If there are perishable items in the refrigerator, finish them or give them away. If you’re in the middle of a big move, it’s probably easier to just to toss the things you can’t finish now. If you want to move the fridge a short distance in the same room, to clean behind it or reorganize the kitchen, remove the items anyway, and place them on the counters. It’ll make it safer to move and you won’t risk tipping over the fridge. Use moving rollers, and place them under the feet of the fridge to do this. Slide it out enough to unplug it, then simply slide it where you want it to go.
You may also opt to secure shelving in place with tape instead of removing, but it is recommended to remove them altogether and pack them separately. Depending on your fridge, though, this might be a fine option. If they’re fairly secure, consider taping them into place and creating less mess with the move.
Don’t waste a bunch of valuable moving time scrubbing the fridge but take advantage of the opportunity to give your refrigerator a reasonably thorough cleaning before you take it to your new place. While the freezer defrosts, wipe down the drawers and the interior surfaces with disinfectant.
If the move is scheduled to take longer than a day, it is recommended to keep the doors slightly open to allow for air flow, and prevent any mold or mildew from growing inside the refrigerator. [5] X Research source
Any dolly with straps will do, but make sure that the base is big enough to seat the bottom of the fridge on securely and that straps are big enough to secure the refrigerator safely. It’s very important that the base is big enough because you need to keep the fridge upright to avoid leaking coolant. If you don’t have a moving dolly, you need to rent one. While moving straps are available that could theoretically be used to strap a fridge to your back, buying moving straps would be more expensive and much more dangerous than borrowing a dolly. Don’t attempt to move one without it.
Never move the refrigerator on its side or back for any reason. The refrigerant oil in the compressor may flow into the heat exchanger tubes. When the refrigerator is returned to an upright position, the refrigerant oil may not completely drain from the heat exchanger tubes, and the refrigerator will not cool properly. [9] X Research source If it is unavoidable to lay the refrigerator on its side, make sure to do it at an upright angle if possible. Place a box or a big piece of furniture under the top of the fridge to help keep it relatively upright.
To move the refrigerator down a flight of stairs, move it down one step at a time, your assistant easing it down onto each successive step. It would be ideal to have two people in front of the dolly and another at the back, holding the handles and letting it down slowly. Communicate loudly and don’t go too fast. [11] X Research source
To lift a fridge straight up into the bed of a truck, you need to get up into the bed and have at least two people down on the ground. Coordinate and lift simultaneously, pulling straight up with the handles of the dolly while the helpers on the ground lift from the base and push it back into the bed. It would ideal to have another helper with you, too, to make sure the fridge doesn’t fall backward onto you. Secure the fridge upright in the truck. If you can leave it hooked up to the dolly, that would add security and stability to the fridge, but if you can’t, brace it with other furniture or moving supplies, or strap it into place using the bungees.
