Moving blankets, also known as furniture moving pads, moving pads, furniture pads, burlap pads, moleskin pads, and skins, are essential to the moving industry and are used by both professional companies and DIY household movers. They serve as protection for objects that are at risk of being damaged or dirtied while moving. These heavy-duty blankets weigh about 6-7 pounds, are generally 80×72-inches, and are made of polyester mesh and a cotton material. They have a woven surface that further adds to their protective capabilities. Moving blankets are heavier than their storage pad counterparts as well as more durable. While the main function of storage pads is to prevent dust and light from damaging furniture, the main function of moving blankets is to prevent more serious damages such as scratches and dents from occurring. In the long run, investing in moving blankets can save a considerable amount of money by keeping expensive items from needing to be fixed or replaced.
How Moving Blankets Work
Moving Blankets are used in order to cover items such as furniture while they are being moved in order to prevent them from acquiring damages such as scratches or rips as well as from getting dirtied during transit. To use one, the moving blanket should be placed completely over the item it’s supposed to be protecting. If the item is especially large, then more than one moving blanket might have to be used. Then, moving bands (specialized rubber bands that are especially stretchy) should be placed around the moving blanket it to secure it. Alternatives to moving bands, though they are the preferred option, include shrink wrap and tape. The entirety of the object should be covered by the end of the wrapping process in order to maximize the amount of protection the object will be receiving. You should also check out best weighted blanket and compare similar before opting to buy one.
Benefits of Moving Blankets
Moving blankets are recommended for all movers for a reason. The protections they provide greatly reduce the costs and stress of moving for everyone involved.
- Preventing Damages
As has been mentioned, moving blankets prevent furniture and the like from being damaged, but that’s not all. On top of preventing a table from getting scratched or a couch from being ripped while being transported, moving blankets also protect the floors and walls of the building furniture is being moved in. When bringing furniture in or out of a living space, the possibility of dropping them on the floor or accidentally dragging them across a wall is high. The thickness of a moving blanket reduces the risk of an object breaking or sustaining any serious damages after being dropped and also protects the surface that the object was dropped on. The soft nature of a moving blanket prevents any accidental scratches should an object with sharp corners come into contact with an easily damageable surface, for example wallpaper or wood floors.
- Preventing Dirtiness
It is an unfortunate truth that things are bound to get dirty while being moved. The dirt may come from the inside of the vehicle they’re being transported in or from the storage area they’re being kept in, but dirt and dust are dirt and dust no matter where they come from. A moving blanket prevents filth from getting on whatever it’s wrapped around so the object in question will be just as clean as it was last seen when it is unwrapped. This saves time that would have otherwise been spent on cleaning the furniture and money that might have been spent on cleaning supplies.
- Keeping Still During the Moving
The floors of most moving vehicles don’t exactly have the most traction, and neither do the bottoms of most pieces of furniture. This could lead to belongings moving around while they are being transported, which in turn could result in them being damaged. Moving blankets prevent this by offering traction when they are wrapped around an object. Also, in the event that an object does slide and hit something else, the padding of a moving blanket will minimize the negative effect the collision may have. Another way moving blankets prevent the moving of objects during transportation is by being used to fill in the gaps between object so there’s less space for them to move.
- Move Items with Ease
Though it’s not the most conventional way of using them, moving blankets can be used to move furniture. By placing one under a particularly heavy item, for example a sofa, the item can be maneuvered to its desired location.
Getting a Moving Blanket
For those planning a move with a company, the company will most likely have moving blankets on hand. Otherwise, moving blankets can be either bought or rented.
- Buying a Moving Blanket
Due to them being recognized as an important piece of equipment for moving, moving blankets are readily available online and in in-person stores. In some cases, moving blankets can even be bought off the movers themselves. Moving blankets are offered in various degrees of heaviness according to how often they are likely to be used, with the heavier and more durable ones being the ones that are expected to be put to work often. Lighter moving blankets are intended for those who are perhaps planning to move once or twice. Though there is a standard size for them, moving blankets are offered in different sizes. They also tend to be sold in packs, though how many are in a pack varies across suppliers. It is important to check all the specifications of a pack of moving blankets, especially the weight and size, before making a purchase to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises.
- Renting a Moving Blanket
Many companies, such as truck rental companies, offer the option to rent moving blankets along with their services. Renting is the obviously cheaper alternative to buying, and is the more cost-efficient option for those who do not plan on moving often. An additional benefit of renting moving blankets instead of buying them means not having to find a place to store them after they have been used.
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