Step-by-Step Guide to Furniture Storage

You may be considering personal storage for a number of reasons, whether you’re remodeling your home or moving to a smaller home. Whatever the reason, it’s important to take the necessary care precautions when storing your furniture and belongings to help you avoid issues like mold, scratches or damage. Here’s how.

Clean Before Storing Furniture

No matter what you’re storing, it’s a good idea to give your items a thorough cleaning. Use the appropriate cleaner for the right material, whether it’s wood, glass or metal. Wipe your furniture and items down with a clean cloth, and then make sure your items are dried in a well-ventilated area before you move them into storage. You want to make sure that all items you enter in don’t have any moisture trapped anywhere, as this can give rise to mold.

For items like wood furniture, think about adding some wood polish to help protect the wood and keep your furniture in great condition.

Disassemble For More Efficient Furniture Storage

Before storing your furniture and other items, be sure to break down whatever you can. That especially applies to larger items like beds, dressers, tables, chairs and couches. That means removing legs from tables, removing cushions from couches, and taking drawers out of dressers. Not only will disassembling your items allow you to fit more items in storage comfortably, but it will also make transportation easier as well.

Remember to keep disassembled parts together so you stay organized throughout the process – tape and plastic bags can really help!

Storing Mattresses

Plastic mattress bags are ideal for keeping your mattresses looking good as new until you are ready to move them into your new home. Before sealing up your mattress, use upholstery cleaner and a handheld vacuum to thoroughly clean the cloth. A dirty mattress will easily grow dangerous mold, fungus, and bacteria if it is put into a mattress bag and placed in storage. It is also important to lay mattresses flat in storage so that they retain their shape. Lay a tarp on the storage unit floor before storing your mattress for additional protection. Avoid storing boxes or other furniture on top of your mattresses to avoid permanent dents, cuts, or other damage.

Protect Your Furniture

After you have all your items ready for storage, it’s time to protect everything with the right packing materials. Bubble wrap is a common packing material, and can help protect glass, lamps, mirrors, framed photos, and also the sharp corners of items like the edge of a table.

You should generally avoid wrapping items in plastic, as this can reduce air circulation. This is especially true for items like wood or fabrics like wool and cotton. Moisture can build up inside, leading to the formation of mold and other organic material, which not only damages material, but can also lead to odors forming.

In general, covering items with drop cloths, blanket, and other material that allows for the flow of air is best.

Choose Climate Control in Houston

In general, it’s an excellent idea to choose a climate-controlled storage unit for furniture and other items. Temperature changes can swell and warp furniture over time, which can impact the look of the piece and furniture’s overall strength.

Humidity is also a problem, especially in Houston. Climate-controlled environments help keep humidity at ideal levels, which helps prevent the growth of mildew and mold.

Organize Your Storage Unit

Some are tempted to just pile their furniture into a storage unit. However, it makes sense to first plan on which items go where. Remember to always leave space between items. This will make it easier to retrieve key items you want and also allow for better airflow between items. By properly preparing your furniture and items for storage, you can help ensure they remain in great condition over the long-term.