With all the packing frenzy involved in a house move, it is inevitable that people sometimes forget to prepare one of the most important items in advance: the fridge. Packing your fridge away for a house move doesn’t necessarily mean you have to consume all of your leftovers and remove everything in your refrigerator before moving day.
In order to prevent food waste and defrosting of frozen food during transit, here are some easy steps you can take to prepare your fridge for moving day to make things much easier for your home movers!
Step 1: Remove out-of-date products
If you are one of those people who cannot find the time to clean your fridge out every now and then, this would be the best time to do so. Be sure to remove all food contents from the container and toss them out or store them in a cooler. Consider donating food that you aren’t going to be able to eat if you have it and it hasn’t been opened or consumed.
Step 2: Pack away unfinished food items in a cooler bag
The ice you have on hand should keep your food chilled properly throughout the house moving process as well as during the cooling down period after the fridge has been moved. Here’s a pro-tip: Start eating all your perishables weeks before moving day. Try to look into meal prepping during this period to save you the hassle of doing last-minute grocery shopping.
Step 3: Switch off and disconnect your refrigerator the night before moving day
Transporting a refrigerator during a house move requires enough time for the evaporator to defrost, otherwise, you may risk damaging it. Turning off your refrigerator the night prior to moving day will also give the fluids and oil enough time to settle and stop moving through the compressor. When moving a fridge with an automatic icemaker, you will need to disconnect the water hose and remove all ice from the compartment to avoid leaks, spills, and damage.
Step 4: Thoroughly disinfect all surfaces
As soon as you’ve turned your fridge off, you need to start the process of giving it a good clean. The fridge will begin warming up as soon as you turn it off. Warm and dirty fridges produce a very unpleasant smell, so take the time to clean and disinfect your fridge thoroughly if you want to enjoy a fresh one in your new place.
Step 5: Take apart all shelves and trays and wrap them separately
To ensure safe transportation, it is best to remove the refrigerator’s shelves and trays. Taping the drawers in place can be a good alternative instead if you live not too far from the old place.
Once the refrigerator is completely disconnected and disinfected, roll up the cord and tape it to the back of the fridge to keep it safe. If the refrigerator doors are not removable, secure them using bungee cords or ropes per the instructions in the user’s manual. All screws and pieces should be stored in a ziplock bag together. Finally, wrap the exterior of the fridge with air cushion bubble wrap to protect them from scratches.
Step 6: Choose professional movers
When it comes to moving bulky items such as the refrigerator, the best thing to do is to engage professional movers. Our team of home movers are equipped with all the necessary protective packaging materials and we can even provide Coleman Ice Box to keep your frozen food items fresh during the house moving process. Let us move your fragile items safely to your new house so that your moving day can go as smoothly as possible!
Moving Day Will Be A Breeze With CYC Movers
Once you have settled in your new home, leave the fridge to stand in place for a few hours before plugging it back in. After it’s been connected again, wait for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time before adding food to the refrigerator, which is within 24 – 72 hours. In the event that you will not plug back in your fridge immediately, keep the doors open to prevent odour build-up.
Make moving day hassle-free by taking advantage of our house moving services! With a large fleet of vehicles, our reliable team of home movers can move your items efficiently and safely. We offer a wide range of professional house moving services, contact us today to request an estimated quote for your upcoming house move!