How to Pack Your Fridge for Moving

Updated May 21, 2024

Packing for a move can be relatively straightforward, but many factors make it more complicated than simply packing for a vacation. You will have to pack every single item in your house, including the awkward, large ones. One such item to pack out is your refrigerator and freezer. Moving a refrigerator is a multi-tiered project - first, you have to pack any remaining perishable items you might have in there, take it apart, and remove any loose drawers or shelves before you can even move it out of your home.

When it comes to heavy appliances you will have to move out of your house, this will rank near the top of the list. That is why we have a trusty guide here to help you move and prevent damage to your home and fridge when making your upcoming move.

Clean Out Your Fridge First

To prepare your refrigerator for its move, you first need to clean it out thoroughly. Fridge packing will be one of the last things you do before you move because of the daily use you get out of your fridge. You will most likely do this within a week of your move, if not less. Waiting that long to pack something this big might seem counter-intuitive, but starting the packing process for your other stuff now will allow you to focus entirely on your fridge for those last few days before moving.

Start by emptying any unwanted, expired food, and throw it away or run it through your garbage disposal. After you empty it, unplug the power cord and keep the doors open for a few hours to ensure any remaining water has evaporated. If there are odors, baking soda is an excellent way to trap and eliminate them.

While letting your fridge air out, clean out and remove all the drawers and shelves inside. Now is the time to clean those well in a tub so you can safely pack them away for your new home. Once done, move on to cleaning the inside of your refrigerator doors and wipe down the fridge inside. Repeat the process for your freezer as well.

You will want it to air out again for at least an hour after cleaning to allow any cleaning mixture to evaporate. You can clean with a store-bought cleaning solution or make your own homemade cleaning spray.

Extra tip: One place you might not think about that does need some cleaning is the back of your fridge. Your fridge has a compressor similar to an outdoor AC unit that requires general airflow to function correctly. A lot of dust can accumulate on the grating and unit itself. When cleaning, slide your refrigerator out and keep the fridge in an upright position. Get a vacuum or duster and clean out any dust bunnies on the grating, or, if your fridge has the ability to do so, remove the airflow grate to clean and dust the compressor housing.

Packing Your Refrigerator Components

If you removed and cleaned your fridge’s shelves and drawers, part of this step is already done. However, if you are in a hurry and cannot clean these items, you will still need to pack them away for your upcoming move.

While your fridge is heavy and unlikely to shift around that much, the accessories inside probably will. To safely transport your refrigerator, remove all the shelving and drawers and pack them separately. Use towels or moving blankets to wrap these items to keep them from being damaged during transit. Try to pack them in a box or bin that you can keep close to the fridge so that during the unpacking process, everything is all together for easy installation at your new home.

Measure Your Fridge For Your Move

Take simple measurements of the height, width, and depth dimensions of your fridge before you attempt to move it. Don’t assume that all fridges can go through all doors, especially if you have a refrigerator that isn’t a typical commercial brand. You can do this in your own home easily enough (after all, you did get it in there somehow); however, getting an idea of the entry and doorways in your new home would be extremely helpful before you begin moving in.

If possible, see if you or your realtor can get measurements from the seller of their entry and interior doorways. This will allow you to know which hallways and doorways your fridge will be able to fit through when getting your fridge into your new home. This will help save you a lot of stress come move-in day if you already know your fridge can make the journey.

Moving Your Fridge

The best way to move your fridge is by being overly cautious and having plenty of help. Due to the cumbersome nature of the fridge, it is recommended that you use appliance moving straps if you are doing it yourself. The pros and installers use this when they move fridges, washers, dryers, etc, so they are not just unitaskers. Appliance straps mean you only need to move your fridge from side to side, sliding the straps underneath, and then, with the help of another person, picking it up carefully and moving it to your moving solution for the journey.

If you are unable to get moving straps, try using furniture sliders. You can place them underneath the fridge to move them around your home more easily. Alternatively, you can tilt the fridge to a 45-degree angle, slide a hand truck/dolly underneath, and move it that way. Just be sure whatever hand truck you use is graded for such a heavy appliance move. Lifting your fridge into the back of a tall moving truck can be dangerous if done incorrectly. Consider using portable storage containers with ground-level moving solutions so you don’t have to lift your fridge high into the air for the move.

Use Zippy Shell To Make Your Upcoming Move Simpler

Moving doesn’t have to be a significant challenge, not when you use the right moving company to make it happen. Zippy Shell makes any local or long-distance move simple by bringing the moving solution to you. It is a secure, easy-to-access moving solution that fits all your moving needs.

We can even suggest professional labor assistance companies that can make packing out your fridge even easier. The best part is you will get up to three days to pack at your pace, meaning you can pack your fridge with plenty of time to spare to pack everything else. And if you need to store your stuff for the short- or long-term, we can place your container in one of our secure storage facilities for as long as you need.

No matter your moving and storage needs, Zippy Shell makes them simple and affordable. Give us a call today or go online to get a free quote and see how we can make things easier for you today!