Filing cabinets are among the most useful and versatile pieces of office furniture. Unfortunately they sometimes need to be moved. Whether the move is permanent or something that will only be long enough to clean the dust and dirt from that particular corner doesn't matter. As long as the cabinet's going to be moved, certain precautions should be taken.

Upright File Cabinets

These are quite possibly the easiest file cabinets to move. All you'll need to get them out of the way is a dolly, and some straps. The dolly needs to be worked under the file cabinet and used to lever it out until you can reach around it. Take several straps (one per drawer if it can be managed) and wrap them around the filing cabinet. Once the drawers are all secured, the only thing left to do is lean it back with the dolly and wheel the file cabinet out. No problems at all, as long as the person moving it can keep it balanced.

Lateral File Cabinets

Lateral file cabinets, those that are wider than they are tall, required a different tact to move. Since they're construction is different, lateral file cabinets actually have to be emptied before they're moved. If they aren't, then chances are that the cabinet may bend or break due to the weight inside it. Once the cabinet is emptied it can be lifted with a dolly and move. If it needs to go through a door, than the file cabinet could be put on one end it stood up to make it narrower.

Smaller Filing Cabinets

Smaller filing cabinets, because of their size, might seem like they'd be the easiest variety to move. However, what's in smaller filing cabinets should be carefully considered. They should also be moved individually, with the drawers strapped shut just like with the larger filing cabinets. Smaller filing cabinets can be stacked on top of each other before they're moved, but this isn't something that's usually recommended as it can lead to unwanted accidents.