An average refrigerator weighs around 300 lbs, and it isn’t an easy task to lug such gigantic appliances around. But what if you want to clean, replace or relocate your refrigerator, you must be thinking of ways to drag out your fridge. It can be even worse if your refrigerator is present in a confined or tight space, you can’t simply drag your fridge by pushing it from behind. Professional movers will charge you hundreds of dollars for such a simple task.
If you are also facing this dilemma and don’t know what to do, we have a solution for you. You don’t need to hire movers or pay someone else, because with this article, you will be able to find out how to move a refrigerator out of a tight space for yourself.
How to Move a Refrigerator Out of a Tight Space
Moving your refrigerator is indeed not an easy endeavor to undertake, however, it isn’t much more difficult also if you know what you are doing. We will recommend you to get the help of a family member or friend, it will be hectic for you to deal with all of this alone. You don’t need a professional, all you need is someone who is capable of handling an appliance dolly. It can be a fun group activity with your friends and family.
There are some supplies that you are going to need in this exciting journey of yours, we have listed all of them below;
Appliance dolly
Straps
A household toolkit
A cooler
If you don’t have any particular item from the above, you are allowed to improvise as long as the function is being done properly.
Step 1: Empty the refrigerator:
The first thing you will have to do is empty your refrigerator and scrape any leftover ice in there. You don’t want to move your fridge with a bottle of water and a jug of milk in it. So, if you are sending your refrigerator to some other place, you should arrange a cooler beforehand. You don’t want to waste your perishables!
And after you have emptied the whole of your fridge, you might as well take this opportunity to clean the insides of your fridge properly. Scrape the leftover ice from the surface if any, also use a piece of dry cloth to clean the far corners of your unit. If you still find any leftover ice, it is best for you to remove the plug and let the freezer defrost for a while. It might take some time but you don’t want to be stuck with a frosted freezer. Other than increasing the weight, it will also make things messy.
If you are in a hurry, pour hot water or use a hair dryer and then mop the surface with a towel.
Once you are finished with emptying and defrosting your fridge, now is the time to strap your unit on a dolly. But before that, you should have a solid plan in place about how you are going to take your fridge out. You don’t want any obstructions or bottlenecks in your way. Now, wiggle your refrigerator until it is inches away from the tight spot and your fridge is backing no walls.
Once it is done, bring your dolly near the refrigerator and try to lift the top of the fridge a few inches and place it on the dolly. You will easily be able to lift your fridge up until there is some clearance behind it. Once the front of your fridge is on the dolly, it will just require a few pushes for you to completely set it up on your dolly.
Once it is on your dolly, you will have to strap it tightly. In some cases, the dolly comes with straps, but if you don’t have any straps, you can improvise and can use any rope for it.
Keep in mind that you don’t want to strap your fridge on the dolly on its side, it can be harmful to your appliance.
Step 3: Pull the dolly:
By now, your fridge will be out of the tight spot and you will be able to get behind it. If it isn’t, keep pushing the dolly in the opposite direction. After that, we will advise you to tilt your dolly to 45 degrees while keeping the fridge downright, it will be the best angle to keep your fridge balanced and protected. When you are done with this, you can alone push the dolly. However, if there are any stairs in your way, we will strongly suggest that you partner up.
Once you have moved your refrigerator out of the tight space and strapped it on the dolly, you can take it anywhere you want.
Can I move a refrigerator without a dolly?
Most people don’t need to move their appliances over large distances, they just want to move them a few inches for cleaning purposes. If this is the case with you and you don’t want to buy a dolly, we have a solution for you too.
Grab your fridge with your finger from both sides and start to wiggle it sideways. Gradually, your fridge will start moving inches forward. You will have to lift one side of the fridge first and then the other, repeat this process a few times and you will have enough space for you to clean behind your fridge.
However, keep in mind that this method is not recommended if you have carpets on or your tiles are scratchable. Because with this method, you can scrape or scratch your carpet or floor respectively.
What if My Refrigerator has wheels?
If you are one of the lucky bunch with wheels in their refrigerators, then it won’t be a problem for you to scoot the fridge a few inches. However, if you want to move your fridge long distances, especially through stairs, we will recommend getting a dolly.
A Few Important Tips:
With the above guide, moving your refrigerator out of a tight spot won’t be a problem. But still, there are a few tips that can save you from any unfortunate incidents.
Read the owner’s manual:
If you are facing any problem regarding unplugging the cord or want to know the specifications like the dimensions or weight of your appliance, you can always turn to the user manual. Instead of Googling mindlessly, we will suggest that you take a look at your user handbook and you will get all of your queries answered.
This information can be extremely helpful if you are on the lookout for the trolly. Different trollies are made for different purposes and you will have to make sure that you choose a dolly that fits your needs.
Don’t overestimate your strength:
Refrigerator isn’t a small appliance like an oven, moving it is going to be quite a stressful job. If you have any health problems or can’t deal with physical stress, we will recommend you to let professionals do it. Nothing is more important than your well-being and health.
Don’t put your fridge flat on its side:
When you are moving any appliance, your biggest fear is that something might happen to your appliance that will permanently damage it. This fear of yours can easily come true if you keep your fridge flat on its size for a large amount of time.
There are coolants inside the cooling system of your fridge responsible for many essential tasks. If you lay your fridge on its side, these liquids might end up leaking which could permanently damage your unit. That’s why we recommend keeping your fridge facing up at all times.
Don’t use a knife to defrost the refrigerator:
Sometimes, people tend to use knives or other sharp and pointy objects to scrape the ice from the surface. We are here to tell you that you should stop using pointy objects because they can irreversibly damage your appliances. If you get a little careless, you can cut through the plastic walls or damage the refrigerant pipes.
It is best that you unplug your fridge, open its doors and let nature do the rest. But, if you are in a hurry and want instant results, we will recommend using hot water or hair dryers. Also, hair dryers should be kept at the lowest settings.
Moving a refrigerator is already an intimidating task, combine it with tight space and you are looking at an impossible task. However, nothing is impossible if you are a little smart about your decisions. We hope that with this article, you know exactly what you have to do in order to move a refrigerator out of a tighter space. If you have any queries or confusion, you can comment down below and we will get back to you with a solution.
Robert Smith is a technology lover and loves to write about laptops, monitors, printers, tablets, Apple products and anything that's related to computers and games. He is passionate enough that he maintains this blog regarding tech updates on a daily basis.
Robert Smith is a technology lover and loves to write about laptops, monitors, printers, tablets, Apple products and anything that's related to computers and games. He is passionate enough that he maintains this blog regarding tech updates on a daily basis.
