Will you take your refrigerator with you when moving to a new home? If so, you may need to start thinking about preparing and packing it long before the big day. Here are a few steps to take to ensure it's safe and secure during a move. 

1. Use Up the Food. Start reducing the amount of perishable food in your fridge as soon as possible. Most families have a full refrigerator, so using everything takes time and diligence. You may need to use meal planning and creativity, but it will make things easier at moving time. 

2. Empty It Out. Once the moving day approaches, clean out what's left. While you may keep some perishable food and beverages for the trip, try to limit this as much as possible. You may want to reduce what you keep so that it fits in a cooler or two, where you can keep it cold during the move.

3. Clean the Fridge Well. Once the food is disposed of or reduced, clean out the refrigerator properly. You may also need to defrost it, which can take hours or more. This stage is particularly important if the appliance will be stored for any length of time. Clean and dry out the entire unit. 

4. Remove Internal Components. It's best not to transport the refrigerator with its shelves, drawers, and other accessories in place. They're likely to shift or fall, which can easily break glass shelves or damage the interior of the fridge. Remove what you can, bundling it with padding and safely storing it in a labeled box. 

5. Consider Packing Inside. Consult with your movers about packing the empty space inside the refrigerator. Some people opt to use it for clean, soft storage such as bedding or linens. However, this adds weight, so do this only if you have the right equipment to carry it. 

6. Wrap the Refrigerator. Wrapping the refrigerator in a large padded blanket provides two types of protection. First, it prevents the door(s) from falling open during the move—something dangerous to people and things around the appliance as well as to itself. Second, the padding protects its exterior from damage in the truck or in storage. Finally, secure the blanket or padding. 

Where to Learn More

Want more tips for preparing and moving your refrigerator? Start by consulting with a residential moving service in your local area today.