The Do's and Don'ts of Furniture storage

The perfect storage room has two things: climate control and light control. If you have access to a cool dark storage space, all you need to do is move your furniture in.  Most of us, however, are not so lucky. If you’re putting furniture in storage, it’s probably because you ran out of room. Fear not! There are a lot of cost-effective options to help solve temporary and long-term storage needs.

Self-storage the old fashioned way

First, let’s talk about the elephant in the storage room . . . not all storage solutions are created equal. If you’re transitioning and don’t want to pay for storage space, you’ll probably take what you can get, even if that means a friend’s garage or attic. While this may seem like the easiest option at first, exposure to extreme temperatures and humidity swings can cause warping, rotting, cracking, mildew, and mold on your furniture.

If you do choose to make use of a less-than-perfect storage space, there are some steps you can take to protect your furniture. 

The first step is to thoroughly clean and dry your furniture before storing it. Upholstered furniture can be vacuumed and cared for with a fabric cleaner. Wood pieces can be gently wiped down and waxed or polished if needed. Metal pieces can be polished as well to protect the finish. All of this ensures your furniture is going into storage in the best possible condition.

The next step is to do whatever you can to get your furniture off the floor; this is especially important for garage floors. At a minimum, you can place plastic on the ground to protect your furniture from the floor’s hard surface. If possible, use pallets or cinder blocks to raise your furniture. This step will protect your pieces from accidental water damage and moisture. 

If you have the time, we suggest disassembling wood pieces before storing them. Doing this can save space when storage is tight. The one thing you definitely want to avoid is stacking furniture because it can weaken the structure and compromise joints. 

Finally, make sure all your furniture is covered to protect it from dust and scratching. You can use drop cloths, blankets, special furniture covers, or plastic wrap (just make sure the plastic is not wrapped so securely as to prevent air from circulating).

Store with Us!

If you want to be certain your furniture is going to be in the same great shape when you need it again, trust it with the experts. While you should still take similar precautions to protect your furniture, a climate controlled unit will guarantee that your furniture stays in excellent condition. The constant temperature will prevent wood from warping or cracking while the low humidity will prevent mold and mildew from forming.

At Green Storage, we offer climate controlled self storage units to protect your furniture. We offer flexible terms from a little as 4 weeks and guarantee your furniture will be safe from environmental damage. Don’t put your furniture at risk – book your unit today.