How to Dispose of a Sofa in a Roll-Off Dumpster

​Disassembling a sofa (or a couch) in Lakeland is an intimidating prospect if you don't understand what you are doing. We've all experienced it: you buy a new sofa and have to throw away the old one. Similarly, you probably had to dispose of an old sofa when you moved in the past.  Anyone who has lived on a fourth-floor apartment or above can tell you what torture it is to tromp up and down the stairs with a fully assembled clunky sofa. Maybe you're moving from Lakeland and have to get rid of your old sofa along with other furniture; perhaps you are starting a cleanout. Whatever the reason is you need to get rid of an old sofa, here's how to disassemble a sofa so you can carry it to your roll-off dumpster in manageable pieces.

Break it Down
Before you can break down a sofa, you should have the required tools. Here is a shortlist of what you will need to break down your sofa and dispose of it in your rental roll-off dumpster,

• A Hammer with a Claw for stripping nails or staples.
• An Allen Wrench.
• Phillips and Standard head screwdrivers.
• A staple puller (if your hammer's claw is too big).
• A Handsaw.
• A straight box cutter.

Taking Apart Your Sofa
Remove any pillows and cushions. Removing cushions and pillows is a basic first step in dismantling a sofa. Be sure to place them in your rental roll-off dumpster. If you are planning to keep any pillows, be sure they are placed out of the way.  If your old sofa is a hide-a-bed, you should remove the mattress and dispose of it in your rental roll-off dumpster.

Strip Upholstery
Stripping upholstery is where your box cutter will be used. You will have to cut away the fabric to expose the frame underneath. It could be as easy as pulling staples, but in the majority of cases, some cutting is needed. If you are planning to reuse the fabric, be sure to cut neat, straight lines; if you are throwing it in your rental roll-off dumpster, then you don't need to be neat. Sometimes the cushions will be affixed to the fabric; if you plan on keeping those kinds of cushions, you should be careful when cutting the material from the sofa. Next, you should be able to see the exposed frame and take it apart, but not quite yet.

Take Off the Legs
The next step is easy enough. Occasionally you can unscrew sofa legs by hand, in other cases you will need a screwdriver or Allen wrench. If the legs are fused, use a handsaw to take them off.

Disassemble the Frame
With this step, you can use the screwdrivers or Allen wrenches to dismantle the sofa's frame. In some cases, you might have to remove nails as well. When you have taken the frame apart, you can cut wooden pieces into a smaller, manageable size, so it is easier to transport. Smaller pieces of the couch mean you can take it down in an elevator instead of having to take the stairs on an upper floor of a building.

Swift Dumpster Rental Lakeland Knows Roll-Off Dumpsters
Use Swift Dumpster Rental in Lakeland for roll off dumpsters to throw away your old sofas and furniture. We can assist you with your move or cleanout by bringing a rental roll-off dumpster directly to your location. Once you are done, we will pick it and haul it away. We will drop it in your driveway or apartment parking lot. If you are in the greater Lakeland or Central Florida area, call us today or complete our simple contact form today!  A helpful member of our team will discuss the correct size dumpster you need and schedule a time when we can deliver it.

​Don't wait any longer, get rid of that old sofa today!

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