How to protect floors and carpets when moving
Moving day means a lot of feet and heavy furniture going in and out, often in the rain. Protecting the floors takes ten minutes and saves arguments about deposits and cleaning bills, at the house you're leaving and the one you're moving into.
Carpets: self-adhesive carpet film
carpet protection film sticks lightly to the carpet so it doesn't slip, and catches mud and grit from boots and wheels. Use it on the main walkways: front door, hall, stairs and the route to each room.
- Hoover first, so you're not sealing dirt in.
- Unroll it along the route people walk, starting at the far end of the room and working back to the door, pressing it down as you go.
- Overlap the strips slightly where they join, and run it up to the edge of the stairs.
- Peel it up soon after the move. It's for moving day, not for leaving down for weeks.
It's for carpets only. On a wool or very delicate carpet, try a small piece somewhere hidden first.
Wood, laminate and tiled floors: hard floor film
hard floor protection film is a low-tack film made for hard floors. It protects against scuffs and dirt from boots and the occasional dropped box. A 100 m roll covers the walkways of a whole house.
- Sweep or vacuum first so grit isn't trapped underneath.
- Lay it along walkways and tape the ends with low-tack tape if needed.
- Don't use carpet film on hard floors, or hard floor film on carpets: each is made for its own surface.
Packing tip: Put a mat or old towel at each door as well. Most of the dirt comes in on the first few steps inside.
Heavy furniture
- Never drag furniture across a floor. Lift it, or slide a folded transit blanket underneath and pull that.
- Take the legs off tables and beds where you can, so there's less to catch on door frames.
- Protect door frames and banisters with blankets too: corners of furniture are what usually mark them.
Our furniture protection pack includes a transit blanket, carpet film and cardboard edge protectors.
Questions
How do you protect carpet when moving?
Lay self-adhesive carpet protection film along the walkways, starting from the far end of each room and working back to the door. Hoover first, and take it up soon after the move.
Can I use carpet film on laminate or wood floors?
No. Carpet film is made for carpets. Use a low-tack hard floor protection film on wood, laminate and tiles.
How long can carpet protection film stay down?
It is meant for short-term use around moving day. Take it up as soon as you have finished moving in.