How Do I Keep My Dresser Drawers from Falling Out While Moving?

Although moving is an exciting process, it can be very stressful to get everything packed up and ready to go. Fortunately, with enough early preparation, you can be all set by moving day. Preparing furniture for a move is one of the trickiest parts because these items are too large to pack into boxes.

It’s especially tricky when you’re trying to move a dresser with loose or unsecured drawers. Since the professionals at Georgetown Moving and Storage Company aim to make your move as easy and safe as possible, we’ve created this guide to help you pack and move your dresser in a way that will keep the multiple drawers from falling out.

Need help packing and moving the belongings in your Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia home? Contact Georgetown Moving and Storage Company today at (703) 889-8899 for moving tips or moving boxes!

Packing Supplies You’ll Need

Before you can properly pack and move your heavy dresser, you’ll need a few items to help you out! Gather the following supplies to ensure a smooth process:

• Moving Blankets
• Packing Tape
• Plastic Wrap or Masking Tape
• *Furniture Sliders or Dolly

*Use furniture sliders or a dolly if you’re more comfortable sliding the dresser rather than picking it up! 

How to Pack & Move a Dresser

Follow these tips to prepare your dresser before the movers arrive:

• Empty the drawers: If you move your dresser with the drawers full of clothing and linens, the gliders are more likely to become damaged as the drawers bounce around inside the moving truck. Therefore, you should pack the contents of your dresser drawers in boxes.

• Keep the drawers in the dresser: Most of the time, it’s best not to remove the drawers from your dresser. This way, it only takes one trip to move the entire piece of furniture. 

• Wrap the dresser to secure the drawers: If you attempt to tape your dresser drawer shut, be sure to use masking tape as other types may damage the finish with the adhesive. If you do not have masking tape, plastic wrap is a good alternative to wrap your dresser and prevent the drawer slide from spilling out. You can then snugly wrap the dresser with a moving blanket and tape the padding in place with packing tape. This serves to protect the furniture from dings and scratches.

• Remove mirrors: If your dresser features a large mirror, remove it and wrap it separately for transport. If the drawers themselves have mirror inlays, tape cardboard over the glass before wrapping the dresser. Additionally, label the outside of the padding to indicate where the glass is located so the movers are careful not to put pressure there.

• Move the dresser carefully: Depending on the size of the furniture, two or more people may need to carry it. A dolly is a helpful tool for long hallways or sidewalks, but if you hire professional movers for the job, they will be able to handle the heavy lifting required to move a dresser.

Should You Remove the Drawers from Your Dresser When Moving?

The only time we would suggest removing the drawers from your dresser is if the cumulative weight of the drawers makes a large, high-end dresser too heavy to carry. This also gives you the opportunity to use the drawers as makeshift boxes, saving you from emptying their contents into boxes and refilling the dresser after the move. This could be a convenient option if you’re relocating only a short distance.

Also, if you do end up removing the drawers from your dresser, make sure you don’t put full drawers back in the dresser once you get out to the moving truck. This could put excessive pressure on the gliders. Instead, wrap the drawers with plastic to keep the contents inside and place the dresser drawers in your car.

What Are Drawer Stops and How Do They Work?

Drawer stops effectively serve the basic but important purpose of restricting the forward motion of a drawer to a certain distance. Relating it to other stops, they serve the most important purpose in setting a limit to the degree a dresser’s, desk’s or other furniture piece’s wooden drawer can be pulled to such an extent that we do not need to worry about it spilling or removing completely and causing damage.

How They Work

• Positioning and Arrangement: Drawer stops are usually fitted to the interior of the cabinet or cabinet drawer frame. They are available in varying styles, for example, as clips, catches, or even as integrated elements that limit the opening of the wood drawer.
• Functionality: These stops serve to restrict the drawer’s movement, preventing it from tipping out or crashing to the floor. This keeps the drawer’s contents intact as well as avoids injuries for children and other individuals.
• Versatility: There are removable drawer stops which can be installed manually at a later stage, and there are those which are integrated during construction. They may be applied to various forms of furniture, thus they are a practical answer for modern and antique furnishings alike.

Providing a sense of assurance that your furniture drawers will remain fixed in place, drawer stops balance safety and function. These multifunctional devices are an ideal choice in case you want to improve safety in a child’s room, or avoid accidents in an office setting.

How to Install New Drawer Slides to Prevent Drawers from Falling Out

While it can be slightly tricky and time-consuming, replacing loose drawer slides is an effective way to stop drawers from falling out. In this case, a simple how-to guide will suffice:

• Delete Outdated Components: First and foremost, you should remove any drawer slides or rails. Use a drill or screw driver to remove them if the need arises.
• Measure Accurately: Ensuring accuracy in measurement is vitally important. Take the distance from the walls to the allocated area in which the new slides will be positioned. Make sure that the new slides meet the dimensions.
• Choose slides according to your specific needs: If you want to add an element of elegance, consider soft-close drawer slides that dampen slamming.
• Mark the locations for the drill points: Use a pencil to mark the areas on the drawer stop and the inside of the cabinet where holes must be drilled. This step is critical in relation to the preceding one because it requires accuracy to ensure the slides are parallel and level in both directions.
• To drill and affix new slides, use care while drilling holes at the indicated areas: Ensure the new slides are attached to both both the drawer and the inside of the cabinet. Verify that the slides are parallel to the floor and fully tightened.
• Check the Functionality of the Drawer: After installaion, move the metal drawer slides in and out to test its functionality, and make adjustments if needed to ensure there is no gap or any form of misalignment.

Tips for Success

• Use a Level: Confirm that both ends of the broken drawer have slides mounted at equal height.
• Fine Tools: Employ high-quality and well-maintained equipment, specifically drill bits, to ensure precision.

By implementing the aforementioned steps, your drawers will be effectively locked in place, eliminating the chances of them unexpectedly pulling out. This can not only improve functionality, but can also enhance the aesthetics of the furniture as a whole.

How Can Loose Drawers Pose a Danger in the Home?

While loose drawers may seem like a trivial problem, they can actually be quite dangerous. Here are some of the ways they may pose a risk:

• Threat to Children and Pets: Unsecured drawers are a potential risk. If a kitten or young child is in close proximity, an improperly secured drawer issues could fall out and drop, which can be catastrophic.
• Personal Injury: Even adults are not risk-free. If a drawer’s sudden removal causes it to tip over, leading to an awkward exit, the adult may suffer injuries ranging from severe bruises to broken toes.
• Loss of Property: Besides suffering personal injuries, there is always the risk of the internal contents getting damaged too. Delicate items held in slack drawers can fall out and break into pieces on the floor, causing an economic loss as well as the possibility of dealing with the hazardous sharp broken pieces.

To minimize these risks, areas of control include maintaining cabinetry HR hardware installation work and conducting periodic site visits.

Why is it Important to Mount a Dresser to the Wall, and How Can You Do it Securely?

The process of bolting the dresser to the wall is integral to the safety and security of all furniture items. When loaded with bulky items, dressers can easily become unstable, top heavy and awkward. This abnormality increases the likelihood of the dresser falling, which can cause injury to people nearby or damage to surrounding belongings. With your dresser properly secured, you create a safer environment, especially in homes with children or pets.

How to Securely Mount a Dresser

1. Prepare Your Tools and Materials:

   • Purchasing Adequate Mounting Hardware: Look for long lasting wall mounting hardware that is compatible with your wall type, for example, drywall anchors.
   • Stud Finder: It finds the studs located behind your wall and is fundamental in finding one.

2. Find the Right Spot:

   • Employ a stud finder to locate a solid point within your wall. Attaching to a stud guarantees maximized strength for the hold.

3. Attach the Anchor:

   • Excavate a pilot hole at the desired location of your brackets or anchors, making sure that the drill site is in line with the stud for best support.

4. Secure the Bracket:

   • Ensure the screws are firmly securing the bracket to the dresser and the wall.

5. Test the Stability:

   • Upon mounting, give the dresser a slight shake to check that it is stable and to confirm that it is securely fastened.

Adhering to these methods will help you achieve a more dependable and secure configuration for your dresser’s setup which safeguards you from any unwanted events.

Choose Georgetown Moving and Storage Company

Whether you need help packing your belongings, or transporting boxes and furniture on moving day, Georgetown Moving and Storage Company offers the affordable, award-winning services you’re looking for! Our highly capable team has years of training and experience to deliver a job well done for every customer. We are fully certified and licensed, and we carry maximum liability insurance.

To learn more about how to keep your dresser drawers from falling out while moving in the Washington DC, MD, or Northern VA area, contact us today at (703) 889-8899! We move heavy furniture!