Do I Need to Empty Drawers for Movers?

When I shifted my house, I specifically asked my movers: do I need to empty my dresser drawers for movers? As per the movers, yes, it is always advised to empty dresser drawers before movers arrive. By doing this, the furniture will stay lightweight, secure, and safe to transport.

Why Do You Need to Empty Dresser Drawers for Movers?

1. Prevents damage: Heavy drawers can stress joints and cause the dresser to warp or crack.

2. Prevents spills and mess: During movement, objects inside may move, shatter, or spill.

3. Maintains privacy: Individual possessions like clothing, jewellery, or papers remain safe and well-organised.

4. Handling is made easier: Movers can lift and transport empty dressers more easily in narrow spaces.

However, if you're relocating locally and your movers allow soft items (like clothes) to remain inside, you can keep them; just confirm beforehand.

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I recently moved to a new home in Bengaluru itself. But it was my first time moving with all of the furniture that I had bought during the course of my stay at my previous home. The one thing I was really concerned about was should you empty drawers when moving or not. I asked a few of my friends and they told me that in order to ensure the safety of the drawers, their contents, and the furniture piece as a whole while moving furniture with drawers, I must make a decision regarding how to handle the drawers to avoid mishaps that could cause property damage or personal injury.

Do I need to empty drawers for movers?

You can either remove the drawers and move them separately or leave them in the piece of furniture. The furniture would be much more lightweight and easier to carry if the drawers were removed, and there won't be any chance of them falling out and causing accidents or damage. 

You might be tempted to leave the drawers attached to the furniture, filled with stuff, to conserve room in the moving truck and to speed up the moving process. This is dangerous and therefore will make your movement much harder, so it might not be a wise choice.

Should I empty drawers when moving?

Generally speaking, you're not needed to empty drawers for movers, although it depends on the moving firm. However, you are urged to do so because doing so will make your belongings safer when they are put in moving boxes and your furniture lighter, safer, and simpler to move. Because there will be fewer accidents, there will also be fewer chances for property damage, furniture damage, and injuries to people. The movers will also be able to work quickly, which will cut down on the time it takes for your relocation.

Therefore, clearing the drawers will make your move safer, simpler, smoother, and even more affordable—even if it is not required.

Reasons to empty drawers when moving

Damage to the furniture – The weight of the fully loaded drawers will put additional strain on the furniture's frame and increase the likelihood that the wood will crack, the drawers' rolling mechanisms will be harmed, and the furniture will fall apart when moved. Additionally, during a relocation, the contents of the drawers may shift and scrape or dent the wood.

Damage to your items – The items in the drawers may shift, bump into one another, or bump into the drawer wall—and break—if the furniture needs to be turned and tipped during the move. Moreover, the contents of the drawers might be damaged if they fall out.

Property damage – The chance of the furniture falling over or colliding with a wall and causing significant property damage will increase significantly due to the additional weight of the full drawers. Additionally, if the drawers fall out during the relocation, they could damage, dent, or break the walls, floors, bannisters, etc.

Personal injuries – The furniture will be very heavy once the drawers are all filled, and moving something large puts a significant amount of stress on the body, which can cause painful muscular sprains, pinching of the nerves, hernias, and other problems. In addition, carrying a hefty object increases the risk of falling and getting wounded. 

While leaving the drawers full will save you some time, doing so will make your manoeuvre riskier, less effective, and more challenging. It is not worth it. The better choice is to empty the drawers.

I hope I was able to help you understand should you empty drawers when moving or not.