We can all agree that one of the most valuable benefits of having a self-storage unit is the peace of mind it provides. That being said, you can never be too cautious when storing your prized possessions of expensive furniture in an out-of-the-way location. That doesn't mean you can't do anything to make your furniture more secure in storage. On the contrary, we'll show you how to prepare your furniture for long-term storage, so you never have to worry about it again.
The first step in prepping furniture for storage is carefully cleaning all the pieces. If you don't, the dust or grime accumulated on their surface may cause irreparable harm to the objects while kept in a storage unit. Dust is especially a problem when it comes to long-term storage.
Before you start putting things away, you should lightly dust the surface of all your furniture. Using a soft, non-abrasive, dry cloth, remove dust and other loose particles from the furniture's surface. Avoid pushing or rubbing the dust particles down onto the cover.
Before storing your furniture long-term, you need to clean it thoroughly.
There are various cleaning strategies available depending on the type of furniture you want to store for an extended period of time.
Lightly clean the upholstery to remove any coarse particles. After dusting the surface, go over it again using a high-quality leather cleaner. You should leave the leather cleaner on as instructed by the manufacturer of the cleaning agent. After doing that, wipe the leather with a dry towel to complete the cleaning procedure.
Prolonged storage is not kind to wooden or antique furniture. To keep valuable pieces safe, apply an appropriate wood cleaning product to the wooden surfaces. You should gently wipe the cleaning product off with a moist towel. After that, apply a layer of furniture polish to all wooden surfaces to keep the wood from drying out while the furniture is put away.
Ensure the furniture is completely dry to keep metal from rusting during long-term storage. If you don't do this, you could have a disaster on your hands. Aside from that, you can polish all of your furniture's metal surfaces for added protection. Polish will provide an additional layer of security.
One of the most important things when thinking about how to prepare your furniture for long-term storage is how you will pack your possessions.
The shipping and storage processes may cause scratches and dents to your furnishings. It is a good idea to disassemble furniture to avoid this from happening. Disassembling will allow you to organize and stack the furniture during the transport and allow for more space in the storage unit itself.
With
that said, disassembling and reassembling furniture is hard. Thankfully you do
not need to do it alone. At allseasonmovers.com,
you will find professionals who will
gladly help you move your furniture wherever needed.
You
can cover the furniture with old sheets, blankets, drop cloths, or plastic
wrap. This will preserve the pieces from dust and moisture. Don't wrap the
furniture in thick plastic coverings
that trap moisture since this can cause condensation, making the wooden
furniture expand and the metal furniture rust. Wrap furniture to allow it to
breathe by lightly hanging the cloth over it.
Use a medium-sized box for glasses and other glassware rather than a huge box. Big boxes may become cumbersome to handle. Things that you can put in the box with the glassware to keep it from breaking are:
Temperature
variations and excessive humidity are particularly damaging to wooden and
upholstered furniture. Quick temperature
swings may cause wood to expand and compress, while moisture can cause rotting,
discoloration, or mold development. As you can see, there are many things
to consider. Because of this, you should make sure that you know what you need from a storage unit before you go out looking for one.