In a climate and age where people are—professionally or otherwise—constantly on the move, it makes sense for sleeper sofas to be in vogue. Moreover, these dual-purpose furnishings are trendy among homeowners with small spaces and tenants of studio apartments. However, notwithstanding their promising features, these contraptions are a challenge to dismantle or transpose. Therefore, owners usually ignore this laborious task till push comes to shove.
Now, If it is finally time for you to cross this bridge while moving houses, repairs, or rearranging, then you are in the right place. Because we have a hunch that with our step-by-step guide, you will be able to disassemble your sleeper sofa in no time.
But before you can get down to business, you will need a power drill, or a screwdriver, and a wrench. Once you have these tools at hand, you can let the disassembly begin.
The Sleeper Sofa Owner’s Guide to Disassembly
Step 1
This step is a no-brainer but start by removing the cushions and throw pillows.
If you are one of the cautious types who love preserving things, you will have to remove the plastic liners first.
Step 2
After you have a clear canvas, you need to turn your sofa around to reveal the rear. Next, you need to go around to the front of the couch, pull out the bed mechanism using the pull-out strap, and remove the mattress—in that order.
Step 3
This step might require some assistance because you will have to lift and upend the sofa on its front legs. Remember to maneuver carefully to avoid damaging the couch.
A word of advice if you want to avoid any severe injuries: it would be wise to call someone over to help with this procedure despite your herculean strength.
Step 4
Once you have upturned your sofa, you need to remove the following using your power drill or screwdriver:
- The back is generally attached to the arms.
- The cross support board at the bottom, excepting the hinges.
- The front rail.
- The springs direct the arm mechanism.
You might find this step complicated because the way the constituents are assembled differs a tad bit from one couch to another, but fret not! Most of the time, the skeleton is primarily uniform across different companies with major differences in designs and upholstery only.
After removing the parts mentioned earlier, if you only have the bed frame to tackle now, then the sofa, so good!
Before you proceed, we would like to pat you on the back for not letting the few extra bells and whistles you might have encountered thus far from deterring you.
Step 5
As mentioned above, at this point, you should only be left with the bed frame or the panels that uphold the mattress. To dismantle these, you will first begin by restoring the sofa to its normal position and unscrewing the front and middle panel from the back panel.
Once the front and mid-panel have come undone, you can remove the back panel by loosening the support bars with the help of a wrench.
Step 6
Viola! You are done. Now you can easily transport the constituents to another room or your moving truck.
You might think that your troubles are entirely over with the disassembly of your couch, but moving is no easy feat either. Thus, we bring you a few tips to facilitate or accelerate your move.
Moving Made Manageable
Mapping Your Movements
If you are moving houses, it will help to chart the route to the moving vehicle to see where problems might arise in terms of bumping and impediments. Try to move the obstructive furnishings before you transpose the couch.
In the same vein, the move from one room to another might also require you to clear up some of the furniture—or cardboard boxes—in your path. This will ensure a smooth move and also reduce tripping hazards.
Lose the Legs
Although we have not specified this in the overhead guide, you might have to remove the sofa’s legs if you have narrower doors and hallways. You might be able to push through in some situations, but it could lead to chipped door frames and incur expenses.
Purchase a Slider
If you have to move houses frequently due to your job or temperament, invest in a furniture slider. This tool will not only quicken your move but also prevent your floors from getting scraped or damaged.
Sell, Chuck, or Donate
If you are under no compulsion to hold onto it, it would be best to donate or sell your sleeper sofa instead of taking the time to disassemble it before each move. This should definitely be your course of action if you are moving across the country, or to a semi-furnished space.
A number of websites and junkyards out there would gladly take an old sofa off your hands.
FAQs
What can I use in place of a furniture slider?
Since the constituents have been taken apart there will be no need to slide things around. However, if it still comes to that, you can use aluminum foil—shiny sides up—as a substitute for a slider. Nonetheless, it is only a temporary fix and will permit a restricted sliding action in contrast to a slider.
How long will it take two people to disassemble a sofa?
With a power drill and ample breaks, It will take them around 2 hours to completely take apart a couch. The tools and strengths of the people involved largely dictate the time it takes to dismantle a sofa. A screwdriver will understandably take more time than a drill.
Closing Remarks
The process of dismantling sleeper sofas entails a full-body workout undoubtedly, but it can be simplified with the right appliances and assistance. Additionally, our step-by-step guide will ensure that you do not face any problems whatsoever in the dismantling process.
In case problems arise, double-check if you have followed the steps and hopefully you will overcome them. Lastly, may force always be with you in your moving or relocating enterprises.
