How to Pack a Fridge for Moving

If you are moving a fridge into a new home, All My Sons Moving & Storage has some tips to help you get that refrigerator packed into your moving truck. You can always hire professionals for your home, apartment, or office move, but if you are getting your items ready yourself then read on to find out the best way to move a refrigerator.

Before you start moving big appliances like your refrigerator, you should make sure they can fit through any doorways or stairwells they will have to pass through. Measure both your fridge and the doorways at your current home and your destination. 

Ensure there is enough space for your fridge to be transported to your destination and that the fridge will comfortably fit in your new kitchen before you start making arrangements to move it.

Start planning your move weeks in advance by cutting down on grocery shopping and aiming to consume everything in your fridge before the move. If you need help coming up with recipes to use up your ingredients, then you can try out a zero-food-waste app or website like Supercook, My Fridge Food, or Recipe Radar. Most movers will not move perishable food, and moving perishable food is only recommended if your move is less than two hours away and you have a fridge or freezer waiting at your destination.

When your fridge is empty, clean the shelves and make sure they are free of food particles. Remove any magnets, pictures, or pieces of artwork from the front of the fridge and pack them with your kitchen items.

Defrost your freezer at least 24 hours before your move. Toss ice outside or in your sink and dry off the inside of the freezer. Mop up any water that leaks out.

Unplug the fridge and disconnect it from water lines. While professional movers will often move your refrigerator for you, it’s possible they will not be allowed to disconnect or reconnect appliances like your refrigerator. You can consult your fridge manual for instructions on how to disconnect it if you are unsure of how to proceed.

Protect your fridge’s surface from dings and scratches by wrapping the fridge in furniture pads. After the furniture pads are in place, you can use plastic wrap to further secure the fridge. 

Once the fridge is detached from the wall and wrapped, you can put the fridge on an appliance dolly.

All My Sons Moving & Storage recommends moving a fridge with an appliance dolly and having at least one other person assisting you at all times. When rolling the fridge on an appliance dolly, you should take care not to tip the fridge more than 45 degrees. You should always transport your fridge in an upright position. Transporting a fridge on its back or its side can damage internal components.

Consult your fridge’s owner’s manual to ensure you reconnect the fridge correctly. 

If your fridge is going into storage, you should store the fridge with the doors slightly ajar to prevent the growth of mold or mildew.

Following these steps to packing and moving your refrigerator, you’ll be able to set up your new kitchen with the old familiar fridge in no time. 

Leave the packing and the heavy lifting to the professionals when you choose to book your move with All My Sons Moving & Storage. Our team can safely pack and transport your refrigerator for your local or long-distance move. Get white glove service every step of the way and start your move with All My Sons Moving & Storage by using our online quote form.