If you’re a regular home gym bro or lifting lady, you may be scratching your head trying to figure out how you will move all your gym equipment to your new home. Don’t worry. We’ve got you. You’ll be lifting again in no time on your well-preserved equipment. Here are seven tips for moving your home gym.
1. Dis-infect it All
Remember to sanitize all your gym equipment before packing it up. Think about your sweaty yoga mat rubbing against your bedspread in the moving truck. Yes, you’d ideally keep these things separate, but once everything is in the moving truck, things can get messy. Sanitize all your equipment to prevent sweat and bacteria from spreading or traveling with you to your new home.
Tips for Disinfecting:
- Wipe down all mats and accessories with an all-purpose disinfecting spray or an all-natural spray solution. There are also many cleaners on the market specifically for yoga mats.
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces and handrails of your treadmill and any other workout machines. Clorox wipes work great. For a homemade cleaner, mix half water and half white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Wash all towels and blankets on a hot water cycle in your washing machine.
2. Start with the Lighter Items
When packing up your home gym, consider starting with the items that weigh the least first, such as yoga mats, and all your yoga accessories, such as yoga blocks, towels, and blankets. Once you’ve gathered your light workout items, find appropriate-sized boxes to pack them.
To save space, roll your yoga mat from top to bottom. Next, secure the mat with a carrying strap or bag before packing it into your box. This will help keep them secure, clean, and tidy while in transit to your new home.
3. Get Sturdy Boxes
Weights are heavy. Make sure they go inside boxes that are strong and sturdy enough to handle their weight. It’s a much better idea to use several small boxes rather than putting a bunch of weights in one box. Who is going to be able to lift that? Also, most boxes cannot handle that weight. Imagine the weights falling through the bottom and landing on someone’s foot. Ouch!
If you don’t have sturdy enough cardboard boxes, invest in some plastic bins. You can reuse these every time you move. Wrap your equipment in bubble wrap or newspaper to protect it while things move around on bumpy roads.
4. Move Your Treadmill with Caution
If you’re moving your large workout equipment without the help of a Utah moving company, you can probably skip arm and leg day for the week. Here’s how to move your treadmill:
- Step 1: Get the treadmill ready
Did you keep your treadmill manual? If not, look up your model online. How heavy is it? Is there a way to lock/unlock it? If it’s over 50 pounds, you’ll need a helping hand for sure. If it’s over 100 pounds, you’ll want to find a furniture dolly ASAP. - Step 2: Disassemble the Treadmill
Unplug your treadmill and disconnect all the wires from the wall. Browse your owner’s manual and figure out how to fold down the standing section of the treadmill. Depending on your treadmill model, the belt section may fold up instead. In this case, fold the larger section up and handle it with extra care when transporting it to avoid damage. Lock it down to keep it in place during the move. - Step 3: Use a Dolly
If your treadmill is over 100 pounds, and there is a very good chance it is, get a furniture dolly. Set it beside the treadmill, stand on one side, and have a friend or family member stand on the opposite side. Slowly and carefully lift the treadmill simultaneously with your moving partner and slowly place it on the furniture dolly. Lift with your legs and be cautious. - Step 4: Transport it
Once that beast is securely and safely on the dolly, roll it into the moving truck. To unpack it, place it back on the dolly, roll it to its new home, and then unlock it and pull the standing section back up, locking it back in place. - Step 5: Do a Safety Inspection
Safety comes first, always. Double-check your operating manual to ensure it’s set up correctly and safe to use. If everything looks correct, plug it in, put it on a low setting, and give it a test run (or walk).
5. Take Apart your Elliptical
An elliptical machine is heavy, like a treadmill, but the shape is often much more awkward to move. In some cases, it’s easier to disassemble the elliptical hardware, so it will be easier to maneuver through narrow hallways and doorways.
Take apart the handlebars and pedals from the main base of the machine using a screwdriver and wrench. Then, collect all the nuts and bolts and immediately place them in a labeled plastic bag that you will attach to the machine with packing tape.
If you disassemble your elliptical, it should be light enough to carry it with the help of a friend. Cover it with moving blankets to keep it protected and unscratched.
6. Protect Your Stationary Bike
Stationary workout bikes are pretty easy to move. The main thing to remember is to cover it with a moving blanket for protection. If your bike is electric, unplug it and save all the cords in a labeled box. Before you move your bike through your house, place something underneath the bike to protect your floors from severe scratches, such as cardboard. Once it’s out of the house, ask a friend or two to help you lift it into your moving truck.
7. Move the Weight Lifting Machine Properly
Weightlifting machines might be tricky to move. You’ll want to refer to your owner’s manual or look it up online if you can’t locate it. In the future, make sure to keep all your workout equipment manuals.
Remove all weights and disassemble the equipment step-by-step. Secure the hardware in plastic bags and attach them to the corresponding equipment. Keep that instruction manual close for when you have to reassemble it in your new home. If you don’t have your manual, you can document the disassembly process step-by-step with handwritten notes and photos.
- Secure all moving parts with packing tape, zip ties, rope, and bungee cords. Make sure there are no loose parts.
- Wrap oddly-shaped gym equipment that doesn’t require boxes into moving blankets, plastic wrap, bedding, or towels for protection.
- Wrap weight bars in towels to prevent scratching and to keep them from damaging other items in the moving truck.
We understand your gym equipment is sacred to you. Skipping even one day of lifting to move might be hard for you. No matter the size and scale of your home gym, you can count on Utah’s Moving and Storage’s professional packers and movers to help. We help lift the burden and take every precaution to ensure your move goes off without a hitch.