How To Move A Washing Machine: A Quick DIY Guide On Moving A Washing Machine

When you’re moving house, one of the major challenges you will encounter is figuring out a way to move household appliances. Transporting your items can be extremely challenging when you’ve got other things to worry about, including having to pack up every single item in your home.

Eventually, though, you will find that everything is good and ready to go, except for your large appliances: your fridge, piano, the oven, clothes dryer, and of course, your washing machine.

Now, the best course of action at this point is to hire a removals company or a man with a van to do the job for you. A professional moving company, after all, has the training and the necessary tools to transport your washer, as well as every other heavy appliance in your home. WhatManandVan has partnered with a bunch of moving companies in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and many other cities in the UK. For a full list of areas we cover, you can check it out here.

However, if you think that hiring a removalist is not for you, then you’ll have to consider how you’re going to move the heavier stuff such as boilers, pianos, fridges, or washing machines by yourself. The same goes if you want to save up on some money, as a DIY washing machine removal job done right will also save you some cash.

It would be best if you remembered, though, that moving a washing machine without the help of an experienced moving company will be tough. Doable, but very tough.

If you are sure that moving your washer by yourself is the way to go, here are some tips on how to move a washing machine that you will want to follow to make sure that your DIY washing machine removal job goes as smoothly as possible. 

Preparing To Move Your Washing Machine

Before you begin the job of moving your washing machine, you need to get ready for the big move. Here are some things you should do before actually moving your washer to your new place.

Most of these steps are crucial to the success of your DIY washing machine removal job. So, make sure to do every step, as skipping some of these may result in more challenges throughout the moving process, or worse in the failure of this task.

Get Some Friends to Help You Out

While it is possible to move a washing machine without the help of professional moving services, it would be impossible to do the job alone. So, find a couple of mates to help make sure that you can complete the job as safely as possible.

Make sure to recruit those who can help lift something as heavy as your washer. Otherwise, you should seriously consider hiring a removal company.

Prepare the Necessary Tools

After recruiting at least a couple of your friends to help you out, you will need to prepare your transit bolts and acquire an appliance dolly.

Transit bolts, shipping bolts, or washer locks are small metal rods that are to be inserted into special slots behind your washing machine. It keeps the drum immobilised and stable during transport. Moving your washer without transit bolts is very risky, as drum suspension mechanisms are prone to damage due to vibrations and sudden jerking motions.

DO NOT attempt to move your washing machine without these bolts, as it could lead to costly damage to your washer. If you cannot find the shipping bolts that came with your washer, you may find some with your washing machine manufacturer or a local home appliance store. Once you have installed your washer in your new house, you may need to tighten the drum. 

Meanwhile, an appliance dolly is what you will need to get your washing machine out of your house and into a moving van. Washing machines weigh 140-230 lbs. That means there is no way for you to complete this move without using one, unless you’re a powerlifter.

If you are renting a moving vehicle, it would be wise to rent an appliance dolly from the same company. However, you may also consider purchasing one for yourself to use in the future. After all, appliance dollies may be helpful in moving not only your washing machine, but other heavy appliances like your tumble dryer, fridge freezer, and many more!

Consult Your Washer’s User Manual

Owner’s manuals or user manuals are often neglected after major appliances are taken out of the box. It is, however, something you would want to consult in cases like these, as manufacturers sometimes include their recommendations for transporting the washing machine in there.

If you find that the user manual to your old washing machine is long gone, you may do a quick google search for the manual for your washer’s exact brand and model. If you do not find a copy of your user manual online, you may want to contact the manufacturer or the store where you purchased your washer from.

Secure All The Necessary Supplies

Lastly, before you get to moving your washer, here are some more supplies you will need throughout the washing machine moving process:

• – Furniture blankets or moving blanket

• – A small bucket

• – Slip joint pliers

• – Rope, carrying straps, forearm forklifts, or bungee cord

• – Packing tape or duct tape

• – Washer cleaner or bleach (optional)

How To Move A Washing Machine Without Professional Movers

Now that you’ve got everything ready to go, it’s time to start moving your washing machine! Be sure to read these steps carefully to make sure that nothing goes wrong during the move!

Drain and Disconnect Your Washing Machine (24 to 48 Hours Before Moving)

We gathered a few tips from PlumbGuardian to help make sure you encounter no blunders with the water pipes.

• 1. Make sure your washer is empty. Check stray clothing or loose items.

• 2. Clean out your washer by running it for one wash cycle or clean cycle with a pack of washer cleaner or bleach (optional). This will rid the washing machine’s drum and drain pipe of any detergent residue.

• 3. After the wash or clean cycle, leave the washing machine door or lid open to let the inside dry out.

• 4. Unplug your machine from the electrical network. This will prevent any chances of you getting shocked or electrocuted.

• 5. Next, turn off the water supply. For most washers, all you have to do is turn a valve behind it clockwise. If you are going to need to pull on the washer a bit to reach the water supply valve, be careful not to pull anything loose while doing so.

• 6. Use your slip joint pliers to disconnect the water supply hose from the water valve. Make sure to have a bucket or basin ready to catch any of the excess water coming from the hose. You wouldn’t want to make a mess, after all!

• 7. Use your pliers to detach the supply hose from the washing machine. Pack them away into a plastic bag which should be sealed and then placed into a cardboard box.

• 8. Disconnect the drain hose of the washer from the wastewater canal or the hose that connects to it. If there is any water that remains, empty it into the bucket from earlier. Keep the drain hose attached to the washer connected while moving the unit.

Secure The Washing Machine

• 1. Attach the transit bolts onto the rear side of the washing machine. This should secure the drum or tub inside the washing machine and prepare it for transport. Inserting the bolt should be fairly straightforward, but it would probably differ from one washing machine model to another. To be safe, consult your user manual!

• 2. Roll up your washing machine’s electrical cord and secure it to the back of the machine with packing tape or duct tape to make sure it won’t get in the way during moving day.

• 3. Wrap your washing machine with moving blankets or washing blankets. Secure these blankets with tape. Doing this will protect your washer’s surface from any scratches or dents that it may acquire during transit.

Getting The Machine Into The Moving Vehicle

• 1. Work together with your helpers to get the washer onto the appliance dolly. Tip the washer a bit backward, and slide the appliance dolly under the washer unit. Use your bungee cord or forearm forklifts to secure the washing machine onto the dolly.

• 2. Tilt your cart back so that you can move it. It would be best to have your helpers assist you here, too.

• 3. Carefully manoeuvre your cart through your house. Go straight through doorways. Passing through them at an angle may scratch the washer or the doorway.

• 4. If you will need to descend some stairs, lower the dolly carefully step by step with a spotter beneath it. Meanwhile, if you will need to climb some stairs, pull the dolly behind you step by step, while a spotter stands underneath it.

• 5. Once you get to the vehicle, use a ramp to move your dolly. If there is no ramp, lift the dolly together with your helpers. Remember to lift with your knees to prevent any back injuries.

• 6. Unload the washing machine from the dolly near the cab of the moving truck. Make sure to keep the machine upright. If possible, strap the machine down to prevent it from shuffling or moving in transit.

Some Last-Minute Reminders

• Make sure to secure the water supply hose and the drain hose properly while putting all the parts back together to make sure that water does not spill or leak out when the washing machine is in use. 

• Do not forget to remove the transit bolts before using your washing machine again.

If you think you are unsure about taking on this challenging task, do not hesitate to ask for the help of a professional appliance and furniture movers instead.

Moving To London With A Washing Machine

If you are moving to London with your washing machine, the best option would be to hire a moving company to help you. After all, they are the experts, and they would know how to handle and transport your appliances properly.

When looking for a moving company, check reviews and compare prices. You can also ask for recommendations from friends or family who have recently moved.

Once you have found a reputable moving company, give them a call and schedule an appointment. They will be able to give you a quote and answer any questions that you may have.