Loading and lifting – professional tips for packing your van
Planning a Do-it-Yourself move (or a DIY) move can be hard work, even if you’re hiring some help move it, you’ll probably still need to deal with some of the heavy lifting yourself too. There are certain techniques that professionals use when it comes to loading and lifting heavy items of furniture and other household items that are both efficient and safe.
How to lift
The main thing to remember is not to tackle any very heavy items alone. Things like washing machines and heavy wardrobes will probably be impossible for you to lift alone anyway, so don’t try as you may injure yourself. When lifting any heavy item, you should always bend with knees into a squatting position, never simply bend over with your back as this can cause severe strain and likely injury when you try to lift. Instead, once squatted, make sure your arms are about shoulder length apart and you have a good hold before coordinating with your partner, and lifting with your legs until you are upright.
Carrying heavy goods
When carrying, try to keep the item’s weight in the center of your body. This means not holding it too low or too high, as this will cause the load to be distributed unevenly around your body and may lead to injury. When it comes to placing the item down, simply follow the same tips as lifting, but in reverse.
Moving furniture
You may be able to move furniture without having to lift it the whole time. While you will need to lift various pieces of furniture when it comes to loading or transferring down stairs, you can move things like sofas and chairs as far as possible by sliding them. Simply place cardboard or a furniture pad under the feet to reduce friction, and push the item where you need it before lifting. You can also try ‘walking’ things like wardrobes and so on, by leaning them on one corner and swinging the opposing corner forward – alternate this motion to ‘walk’ the item into position before lifting.
Loading and unloading
Essentially, you want to load the van in the reverse order you want to unload it. Any items that need to come out first should go in last, and vice versa. This will make the unloading straight forward and allow you to get all your heavy goods in one place quickly. You should also try to load the heaviest and bulkiest items around the edges of the van, and once these have been secured, then load in the smaller items around them.
Approach the packing of the van like you are building a puzzle, making sure that all items and boxes have little room to slide around and are secure. You can also use mattresses as buffers for more delicate goods. Professionals often secure mattresses to the sides of the van using the rigging, and then pack smaller items behind them.
When unpacking, deal with all the heavy and bulky goods first while you still have the energy, before moving on to the smaller items. Finally, if you hurt yourself at any time while moving anything, then stop for a while. If the pain continues avoid doing anymore lifting and seek medical attention.
The article has been written on behalf of http://www.manandvan.org/south-east-london/manwithavan-se11-kennington-removals.html
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