Heavy lifting is an inevitable part of every household move, and even if you don’t plan on moving heavy pieces of furniture, you’ll have to move boxes. You don’t have to worry about lifting and carrying if you hire professional movers NYC, but if you plan on DIY, you should make sure that you know how to lift boxes correctly and avoid back injuries. If you’re about to move and you’re wondering how to lift boxes correctly when moving house, we’ve got you covered. Carry on reading to find our step-by-step guide on lifting boxes safely.
Dress for the occasion
Before you even begin lifting and carrying, make sure that you’re dressed appropriately. You’ll need comfortable clothing that will allow you to bend, so go for comfortable yoga pants or similar types of clothing. Also, don’t forget that things can easily drop during the move, so stick with closed-toes shoes, preferably comfortable and sturdy sneakers. If you’re dressed for the occasion it will make a difference in how easy it is to lift and carry moving boxes.
Check the box
Before you actually lift the box, check to see how heavy it is by picking up only a part of the box. If you’re able to easily lift that part, chances are you won’t need another person’s help, but if it seems too heavy, rather read the next step. Never lift the box that seems too heavy for you to handle because you can end up hurting yourself.
Does it take two people to lift the box?
After you check the weight of the box, think if it takes two people to lift it. Some boxes can be big and have extremely heavy content inside like books, so sometimes it’s better to get assistance and not break your back. If you’re performing a DIY move, you should always have several helping hands. Those could be your friends or family, or moving labor professionals, but you will definitely need some help. Whichever option you go for, decide if you need them at the moment of lifting the box.
Make it lighter
If the box is way too heavy to be lifted safely, and you can’t get someone to help you at the moment, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make it easier on yourself. Go ahead and make the box less heavy by taking some of the items out. You should take the heaviest items out and carry them separately. Always make safety your top priority and never try to lift a box that’s too heavy for you.
Lift the box
So now comes the part where you actually have to lift the box correctly, and here’s how to do it. Keep your feet shoulder-apart because the back injury is more likely to happen if your feet are close together. While keeping your back as straight as possible, bend your knees to get into a squat. Grab the box with both hands from both sides and make sure your grip is tight enough. Once you have a firm grasp, start lifting the box, but get up the same way you went down – keep your back straight and use the strength of your legs. If you try to lift with your back, chances are you’ll end up hurting your back. Keep the box close to you, bringing it towards the center of the chest because that makes it easier to keep the posture.
Carry the box with caution
Ready to load the box? Once you lift a box you can start carrying it towards the moving truck, just make sure to walk carefully and don’t rush while carrying anything in your arms because it’s easy to slip and fall and end up injured. Also, while you’re holding a box, move the entire body in case you have to twist because if you only move the upper part of the body, you’re likely to cause back injury. If you have helpers, ask them to open the moving truck so you could load the box, but if you don’t, put the box down while you open the truck and then lift it again using the same safe lifting method you used before. Remember to never use your back, but to always lift a box using the strength of your legs.
Consider moving equipment
If you ever saw professional movers doing their job, you’ve noticed they use tools to make it easier and safer, and there’s no reason why you couldn’t do the same. Take a tip from Brooklyn movers and use moving equipment to help you load your moving boxes Brooklyn, such as a moving dolly, moving blankets, moving pads, or a platform for loading things into the truck. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, just visit your local rentals like U-Haul or Penske, or ask the nearest moving company if they have them for rent.
Use boxes in good shape
Another way to help you lift boxes carefully is to use sturdy boxes because if a box is in a bad shape it’s much harder to handle it properly. You can get moving boxes from Craigslist, Facebook Market Place, or any other online platform, or you can check your nearest grocery store, liquor store, and other shops near you that may have good boxes for free. Your moving company should also be able to offer sturdy moving boxes.
Hire professionals
The last tip on our list is to hire professional movers. They’ll be able to do all the lifting and carrying, and they’ll have all the necessary equipment for lifting heavy items and boxes. You don’t have to wonder how to lift boxes correctly when moving house if you hire Dorothy and Martha because we will take care of your entire move. Contact us to get moving quotes Brooklyn and chat about your upcoming move.
