washing Machine Transit Bolt
While it’s possible to move a washing machine without transit bolts, doing so risks damage and costly repairs. We highly advise using washing machine transit bolts to secure the drum during transport.
Securing your machine is straightforward. Two openings at the washer back provide entry for each bolt which needs to be screwed clockwise until everything is secured. Contact your local appliance store for guidance if you need help installing the transit bolts.
Safely transporting a washing machine depends heavily on transit bolts. The washing machine contains a multitude of complex functional parts, including a drum suspension. Bolts applied to the drum establish stability, protecting both the suspension system and its adjoining components. You should consult your appliance manual to find the customised installation instructions for washing machine transit bolts.
Step 9: Start Getting the People You’ll Need Together
Moving the washing machine effectively demands absolute teamwork from multiple helpers. Obtain help from relatives or friends to ensure you have sufficient support during the task. Additional support is necessary during the move of the washing machine.
Step 10: Carefully Fasten It Onto the Dolly
With the transit bolts firmly in place, it’s time to prepare for loading. Before wrapping your washing machine for protection, we suggest placing the water supply and drain hoses inside the drum to prevent them from getting lost during moving. It’s also wise to give the exterior a final wipe-down. Working together as a team will help prevent injuries or damage as you begin to load.
When you’re ready, move the washer away from the wall. Once you have enough room, gently tilt the washer backwards to slide the dolly underneath. Use straps to secure the machine to the dolly, then carefully move it to your vehicle.
Step 11: Place It Inside Your Vehicle
The transportation of your washing machine should involve firm bindings to secure it from sudden movements during travel. This is the most effective method to safeguard your appliance throughout moving.
Step 12: Check it out
After you’ve moved your washing machine into your new residence, reconnect the power and water supply. Turn the water valves back on and run a test cycle. Before doing so, always verify that you have removed the transit bolts and any other packing materials that were used to secure the drum during the move.
Moving a Washing Machine Without Transit Bolts
Moving a washing machine without transit bolts, especially a front-loading model, demands extra caution. Since you lack the drum-locking function of shipping bolts, you must ensure the drum remains upright and well-secured throughout the transporting washing machine process.
Transit bolts are essential for safeguarding the washer’s drum during a move. Without them, the vibrations and movements can damage the drum’s suspension system, leading to malfunctions. If you’re moving the washing machine without transit bolts, you must compensate by padding the drum. Furniture blankets are ideal for this; carefully place them inside the drum so they fit snugly against all sides, minimising any potential movement. Test the effectiveness of the padding by gently shaking the washing machine to see how much the drum can still move.
Before you move a washing machine, ensure it’s empty. Turn it off, unplug it, and tape the power cord securely to the top. Carefully slide the washer away from the wall, checking the drain hose and water supply connections at the back. If you can’t install shipping bolts, the blankets inside the drum are your primary protection.
When lifting and transporting a washing machine, always keep it upright on a dolly or hand truck. Tilting or slanting it can cause the unsecured drum to bounce around and potentially get damaged. Ensure the taped power cable and water hoses don’t interfere with the move. Stop and readjust the blankets if you hear the drum moving excessively during transport. Then, proceed with the usual moving and reconnection steps, handling the appliance gently.
How to Move Washing Machine for Storage
Moving Mates acknowledges how frequently moving schedules get misaligned with actual new home readiness. Our service provides flexible and secure storage arrangements to assist you during the moving washing machine process. Moving Mates delivers various storage solutions which address short-term washing machine transport and long-term item storage.
Beyond just holding your items, Moving Mates can streamline the entire moving washing machine experience, including the often challenging task of moving a heavy washing machine. Our professional team can handle the heavy lifting and transportation to and from our storage units, saving you the strain and potential risks associated with DIY attempts.
If you’re unsure about the logistics of transporting a washing machine or need a secure place to keep it temporarily, let Moving Mates provide a convenient and reliable storage solution as part of your overall moving plan.
Let Moving Mates Make Your Washing Machine Move Easy!
As you’ve likely gathered, moving a washing machine presents a considerable challenge. Instead of tackling this yourself, why not entrust the task to Moving Mates?
Engaging the professional movers at Moving Mates ensures the job is executed correctly whether small removals or any size. We possess the required know-how for the seamless and secure transporting of your washing machine.
We are equipped with all the necessary tools and expertise to ensure your appliance is transported without any damage whatsoever. Forget about the back-breaking work of heavy lifting—if you plan to move a washing machine or any other bulky and weighty appliance, a simple call to us is all it takes.
Contact us today at 1300 654 187 and speak with one of our knowledgeable consultants.
Moving Mates is the clear choice when you’re looking for a streamlined, hassle-free experience that delivers exceptional service at an affordable rate. We are the only appliance and washing machine removalists you can rely on!
