Mar 16, 2007

Washing Machine Moving

Recently, a family my boyfriend (and me, the helper) to move two washing machines in and out of two houses. If you've ever done this before, you know what a pain it can be. If you've never moved one before, keep in mind:

  • CLEAN THE BOTTOM OF THE DRYER!!! There's usually a lot of rusty, grimy, brown crap on the bottom.
  • Use a dolly. We used a really small one, but it still helped alot.
  • I haven't looked it up, but apparently you're supposed to pad the main part (where clothes go) from the bottom of the machine, when moving it. Towels, rags, and clothes are fine.
  • Make sure one of you is relatively tall- I'm only '5"4, but my boyfriend is about 6'. I don't think we would have made it up the stairs without someone his height.
  • MEASURE the washer and all doorways. We had to take off two doors at the 2nd house.
  • When going up, the taller person stands at the higher point, controlling the washer on the dolly, each time it goes down a step. Shorter person stands at lower point, lifting the bottom (inner) edges of the washer.
  • Drain as much water out of the washer & it's tubes as you can, before you start moving it.
  • It will probably leak somehow, while you're moving it and then once its in the car, depending how it's moved. We found that several hours after spilling brown crap all over new white carpet, it cleaned up really quickly with some kind of strong carpet cleaner.

5 comments:

John Guzlowski said...

what about securing the washing machine drum so that it doesn't come off its washer?

How do you do that?

pancake monster said...

we didn't pad the drum (oops!) but the washer was fine. This guy doesn't think you need to do anything...but alot of people disagree with him. sorry i cant be more helpful.

if it were mine, i would pad it.

John Guzlowski said...

The last time I moved a washer we ruptured some kind of rubber washer and the thing wouldn't hold water.

This time I tried to buy a washing maching kit from U Haul and they were all out.

The U Haul guy suggested I stuff it tight with comforters and pillows and blankets and then seal the cover down tight with tape.

I'm a writer not a packer but I think this may work.

If I survive the move, I'll let you know.

John

Anonymous said...

When we did it the second time, we did the exact same thing (comforters, tape). worked fine.
also- I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to lay it on its front.

John Guzlowski said...

right!

No front. Everybody says keep it on the level and the square!