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Moving blankets should be positioned on top of an item, so they drape down and around all sides.
Items made of glass, wood or containing soft surfaces should be wrapped in moving blankets.
Large items such as refrigerators and bookshelves generally require two or more moving blankets.
Packing your belongings in preparation for a move is tedious because it must be done carefully — particularly when handling fragile items. Furniture, appliances and large possessions such as pianos should all be properly wrapped with moving blankets, sometimes called furniture pads or furniture blankets. This protective padding prevents damage during transit.
Moving blankets should be positioned on top of an item, ensuring they drape down around all sides, and secured firmly with plastic wrap. Depending on an item’s size and shape, you may need multiple blankets.
“Most damage actually occurs in the truck while a person’s belongings are in transit to their new destination,” said Joe Kohm, co-owner of Frye’s Moving in Oaklyn, New Jersey. “The further the truck has to travel, the higher the risk for items becoming damaged when not properly protected.”
If you have family heirlooms, such as your great-grandmother’s armoire, or large appliances and heavy furniture you want to protect during your move, you should learn to use moving blankets correctly. Our step-by-step guide outlines when to use moving blankets, how to wrap each piece of furniture and where to find moving blankets.
Moving blankets are designed to protect furniture and prevent shifting during a move. They’re available to rent or buy in various sizes to effectively wrap standard-size furniture and common appliances such as fridges, dishwashers, washers and dryers.
Here are several practical applications for moving blankets.
Moving blankets safeguard not only your furniture and appliances from dents or scratches but also protect your home during the transition from your old residence to your new home.
Jake Sobieck, owner of Blue Ox Moving Company in Bemidji, Minnesota, advised that DIY movers should wrap “anything with glass or wood, and always wrap fragile items and any soft materials that can reveal impressions and scratches.”
Items such as stainless steel refrigerators are particularly vulnerable to scratching. Though mild soap and warm water can reduce the appearance of blemishes, heavy scratches can be permanent.
Moving blankets can also be folded to fill empty spaces inside boxes. Whether you’re embarking on a local or long-distance move, it’s common for belongings to shift. Without proper padding, delicate items such as ceramic or glass dishware and fragile home decor are susceptible to colliding and breaking within their boxes.
When loading a moving truck, you might encounter gaps between items, leaving room for them to bump into each other during transit. Fold and place moving blankets within these spaces to limit open space for items to move.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) movers likely need 10 blankets per room, advised Kohm. Therefore, two-bedroom homes typically require 20 to 25 blankets, while three-bedroom homes (and larger) call for 30 or more blankets. The exact quantity you’ll need depends on the number and size of your items.
To get a more precise figure, plan to purchase or rent at least one moving blanket for each item you intend to wrap. Larger items such as bookcases and dining room tables typically require two to three blankets for adequate coverage as “the high finish can easily become marked up or scratched,” Kohm said.
Although moving and rental storage companies such as U-Haul and Budget offer options for renting moving blankets, sizes do vary. For instance, U-Haul provides furniture pads that measure 68 inches by 85 inches, which is slightly larger than a 5-by-7-foot area rug. Budget offers furniture pads in packs of 12, each measuring 3 feet by 5 feet.
While applying moving blankets may add time to the moving process due to the need to wrap each item, their benefits outweigh the time and cost involved. For optimal protection, you’ll want to secure the blankets to your items with moving bands.
Moving bands, also called mover’s rubber bands, can be purchased online or at major retailers such as Walmart, Lowe’s and Office Depot. They’re sold in various sizes and colors, typically ranging from 26 inches to 72 inches — just 8 inches shorter than a queen mattress. Consider the width and height of the items you’ll be wrapping when purchasing moving bands.
Refer to our comprehensive guide below, tailored to the size of the item you intend to protect.
Large and tall items
Block-shaped items
Short-and-wide items
Large appliances
Here’s what to do if you’re wrapping something large and bulky, such as a fridge, armoire or bookshelf:
Here’s how to wrap medium-size blocky items, such as a small dresser or a nightstand:
Here’s how to use moving blankets to wrap items that are low and long, such as a TV stand:
Here’s how to wrap your washer, dryer or other large appliances with moving blankets:
Moving blankets come in various materials, including furniture and quilted pads. U-Haul’s furniture pads are made from recycled denim, which are generously sized to cover most household items. This material is both thick and durable, yet remains easy to handle.
Quilted moving pads are crafted from compressed recycled cotton fibers, ensuring durability with double stitching. These blankets are well-suited for long-term storage and safeguarding your most valuable possessions.
Moving blankets are also available in lightweight, medium weight and heavyweight varieties. This refers to the fabric density and amount of cushioning the blanket offers. Heavier blankets offer more protection and last longer for subsequent use.
Moving blankets are the best furniture padding since they are designed for the job. However, if you don’t have any moving blankets at your disposal, bed sheets, comforters or broken-down cardboard boxes can work in a pinch.
Flattened cardboard boxes wrapped around the tops and sides of furniture are a cheaper alternative to moving blankets, Kohm said. While additional blankets may offer some protection against scratches, Nielsen cautioned that they are not specifically designed for furniture protection and could potentially lead to damaged items.
Paper pads and cushioning materials such as Bubble Wrap are other alternatives to moving blankets. They are more affordable and can protect breakable items such as mirrors, wall decor and artwork.
Wrapping your items with moving blankets can drag out packing and add another expense to your moving budget. However, it’s ultimately a fairly inexpensive way to protect your belongings and avoid costly repair bills later.
U-Haul offers packs of 12 moving blankets for $10 per day, and Budget rents out packs of 12 for $15 per day. You can also buy moving blankets at major retailers such as Harbor Freight and online retailers such as Amazon.
Plus, moving blankets are versatile. They can be repurposed to line your truck’s bed, the garage floor or even pet cages. Additionally, they serve as an effective method for soundproofing a room.
If you’re on a tight deadline and need to pack and move quickly, consider hiring professional movers to pack and transport your belongings. Make sure to complete an initial and final walk-through before leaving.
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Mike Miller is an editor for USA TODAY Homefront, covering topics that range from moving to gutters and gutter guards. He lives in North Carolina, but as a Minnesota transplant he has firsthand knowledge of long-distance movers’ pain points. Mike has written about home and life insurance providers for Marketwatch, This Old House and Architectural Digest. He also edited three national consumer magazines about natural health and wellness — Alternative Medicine, Eating Naturally and Natural Solutions. He has a BS in creative advertising with a certificate for technology, arts and media. In his spare time, Mike rides his motorcycle, plays with his two cats and spends time with his wife and twins.
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