How do you protect furniture in storage? Easy. You take the time to store it correctly. But let’s be realistic, ensuring that furniture stays in great condition will take a little bit of work. With these furniture storage tips, you’ll be able to protect any furniture piece, regardless of its material — from tables and desks to chairs and couches, whether they are priceless family heirlooms or inexpensive bed sets. Keep reading to learn how to store furniture in a storage unit, whether or not that space is climate controlled.
1. Know your storage options.
Putting furniture in storage can be a costly decision. Do you keep it for the long term or do you sell the furniture? The average cost of a storage unit varies, but in many cases, choosing storage to store furniture makes sense if you’re in the middle of a move or going through a transitional time. When storing furniture, protection from the elements is the key. Consider all of your options before choosing a storage space. If you’re serious about maintaining this furniture in storage over the long haul, you might want a climate controlled storage unit. Climate control units will ensure your valuable furniture pieces stay safe from moisture and changing NC temperatures (our units are temperature and humidity controlled). Items like wooden furniture, musical instruments, antiques, and leather sofas or ones with delicate fabrics will do best in this type of unit. However, there are steps you can take to protect furniture even if climate control isn’t an option. Making sure everything is clean, dry and well protected is essential.
2. Clean everything thoroughly.
Protect furniture in storage by never putting dirty items inside. Not only will offensive odors travel to nearby units, but cleaning will also significantly cut down on the chance of mold and the amount of dust in your storage space.
With wooden or plastic furniture, use a mild soap and water. For wooden pieces specifically, and especially antiques, use a wood cleaner to protect the existing finish on the wood.
Be sure to also clean fabric items like couches or seat cushions with fabric or upholstery cleaner. Check that everything is completely dry before you start packing it up.
3. Wrap furniture for long-term storage.
Make sure everything is completely covered. Before putting anything inside your storage space, lay down thick plastic sheeting on the floor to prevent moisture from the floor from seeping into your furniture. This step is especially important if you are not in a climate-controlled space. Use old sheets, blankets, drop cloths or plastic wrap to cover the pieces and protect them from dust and moisture. Take care not to wrap furniture with thick plastic covers that will seal in moisture because that can create condensation. Wrap furniture so that it can breathe by loosely.
4. Raise furniture off the concrete floor.
Whenever you’re storing furniture without climate control, avoid putting furniture pieces or anything that could be ruined directly on the floor. By raising your items off the floor, you add an extra layer of protection against flooding. Even a layer of cardboard or a drop cloth is better than nothing.
5. Don’t leave food.
We can’t stress this enough! Whether you’re storing furniture long term or for a few months, never leave anything perishable in your storage facility that may attract bugs or unwanted critters. While storage facilities are treated with pest control regularly, you can never be too careful.
Make sure there is always an aisle to access the back of your unit. Try to keep your storage space clean and decluttered to protect furniture and other contents. Storing furniture in a storage unit doesn’t need to be complicated or stressful. One of the biggest mistakes people make is either spending too much on too large of a unit or not purchasing one that’s large enough. Call or come by and one of our trained staff members will be glad to help you determine to right the right amount of space you need.
