3 Ways To Ready Your Fridge for Moving Day

Preparing your refrigerator for a move is essential to prevent any damage to the appliance itself and to ensure that it operates efficiently in your new home. It also helps minimize food waste and maintain cleanliness, making the transition smoother and more hygienic. Discover three ways to ready your fridge for moving day and learn how professional movers handle relocating the appliance.

Empty the Fridge

Emptying your fridge two days before the move will give you time to prep your appliance and also help minimize waste. In the weeks before your move, consider the foods you can transport easily and what you will need to consume or dispose of. Keep a close eye on your perishable foods so that you have very little, or none at all, in the fridge 48 hours before the move.

Most coolers cannot maintain a temperature of 40 degrees or colder, which is required to hold refrigerated food safely. That being the case, you should donate food to people you know or to local food banks, or you can toss it out to make sure your refrigerator is completely empty.

Defrost and Clean

Defrosting and cleaning the appliance are the next steps in readying your fridge for moving day. After emptying out all the food, unplug your fridge to defrost. The process of removing the ice buildup can take anywhere from 2 to 24 hours, so consider propping open the fridge doors to accelerate defrosting and placing towels on the floor to soak up water.

Wipe away excess moisture after defrosting. Then, clean all surfaces of the fridge to remove debris and spills and to eliminate odors. A pristine fridge not only transports better but also welcomes you to a fresh start in your new home.

Remove Drawers and Decor

The night before the move, remove the fridge’s trays, shelves, and drawers and wrap them neatly. Pack them carefully with other kitchen goods, as you don’t want them to jostle and break during the move.

Remove and pack magnets, souvenirs, pictures, and any other decorative or keepsake items from the outside of the fridge. This way, they’ll be ready for you to place them back where they belong once you settle into your new home.

What To Expect From Professional Movers

After all this prep work, residential home movers will move the bulky, heavy appliance without damaging the property or the fridge. They will place coverings on the flooring and doorways to shield surfaces from potential scuffing or damage and use dollies and straps to securely maneuver the refrigerator out of your home and into the moving van.

Once in its new location, the refrigerator must sit for at least 24 hours before you can plug it in. This allows the oils and fluids to settle back into the compressor, ensuring the appliance functions properly.

Empty, clean, and secure your fridge before moving day. These steps minimize food waste, protect your refrigerator from damage, and give you a fresh start in your new home. Finally, trust professional movers to load and unload the appliance—this will save you time and hassle.