Moving a refrigerator is challenging — especially if you don’t have a dolly. On the bright side, it’s not impossible.
We’ll show you how in this guide.
We’ve divided this guide into three phases: preparing the fridge for moving day, moving it out of the house, and loading it into the truck.
Each phase has different steps, tools, and solutions that you can use to ensure a fast, smooth, and safe move.
| Phases | Time | Difficulty |
| Preparing the fridge for the move | At least 24 hours | Easy |
| Getting the fridge out of the house | 30 to 60 minutes | Medium-Difficult |
| Loading the fridge into a moving truck | 30 to 60 minutes | Easy |
How to Move a Fridge without a Dolly
The best way to move a fridge without a dolly is by using furniture sliders with wheels. Along with a partner, you can simply drag the fridge out of the house, onto a ramp, and into the moving truck.
Moving straps are ideal for maneuvering across narrow spaces. They just require more heavy lifting.
Furniture Sliders
Furniture sliders are also known as appliance movers or gliders. They come in a range of designs and materials, fitting different budgets.
Low-cost sliders look like small plastic or felt patches that fit underneath the legs of appliances and furniture.
If you’re getting this type of slider, look for a material that suits your floors at home. Get plastic sliders if you have carpeted floors, and felt sliders if you have hardwood.
The downside to using low-cost sliders is that they are mostly for indoor use. You can’t use them to move the fridge across the driveway or up the moving truck’s ramp.
On the other hand, premium sliders can do all the heavy lifting for you. Some have wheels, allowing you to drag a heavy fridge with little help.
Others can even pump air, so you won’t have to lift or tilt the appliance when you slip the sliders underneath.
If you’re getting sliders with wheels, consider the size and weight of your fridge.
A refrigerator can weigh anywhere between 200 to 600 pounds. Thus, before buying wheel sliders, check their load capacity to determine if they can support your fridge.
Moving Straps
Moving straps come in two basic designs: forearm-mounted and shoulder-mounted.
Forearm straps are usually made of two heavy-duty straps that loop around the movers’ arms and underneath the heavy item. They are ideal for mattresses, cabinets, and sofas.
For refrigerators and other heavy appliances, you’ll need shoulder straps. They are designed with a pair of harnesses, one for each mover, and a detachable lifting strap that goes under the item.
The harnesses look like vests, which you put over your shoulders. They distribute weight evenly, allowing you to lift heavier objects without putting too much strain on a single part of your body.
If you have to maneuver a fridge around tight stairways and doorways, moving straps are the ideal choice. They can help you move the fridge up or down staircases with ease.
How to Prepare Your Fridge for the Move
Prepare a fridge for a move by emptying its contents and transferring them into a temporary container. Unplug the fridge, clean it, and let it air out before securing its doors shut.
To prepare your fridge for moving day, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Take everything out of your fridge.
Plan your meals days before the move. With a solid meal plan, you should be able to consume most, if not all, perishable goods before moving day.
If you do have remaining perishable goods, place them in a cooler. As for non-perishable goods, add them in a separate container.
- Step 2: Defrost your fridge.
After emptying your fridge, unplug it and do a manual defrost. Just leave the doors open, and simply wait for the ice to melt.
To speed up the defrosting process, place hot water in a bowl and pop it inside the freezer. Let it sit inside until it fully cools.
Then, you can repeat the process until all the ice has melted.
Another way to expedite the process is to Force Defrost your Samsung refrigerator. Press the Power Button until you see “FD.”
Once you hear a beep, the fridge will begin to defrost. It should only take about 20 minutes.
Don’t forget to add rags around the refrigerator to protect your floors from moisture. You can also stuff the lower shelves with rags if water tends to pool in that area of your fridge.
- Step 3: Clean your fridge.
Give your fridge a deep cleanse to prevent foul odors and bacteria from building up while it’s unplugged.
Dip a sponge in distilled vinegar and sprinkle it with baking soda. Use it to wipe off all the dirt and grime from the fridge’s walls and shelves.
To remove foul smells, use coffee grounds.
Just add a cup of coffee grounds and half a cup of water to a heat-safe bowl, then microwave it. Leave the bowl inside the fridge for at least 30 minutes, allowing it to absorb any funky odors.
- Step 4: Let your fridge air out.
After a deep cleanse, leave your fridge doors open for at least 24 hours. Let it air out to prevent foul odors and bacteria from forming.
- Step 5: Remove all the shelves in your fridge.
Take out all the shelves and other accessories in your fridge to prevent any potential damage during transport. If you insist on keeping them inside, you can tape them down to keep them secure.
- Step 6: Secure the fridge doors.
Keep the fridge doors shut using tape, heavy-duty rope, or moving straps. It prevents the doors from flinging open and breaking other objects during the move.
How to Move a Refrigerator Safely without a Dolly
Furniture sliders with wheels make it easier to move a fridge out of the house without a dolly. Just slip them under each leg before pushing the fridge to the desired location.
Moving straps are a great alternative to sliders, especially if you have to maneuver a fridge around narrow spaces.
If you live in a multi-story apartment, furniture sliders can’t help you maneuver the fridge down the stairs. You might need moving straps and extra help to lift your appliance out of the house and into the moving truck.
| Moving straps | Furniture sliders with wheels | |
| Difficulty | Difficult | Easy |
| Pros | Can be used on stairways Makes it easier to maneuver big appliances in tight spaces Supports proper lifting techniques | Budget-friendly Fast and hassle-free Can be done with little to no help Doesn’t require lifting |
| Cons | More expensive Needs two people | Can’t be used on stairs |
| Instructions | Wear the harnesses following the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the lifting strap under the fridge, then secure it. Adjust the straps to fit the items and the comfort of the lifters. Bend the hips and knees, then stand up together, lifting the fridge with your legs, not your back. | Slide the furniture lifter underneath the fridge. Pull down the lever to lift the fridge, then slip the furniture sliders underneath. Gently push the fridge to the desired location. |
To move a fridge out of the house, follow these steps carefully:
- Step 1: Ask for help.
Transporting a fridge with no dolly and extra help is nearly impossible, especially if you live on the 10th floor. At some point, you’ll have to grease those elbows and lift the appliance.
Thus, reach out to friends and family for help. Let them know weeks in advance so they can carve out time in their schedule to help you move.
- Step 2: Clear a path.
Clear the path from the kitchen to the door. Set aside any obstacles, big or small, that can get in the way of your move.
Measure the tight spaces in your house ahead of time as you might have to take a door off its hinges just to fit the fridge through.
- Step 3: Tape the cord to the back of the fridge.
Use velcro or string to tie up the fridge’s cord, preventing it from dragging on the floor. Tape it to the back of the fridge, so it won’t get in the way during the move.
- Step 4: Set up the sliders or the moving straps.
Fortunately for you, most modern refrigerator models have back wheels, which make them easier to transport. That means you’ll only have to slip furniture sliders under the fridge’s front legs.
With the help of a pry bar, furniture lifter, or an extra pair of hands, gently raise the front legs of the fridge. Then, place the sliders under each leg.
If you’re using moving straps, put on the harnesses on each lifter following the manufacturer’s instructions. Slide the lifting strap underneath the refrigerator, then attach both ends onto the lifters’ harnesses.
Together, lift with your legs, not your back to avoid injury.
- Step 5: Wheel or lift your fridge out of the house.
Furniture sliders would be an ideal choice if you live in a house. If you get the ones with wheels, you just have to roll the fridge out of the kitchen and into the moving truck.
However, if you live in a multi-story building, moving straps are ideal. They make it easier to maneuver around tight spaces and stairways.
How to Load a Fridge in a Truck without a Dolly
To load a fridge in a truck without a dolly, you need a ramp. You can hire a moving truck with a built-in ramp, buy a loading ramp, or build one.
To load a fridge safely into a moving truck, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Set up a ramp.
Whether you’re using furniture sliders or moving straps, you need a ramp. It will make loading and unloading so much faster and safer for everyone involved.
There are moving trucks with built-in ramps. Instead of setting one up, you should just get the right vehicle for moving day as it’ll save you a lot of trouble!
No matter what you choose, always check if the ramp is secure before wheeling or lifting the fridge in and out of the moving truck.
- Step 2: Secure the fridge.
Add an extra layer of protection for your fridge to prevent it from getting damaged during transport. Wrap a layer of blankets, bubble wrap, or cardboard tightly around the unit, and secure it with packaging tape.
You can also use heavy-duty rope or ratchet straps to tie down the fridge in the truck. Wrap the first strap around the top of the fridge and a second time around the front.
Fasten the straps to your anchor points in the truck. Then, check if the fridge is secure by shaking or pushing it.
If you notice movement, you should pull the straps tighter. Make the necessary adjustments until the fridge is secure.
| Quick Note: Never tip a fridge over or lay it flat on the truck as it may cause different fluids and chemicals to shift, causing irreparable damage. |
Follow all these steps carefully to ensure your fridge gets to its new location safely. After moving it into your new space, plug it in and give it at least two hours to chill to reach the ideal temperature for preserving food.
