Top Tips for Keeping Your Furniture Safe While in Storage
Posted on: 12 March 2018
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Furniture storage isn't as straightforward as just placing the items into a storage unit and then forgetting about them. You could probably get away with this if they were only going to stay inside the unit for a few days, but this defeats the purpose of actually renting a storage unit. To ensure that your furniture emerges from storage in as good a condition as when it went inside, a small amount of preparation work is necessary.
Cleaning the Items
Wooden items should be thoroughly dusted. Any dirt can be carefully removed with a lightly damp cloth. When it comes to upholstered items, it can be helpful to clean them before they go into storage. Be careful to only clean as per the manufacturer's instructions. Upholstery made from synthetic fibres can generally handle water (and a handheld wet/dry vacuum cleaner can get the job done), whereas organic fibres might require a specialist cleaning product. Do this several days before placing the items into storage so that they have sufficient time to dry.
Disassembling the Items
Large items of furniture don't necessarily need a large storage unit. Do you remember putting the item together when you bought it? Now it's time to do the same, only in reverse. If you no longer have the assembly instructions, perform a Google search. Many large retailers will archive their assembly instructions online. Obtain a small plastic ziplock bag for each item of furniture to hold all the various bolts and screws that will be removed. Use a permanent marker to write the name of the item on the bag. You might also wish to print out a copy of those assembly instructions to be folded and placed inside the bag (which saves you looking for it again when you need to reassemble the items).
On the Floor
You should source an appropriate floor covering to be placed inside the unit—something that provides a small amount of elevation. This is a simple and highly efficient form of protection if moisture was to find its way into the storage unit for whatever reason. Small wooden pallets are ideal for this purpose and you can simply place the items on top of these protective barriers.
Covering the Items
Be wary of covering the furniture in plastic once you've placed it inside the storage unit. The non-porous nature of a plastic drop sheet can allow moisture to become trapped—which has the potential to result in mould. A breathable dust cover (such as an old sheet) should be perfectly sufficient.
Your furniture holds a significant financial and sentimental value, so the small amount of effort required to keep it safe in storage is certainly worthwhile.