Guide

Moving a sofa: measure, protect, carry

Measuring first saves trouble at the front door. Plus: what you can take apart and how to keep the upholstery clean.

Have your sofa transported

Measure first, then book

Most sofas don't fail because of their weight, but because of doors and stairwells. Before the move, measure:

• the sofa: length, depth and height, each without the feet,
• the route: the width of every door along the way, the stairwell at its narrowest point and the turns or landings,
• the lift: if there is one, the depth and height of the car.

If the door is narrower than the sofa is deep, it often works on end: stand the sofa on its side and guide it diagonally through the frame. In narrow stairwells the same trick helps at the landings.

A sofa is almost always longer than 120 cm, so book Bulky items. Depending on its dimensions, we move it by cargo bike with a Zemmi trailer or in the electric van. An armchair or footstool often fits in Large (L) or Bulky (XL). You enter the dimensions when booking.

What you can take apart

• Unscrew the feet and tape the screws in a bag that stays with the sofa.
• Remove loose cushions and back cushions; they travel separately.
• Separate the sections of corner sofas. They're usually just hooked together.
• Fold in the mechanism of sofa beds and secure it with a strap.

Protect the upholstery

Fabric covers stay clean in an old duvet or in film. Don't wrap leather directly in film when it's warm, otherwise it sweats. A blanket in between is enough.

Carrying: two people and a plan

Most three-seater sofas weigh more than 40 kg. Over 40 kg we always come as a team of two. If you carry it yourself, agree beforehand who goes in front and where you'll put it down. On the stairs, the person below carries most of the weight and the one above steers.

Clear the way beforehand: shoe racks, bikes in the hallway and door stops. And make sure someone holds the door open at the destination.