[This article was originally published in November 2019. It has been updated and revised for this post.]

It finally happened. Your trusty old washing machine died. Even though you bought a new one to replace it, you still have an appliance removal problem.

And once the excitement of choosing and buying a new “smart” washing machine wears off, your old appliance removal task still has to be done. And that’s not so exciting. 

Removing Appliances Doesn't Have to Be a DIY Task

Oh, sure - you might manage an old microwave or even a mini-fridge by yourself. But even those appliances can be awkward to handle, heavy and hard to hold onto. The harsh reality is that most household appliances that don’t sit on a kitchen counter are too large for one person to haul away.

Take that old washing machine, for example. According to RecycleUSAInc,

“Washing machine weight depends on the manufacturer, washing capacity and whether it is a top-load or front-load model. Large-capacity, front-load washers vary in weight from 155 to 230 pounds, while medium-capacity, front-load machines average 180 pounds. Small-capacity front-loaders weigh in at 145 to 150 pounds.”

And we don’t even want to talk about refrigerators! Actually, let’s do look at those monster appliances for a moment. The folks at BestKitchenGuides.com say that,

“The most common refrigerators range from 200 to 450 pounds but the average is weight is under 300 pounds. A small and compact fridge would range from 75 to 200 pounds and medium refrigerators can be from 300 pounds.”

Let’s say you’ve got one of those massive, double-wide beauties with the freezer drawer in the bottom. At 450 pounds that’s an almost quarter ton appliance. Removing something that size almost makes one think of a joke that starts something like this: “How many people does it take…”

The bottom line here is that when it’s time to remove your old appliance, you’ll need some help!

Appliance Removal Guidance for DIY Types

Some folks are quite capable and self-reliant. And this often extends into taking on projects like old appliance removal. 

If you decide to tackle your appliance removal job yourself, you should take time to familiarize yourself with a few logistical considerations to keep in mind so that both you and your house stay safe and unscathed.

So, to that end, we put together this handy checklist for those who wish to proceed alone:

Some Final Thoughts on Old Appliance Removal

For many people, this may seem to be obvious, but you're not likely going to get your old washing machine or dryer into the back of your Prius. Which means you have to have a suitable vehicle if you still want to haul it out and remove it on your own.

If you own a truck or perhaps even a flatbed trailer of some kind, then you’re likely good to go. In a pinch, some older station wagons and larger minivans can also be used, although the low ceilings can be a problem for bigger appliances.

On the other hand, you may have to rent a truck, which means your looking at rental fees and insurance, and possibly even mileage fees with some rental firms.

Oh - and the you'll have costs for for fuel. 

Loading your old appliance means getting it up from the ground and into the back of the truck or onto the trailer. This is definitely not something you should attempt to do alone. And don’t forget that you’ll need help unloading it once you get to the landfill, recycling facility or scrap dealer. 

Or you could just let someone else take care of it all.

In fact, a cost-effective and highly efficient option to all of the above is to simply hire a professional appliance removal company to do all of this for you. 

Forget DIY for Appliance Removal - Call Junk King Instead

The easiest way to get rid of your old appliance is to have someone else come and take it away for you. But it’s unlikely any of your friends or family members really want to come over to your place and wrestle an old clothes dryer or washing machine onto a truck.

So, call the professionals!

Junk King provides an efficient, safe, and eco-friendly old appliance removal service. With Junk King you don’t have to worry about the pickup or disposal of your old appliances. And because our priority is preserving the environment, we will make sure that they end up in the right place -  whether that’s a local charity, or a recycling facility.

Our professional and insured appliance removal team will show up at your home and we'll call you 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive.

Once there, we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your appliances take up in our truck. You point and we haul those items into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees.

So, ready to get rid of those old appliances? Scheduling is as simple as 1, 2, 3.

You can make an appointment by booking online or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).