Sleeper sofas are not as common as they once were but many people still have one. These sofas have a fold out bed underneath the cushions. they are very heavy and require two strong people to lift them. Sleeper sofas are one of the dreaded items on moving day. however, I can give you some tips (like standing the sofa on end for tight turns) to make moving this item easier.
Some equipment you might want to have for moving a sleeper sofa includes: back braces, shrink wrap, tools and bungees or rope. You also might want to get a few quilted moving pads. Most of the time you will only need two people to move this item, but if there are stairs involved you may need more than two. Sleeper sofas are not very easy to hold onto and can have staples underneath that can cut your skin, you might need some decent gloves to help you grip it. I recommend mechanics gloves, they are tough and have a nice tight fit and grip.
Now that you have the necessary moving equipment you can start preparing the sofa for transfer. the first thing you should do is take off the sofa cushions. some sofa cushions have Velcro to hold them in place, others have a small metal clip you need to undo before taking the cushion off.
After you remove the sofa cushions you can start to tie the pull out bed to the sofa. using a bungee works very well or you can tie it down with rope or maybe even some good twine. look for the handle you use to pull the bed out. Slide the rope through the handle, down to the front of the couch and to the underneath part where the metal frame is. Bring the rope up, over and around the metal frame, back up the front of the couch and tie it to the end piece of the rope. If the front of the sofa is leather or micro fiber I recommend placing a small pad or towel over the front of the sofa to protect it from the bungee or rope (fabric sofas rarely need to be padded).
The next step is to tilt the sofa onto its front feet so it is at a 45 degree from the floor. having the sofa with the front down and the back up makes it the most narrow. This makes lifting it very much easier and it also puts the sofa into a turned position for going through the doorways. When picking up the sofa make sure that both people are wearing their back brace and have a good grip before you start walking.
If you need to make any tight turns you may have to stand the sofa up on its end. place a moving pad on the floor to protect the sofa as well as the floors. If the sofa will not make the turn standing on one end you might have to take it back out and try to make the turn standing on the other end. When you are setting your sofa down it is a good idea to place some moving pads on the ground to protect the legs from scratches. If you are moving your sleeper sofa on any stairs you might need to set it down on a step once in a while to ensure you do not loose your grip and drop it.
The front door is almost always the widest door and the recommended way to take any sofa out of the house. You might want to lay some pads on the sofa when passing through the doorway to protect from rubbing on the door jam. Watch out for nails or anything that might snag your sofa. If you would like to have some extra protection, pad and shrink wrap the sofa. This is the best way to protect it but makes it heavier and bulkier. Passing through doorways is not always easy and you might need to use your tools to remove the legs off the sofa. however, don't remove the legs unless you have to. try removing the front door first if the sofa is too big to fit through. If it still won't fit, you can remove the legs by turning the entire leg counter clockwise. some sofa legs have sunk in screws or even bolts you'll have to remove instead of using the turning method.
Now you have the sofa out of your home and you can load it into your truck.
Take your time, watch your surroundings and be careful not to strain your back. You can move a sleeper sofa yourself but hiring a moving company might be the best route for anyone with a concern for their sofa and their back. have a great move!
How to Move a Sleeper Hideaway Sofa
Posted in 
Tags: 
