How to Pack and Protect Your Furniture for a Minneapolis Move
Furniture is often the most expensive thing you own — and the hardest thing to replace if it gets damaged during a move. With the right preparation, you can protect even your most cherished pieces through the chaos of moving day. Here’s how to do it.
Disassemble What You Can
Bed frames, shelving units, dining room tables, and sectional sofas are almost always easier — and safer — to move when disassembled. Take off table legs, remove shelves, and break sectionals into their individual pieces. Keep all hardware in labeled ziplock bags taped to the main piece of furniture. You’ll thank yourself when it’s time to reassemble.
Remove and Protect Glass Components
Glass tabletops, mirror inserts, and glass cabinet doors should always be removed from furniture before moving. Wrap each piece in cardboard first, then surround it with moving blankets or bubble wrap. Stand glass pieces upright rather than flat — they’re more durable in that orientation and take up less space on the truck.
Use Moving Blankets on Every Piece
Professional movers wrap every piece of furniture in thick moving blankets before loading. If you’re doing a DIY move, rent or buy moving blankets — they’re one of the most important investments you can make. Wrap corners, edges, and any protruding hardware. Secure blankets with stretch wrap or rubber bands.
Protect Upholstered Furniture
Sofas and upholstered chairs can pick up dirt, moisture, and damage during a move. Sofa covers and stretch wrap are your friends here. For light-colored upholstery, covering completely with stretch wrap prevents staining — just don’t leave it on for more than a day or two, as it can trap moisture.
Pad Sharp Corners and Hardware
Corner protectors (available at moving supply stores) are essential for sharp furniture corners that can punch through boxes or damage walls. Similarly, wrap any protruding hardware, knobs, or handles with tape or foam to prevent them from scratching other items in the truck.
Protect Drawers and Doors
For dressers and cabinets that you’re moving assembled, use stretch wrap to keep drawers and doors from flying open during loading and transit. Don’t overstuff drawers — the extra weight makes the piece harder to move and can cause the drawer slides to fail.
Load Furniture Last, Unload First
When loading the truck, large furniture pieces typically go in first against the walls, with boxes filling the remaining space. At the destination, furniture is generally unloaded and placed first — so the movers can set up the room structure before navigating around it with boxes.
Leave the Heavy Lifting to Us
1st Class Moving brings everything needed to protect and move your furniture safely across the Minneapolis metro. Get your free quote today and let us take care of the hard part.
