Moving large appliances takes more planning than most people expect. Unlike boxes of books or bags of clothes, appliances need to be disconnected, cleaned, drained, and secured well before the truck shows up, get it wrong and you risk leaks, mechanical damage, or a moving crew that can’t load the item safely.
The good news: with a couple of days of preparation, you can have every appliance in your home move-ready without any guesswork. Here’s exactly what to do.
Follow these steps to safely disconnect, clean, and secure your appliances before moving day.
- Know what not to DIY
Never disconnect hard-wired appliances or gas lines yourself, this includes gas stoves and gas dryers. Book a licensed appliance technician at least a week before your move date.
- Prepare your refrigerator
Unplug your fridge at least 24 hours before moving day and leave the door open to fully defrost. Remove all shelves and drawers, disconnect and drain the water line, and wipe the interior dry.
- Prepare your washer and dryer
Run a cleaning cycle in your washer, then leave the door open for 24 hours to dry. Reinstall shipping bolts in front-loaders to protect the drum. For the dryer, detach and clean the vent hose, and call a technician if it’s a gas model.
- Prepare your dishwasher
Run a cleaning cycle, then turn off power at the circuit breaker and shut off the water supply valve. Disconnect the water supply hose, drain any remaining water, and leave the door open to air dry.
- Do a final check before the movers arrive
Remove any loose items left inside appliances, secure doors with moving straps or stretch wrap, and bag any hoses or hardware and tape them to the appliance so nothing gets lost.
Not sure which appliances are worth moving?
Large appliances in good working condition usually make sense to bring with you, but older units, or ones that won’t fit a new space, may not be worth the cost and effort of transport. If you’re on the fence, think about the age of the appliance, whether it fits the layout of your new home, and whether it would cost less to replace at the other end.
Our team at Gentle Giant is happy to talk through the logistics with you before moving day. Sometimes a quick conversation early on saves a lot of hassle later.
Ready to Plan your move?
Our team handles the heavy lifting, and the planning. Get a free quote and we’ll walk you through everything