How to Protect your Floors and Carpet on Moving Day

Moving can be incredibly stressful which is why it is important to keep a checklist of everything you may need on moving day. One item that is often overlooked is floor protection- how will you protect your floors from damage or dirt? It's true that many van lines will provide floor protection for you, but DIY moves are a completely different story. When hiring moving labor (movers to load or unload) the task of protecting the floors is usually yours. To help you adequately prepare your carpet, tile and wood floors for moving day we have outlined our best tips below.

For starters, place a welcome mat outside of the front door, this will prevent small pebbles and debris from being brought in the home. Next, lay a rug inside the door (within the home) to act as a second line of defense in case the welcome mat didn't do the job.

Use Floor Runners for Wood Flooring

Use floor runners or area rugs to protect wood flooring, especially in high traffic areas. Moving quality floor runners can typically be found at packaging supply warehouses and from online retailers. Floor runners often come in 200' rolls and have a self-adhesive to prevent unwanted movement on moving day. Alternatives, such as Red Rosin Paper, can be a good yet cheap alternative to traditional floor runners and found in local home improvement stores.

Protect Carpet with Carpet Mask

Protect carpet by laying a carpet mask. Similar to stretch wrap, a carpet mask provides a reliable layer of protection from dirt. Carpet masking is relatively affordable, especially when compared to the cost of replacing or cleaning your current carpet. The most common size is 24" x 200' and will vary in price, usually between $30-$60 on Amazon. Carpet masks have self-adhesive, install easily and have non-slip surfaces.

Use Shoe Booties

Consider having the movers wear shoe covers, sometimes referred to as shoe booties. Most commonly used for home services personnel, shoe covers are both affordable and reliable. Better yet, shoe covers offer additional floor and carpet protection from water and dirt. You can typically find shoe covers on Amazon for between $10-$15.

Furniture Sliders Make Moving Easier

Use furniture sliders to create a barrier between furniture and the floor. Furniture Sliders are commonly used for couches, dining room tables, desks, and chair legs. However, they can be used for any piece of furniture that has legs. Furniture sliders have the added benefit of allowing you to move heavy furniture by yourself. You'll find that furniture sliders come in many shapes and sizes and can be found at most local retailers, as well as Amazon.

Plywood Protects Flooring

If you have really heavy furniture and will need to use dollies within your home you may want to consider plywood. Plywood can be used to create a temporary floor over your existing flooring. If plywood is not available consider using dollies with rubber wheels instead of metal. Dollies with rubber wheels are unlikely to scratch your floors.

These are just a few helpful tips for protecting your floors on moving day. Most items are inexpensive and can be purchased at the local hardware store or, of course, on Amazon.