Take a look at how to use a self-storage facility to stash your summer stuff during the winter months.
Blog Post
5 Tips for Storing Furniture | MaxSecure Storage
- By Admin
- •
- 06 Nov, 2018
- •
If you have furniture that you don't particularly need right now - but that you also don't want to part with -putting it in storage is a great solution. However, you do need to be cautious when storing furniture in order to ensure that it emerges from storage in good shape. Follow these five tips to simplify the storage process and reduce the risk of damage.
1. Choose Climate-Controlled Storage
If you have leather or cloth furniture, you must choose climate-controlled storage. In climate-controlled units, the temperature and humidity are
kept constant, which prevents problems with mold, rot, and the cracking of materials.
Wooden furniture may be okay without climate-controlled storage for a few months, but you'd still be taking a chance. Even with wooden furniture, consider paying a couple of dollars more for climate control because it will keep you from having to replace damaged furniture later on.
2. Clean Everything First
A stain on the couch or an upholstered chair will only become more intense and set in after a few months in storage. Crumbs may attract insects
that leave streaks and odors on your furniture, and dust may absorb moisture, leaving a dirty hue. So make sure that you clean each piece of furniture carefully before putting it into storage.
To clean leather furniture, wipe it down with a mixture of half vinegar and half water. Let the furniture dry, and then apply a leather conditioner,
being careful to wipe away any excess.
To clean wooden furniture, start by removing water stains with a blend of baking soda and toothpaste. Then, apply a layer of wood polish to
prevent cracking and drying.
Have upholstered furniture professionally cleaned, or use the upholstery attachment on a carpet shampooer.
3. Take Furniture Apart When Possible
If a piece of furniture comes apart with relative ease, disassemble it. You'll have an easier time storing small furniture components than a large,
awkwardly shaped table. You're also less likely to bang smaller pieces against the wall or ceiling when loading the storage unit. Place any screws
or bolts in a small container and label it so that you can easily reassemble the furniture when you remove it from storage.
If you fear that a particular piece of furniture will be hard to put back together, write yourself some tips or instructions on a piece of paper, and
store these instructions with the screws and bolts.
4. Cover Furniture With Breathable Materials
You do want to cover furniture so that it does not become covered in dust, but you don't want to enclose the furniture so tightly that you trap moisture against it and cause mold to grow. Lightly wrap wooden furniture in bubble wrap, and drape heavy cloths over leather and upholstered
items.
Old bedsheets and blankets work wonderfully for this purpose. Alternatively, you can slip an elastic couch or chair cover over these pieces.
5. Put Couches and Other Plush Furniture on Pallets
If you place furniture directly on the ground of your storage unit, you may find that the legs are moldy or warped when you return to retrieve your items. Even in a climate-controlled unit that has strong barriers against the outdoors, moisture can seep onto the floor from a neighboring unit.
Place all of your furniture - especially anything plush or made from leather - on wood pallets. If you have reason to suspect that the storage unit
floor may become moist, you may even want to put a tarp on top of the pallet to prevent moisture from traveling up through the wood pallet and into your furniture.
Follow the tips above, and your furniture will look great when you remove it from storage. If you're searching for a storage facility in the Madison
area, contact MaxSecure Storage. We offer climate-controlled storage units in many sizes.
1. Choose Climate-Controlled Storage
If you have leather or cloth furniture, you must choose climate-controlled storage. In climate-controlled units, the temperature and humidity are
kept constant, which prevents problems with mold, rot, and the cracking of materials.
Wooden furniture may be okay without climate-controlled storage for a few months, but you'd still be taking a chance. Even with wooden furniture, consider paying a couple of dollars more for climate control because it will keep you from having to replace damaged furniture later on.
2. Clean Everything First
A stain on the couch or an upholstered chair will only become more intense and set in after a few months in storage. Crumbs may attract insects
that leave streaks and odors on your furniture, and dust may absorb moisture, leaving a dirty hue. So make sure that you clean each piece of furniture carefully before putting it into storage.
To clean leather furniture, wipe it down with a mixture of half vinegar and half water. Let the furniture dry, and then apply a leather conditioner,
being careful to wipe away any excess.
To clean wooden furniture, start by removing water stains with a blend of baking soda and toothpaste. Then, apply a layer of wood polish to
prevent cracking and drying.
Have upholstered furniture professionally cleaned, or use the upholstery attachment on a carpet shampooer.
3. Take Furniture Apart When Possible
If a piece of furniture comes apart with relative ease, disassemble it. You'll have an easier time storing small furniture components than a large,
awkwardly shaped table. You're also less likely to bang smaller pieces against the wall or ceiling when loading the storage unit. Place any screws
or bolts in a small container and label it so that you can easily reassemble the furniture when you remove it from storage.
If you fear that a particular piece of furniture will be hard to put back together, write yourself some tips or instructions on a piece of paper, and
store these instructions with the screws and bolts.
4. Cover Furniture With Breathable Materials
You do want to cover furniture so that it does not become covered in dust, but you don't want to enclose the furniture so tightly that you trap moisture against it and cause mold to grow. Lightly wrap wooden furniture in bubble wrap, and drape heavy cloths over leather and upholstered
items.
Old bedsheets and blankets work wonderfully for this purpose. Alternatively, you can slip an elastic couch or chair cover over these pieces.
5. Put Couches and Other Plush Furniture on Pallets
If you place furniture directly on the ground of your storage unit, you may find that the legs are moldy or warped when you return to retrieve your items. Even in a climate-controlled unit that has strong barriers against the outdoors, moisture can seep onto the floor from a neighboring unit.
Place all of your furniture - especially anything plush or made from leather - on wood pallets. If you have reason to suspect that the storage unit
floor may become moist, you may even want to put a tarp on top of the pallet to prevent moisture from traveling up through the wood pallet and into your furniture.
Follow the tips above, and your furniture will look great when you remove it from storage. If you're searching for a storage facility in the Madison
area, contact MaxSecure Storage. We offer climate-controlled storage units in many sizes.
