How to Choose the Furniture Sliders
Furniture Sliders: What You Need To Know
- 1. Furniture Sliders: What You Need To Know
- 1.1. What Are Furniture Sliders?
- 1.2. Types Of Furniture Sliders
- 1.3. When To Use Furniture Sliders
- 1.4. Why You Need Them For A Move
- 1.5. Choosing The Right Furniture Slider
- 1.5.1. Floor Type
- 1.5.2. Furniture Weight and Size
- 1.5.3. Slider Size and Shape
- 1.5.4. Adhesive or Non-Adhesive
- 1.5.5. Budget
- 1.6. How To Use Furniture Sliders
- 1.7. Final Thoughts
Furniture sliders enable the easy movement of heavy appliances and furniture over short distances, requiring minimal assistance. Their utility extends to various tasks such as shifting items for painting or rearranging furniture to rejuvenate the room's appearance. However, their real value shines on moving days as they assist in maneuvering bulky and unwieldy items onto a dolly while safeguarding the floor from scratches.
What Are Furniture Sliders?
Frequently termed as furniture gliders, furniture sliders typically consist of hard plastic or rubber bases covered with a foam or cushion-like material. Occasionally, these sliders feature a felt underside, sandwiched between the top foam and the hard material. The furniture legs sit atop the foam, while the floor comes into contact with the felt or plastic underside. Apart from their diverse material composition, sliders are available in an array of sizes and shapes, such as round, square, rectangular, and hexagonal.
Types Of Furniture Sliders
The choice of furniture sliders needed is contingent upon the size and weight of the items being moved and their specific location. When preparing for your move, it's advisable to acquire a combination of these three slider variations:
- Plastic furniture sliders: These sliders typically feature a rigid plastic bottom, although in some cases, they may be constructed from hard rubber. They enable easy movement across carpeted surfaces, safeguarding both the carpet itself and the legs of the furniture, which might otherwise become ensnared in carpet fibers.
- Felt furniture sliders: Unlike sliders with a plastic or rubber base, these sliders are covered with felt on the hard surface that comes into contact with the floor. Consequently, felt furniture sliders mitigate the risk of scratching hardwood floors, ceramic tiles, vinyl, cement, and other hard surfaces.
- Permanent furniture sliders: This type involves screws or tacks that affix the slider permanently to the furniture's legs. Opting for permanent sliders is prudent if you frequently rearrange furniture or wish to shield your floors against scratches.
When To Use Furniture Sliders
- Furniture sliders prove invaluable during a move, serving multiple purposes. They facilitate the relocation process by allowing you to effortlessly move appliances away from walls for disconnection, preparation, or transfer onto a dolly. Additionally, sliders aid in short-distance movements, such as shifting furniture across a room to a dolly, preventing any carpet damage.
- Encountered an obstacle while attempting to move a heavy furniture piece? Sliders enable a single person to swiftly shift obstructions out of the way, ensuring a smoother moving experience.
- Once in your new residence, sliders become essential for furniture rearrangement, aiding in finding the most suitable layout. They also prove beneficial for temporarily moving furniture away from walls for repairs or repainting. When replacing old furniture or appliances with new ones, furniture sliders simplify the process of loading the old pieces onto a dolly for removal and replacing them with the new items.
- Furniture sliders are ideal for moving various items, including refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, sofas, tables, desks, beds, dressers, wardrobes, bookcases, cabinets, bureaus, and safes.
Why You Need Them For A Move
These tools offer numerous advantages:
- Injury Prevention: Sliders eliminate the need to lift items, reducing strain on your back and minimizing the risk of injuries. By sliding items along the floor, the chances of crushing or pinching a finger or toe are greatly reduced.
- Enhanced Manpower: Sliders demand minimal effort, enabling you to move more and heavier items, allowing both you and your team to handle a greater workload. Even those who might not be typically considered strong enough to assist can contribute effectively with the help of sliders.
- Protection for Floors and Furniture: Sliders equipped with felt bottoms prevent scratching and damage to hardwood floors, ceramic tiles, and other hard surfaces, preserving their integrity. Additionally, plastic sliders safeguard furniture legs from potential damage or breakage when moving heavy items across carpeted areas.
- Versatile Usage: Furniture sliders serve beyond moving day, proving useful whenever heavy furniture or appliances need repositioning. Their compact size allows for easy storage in a plastic container within a closet until needed.
Choosing The Right Furniture Slider
When considering furniture sliders, several key factors come into play to ensure you choose the right sliders that suit your furniture, floors, and budget.
Floor Type
The first factor to consider when choosing furniture sliders is the type of flooring in your home. Whether you have hardwood floors, tiles, laminate, or carpets, different sliders are tailored to match specific surfaces. Felt sliders are an excellent choice for hardwood floors, as they glide smoothly and prevent scratches. On the other hand, plastic or rubber sliders are more suitable for carpets, providing better traction and effortless movement.
Furniture Weight and Size
The weight and size of your furniture significantly impact the type of sliders you need. Heavier items necessitate sturdier sliders with higher weight-bearing capacity. It's crucial to check the weight limit of the sliders to ensure they can adequately support your furniture. Using sliders with insufficient weight capacity might lead to damage or render them ineffective.
Slider Size and Shape
Sliders come in various shapes and sizes, including circular, square, or rectangular forms. Selecting the right shape that fits the furniture legs is essential for both stability and ease of movement. A proper match between the slider's shape and the furniture legs ensures optimal support, preventing wobbling and maintaining the furniture's balance during relocation.
Adhesive or Non-Adhesive
Consider whether you prefer adhesive or non-adhesive sliders. Adhesive sliders are convenient for semi-permanent placement and provide a strong grip between the furniture and the slider. However, they may leave residue on the furniture or floor and might not be reusable. Non-adhesive sliders offer the advantage of reusability but might require readjustment over time. Assess the impact of adhesive on your furniture or flooring before making a choice.
Budget
The cost of furniture sliders can vary based on their quality, features, and materials. While setting a budget is essential, it's equally crucial to balance it with durability and effectiveness. Investing in higher-quality sliders might incur a higher upfront cost but could potentially save money in the long run by protecting your floors and furniture more effectively.
How To Use Furniture Sliders
Using furniture sliders is a relatively simple process, but to prevent unnecessary injuries, adhere to the following steps:
- Unpack the sliders and carefully review the provided instructions.
- Enlist a helper, especially when moving heavy items or loading them onto a dolly.
- Empty the top or contents of the furniture. For shorter moves (such as away from a wall), secure doors and drawers instead of removing items.
- Gradually tilt or lift the furniture piece and slide a slider under each leg. Repeat this process for all legs.
- Ensure each leg is centrally positioned on its slider. Misplacement might cause the slider to dislodge during the move. Adjust positions as necessary.
- Push the item slowly and steadily to the desired location, minimizing pulling actions to prevent back strain.
- Upon completion of the move, tilt or lift the furniture to remove each slider individually.
- If transferring the piece to a dolly, slide the dolly's metal edge beneath the item, ensuring a snug fit, then gently tip the piece back onto the dolly. Remove the sliders and secure the item onto the dolly.
Final Thoughts
Furniture sliders might seem like a small addition to your household tools, but their impact on daily tasks involving furniture movement and floor protection is invaluable. Whether you're revamping your home's interior, preparing for a move, or simply trying to protect your floors, furniture sliders can make these tasks much more manageable.
By investing in these small yet highly effective tools, you can significantly reduce the physical strain on yourself while preserving the integrity of your floors. With their ease of use, versatility, and protective benefits, furniture sliders are undoubtedly a must-have for anyone looking to maintain both their furniture and the surfaces on which they rest.