Great tips from Security Storage for long-term furniture storage:
From antiques that don’t quite fit your décor, to items you’re saving for your children, we can all gain quite the collection of furniture items over time. Instead of having these pieces take up valuable space in our homes, it may be time to move those in good condition to a home of their own before they overtake yours.
Self storage provides you with the room you need to keep the furniture you love, while you simultaneously remove clutter from your home. Below, we highlight four steps to successfully prepare and protect your furniture items for self storage.
1. Clean and Prep
Before you store, be sure to give each item a thorough clean. Begin by wiping down your pieces with a clean cloth. Then, use an appropriate cleaner for the type of material (metal, wood, glass, etc.), and wipe down once more for an added layer of protection.
As a final cleaning step, let the item breathe in a well-ventilated area and dry completely. This will ensure no patches of trapped moisture can reside on your item as you cover and pack the piece for storage. Patches of trapped moisture left alone can damage your item over time, and create marks of discoloration.
2. Disassemble for Easy Transport
For larger items, such as dressers, beds, tables, and couches, prep for smoother transportation. Take pieces apart before their trip to the storage unit.
Remove legs from tables and sofas, take out drawers from dressers and cushions from couches, and remove planks from bedframes. Group and wrap these pieces together to stay organized.
3. Cover and Protect
After you’ve prepped your furniture, protect it with the right materials. Bubble wrap can be useful to wrap items that easily break, such as framed pictures, mirrors, lamps or blunt parts like chairs and table legs.
As a general rule, avoid plastic package materials when possible, as it can suffocate certain materials like wood and fabrics. This can lead to condensation or unpleasant smells in your unit. Instead, use drop cloths or covers, sheets, or blankets to keep dust away and allow air to circulate.
4. Strategically Store
To maximize your unit’s space, you may be tempted to fit in as much as you can without a real plan. However, there can be consequences to sloppy storage.
An important tip to remember: leave space in between items.
The benefits are two-fold: you’ll allow air to flow freely between the furniture, which will help protect your items from damage; and you’ll reduce the risk of accidental damage to your pieces should you ever need remove them from your unit.
Save Space Without The Sacrifice
You don’t have to get rid of your furniture favorites due to lack of space. Now, you can realistically consider storage of larger items, even if you lack the space at home.
With the added benefit of climate control, these spaces will help maintain your furniture’s condition over time, versus storing it in a humid attic or damp basement.
By properly prepping your items for long-term storage, they will be ready for use upon removal, whenever you, or your family, may need them.
