How to Store Furniture the Right Way
- February 17, 2015
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- Posted in : Storage Tips
Sofas, beds, tables, armchairs, dressers, chests of drawers, mirrors, desks, pianos and other furniture usually don’t come cheap, hence it is important to take good care of them so you can enjoy your fittings for as long as possible. This also applies to when you need to put your furniture into storage – you don’t want to end up with your antique sofa getting ruined by mould. If you’re looking to store your furniture in a self storage unit, make sure you read through these tips first.
Clean
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Start by wiping down each item with a clean cloth and continue by using an appropriate cleaner for each type of material – wood, glass, metal etc. Wipe down once more if needed.
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To prevent mould and mildew you should also clean fabric sofas, chairs and mattresses. Gently wipe the surface with an antibacterial cleanser and warm water solution – or according to instructions for the specific kind of fabric you’re dealing with. Allow to air dry.
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Ideally you would have any leather of delicate fabric professionally cleaned to avoid any damage.
Disassemble
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Where possible, disassemble beds, tables and other furniture, and wrap the legs in bubble wrap.
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Remove drawers from dressers, cushions from couches and planks from bed frames. Group and wrap these pieces together.
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Make sure to store all screws, nuts and bolts in plastic bags, which you attach to the piece of furniture if possible.
Pack and cover
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Store computers and televisions in their original boxes with cords, speakers, microphones and other accessories wrapped individually.
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Use bubble wrap, moving blankets, cardboard or foam to wrap items that break easily, such as mirrors.
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Pay extra attention to corners when packing furniture by protecting them with edge protectors or an extra layer of bubble wrap or cardboard.
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Use stretch wrap to keep cabinet doors or dresser drawers closed while moving.
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Cover both leather and wood furniture with a thin layer of soft fabric, such as cotton or flannel.
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Don’t wrap with plastic, as it won’t let the furniture breathe and can cause mildew.
Store
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Do a final check to make sure everything is clean and completely dry before placing in storage.
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Maximise your available packing space by filling wardrobes and drawers.
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Never put anything on top of a leather sofa or chair as it can leave indentations over time.
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If you’re storing your furniture in a storage unit with concrete walls, avoid placing pieces in contact with the walls.
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Store mirrors and artwork standing upright to prevent them from collapsing under their own weight.
For more advice on how to store furniture and other pieces, check out our packing tips for self storage.
Store your furniture with Flexistore
Our storage service is a bit different as we don’t have traditional storage units that you transport your things to yourself – instead we will deliver a trailer with a storage vault inside to your doorstep. You’ll then load the vault in your own time and we’ll collect the trailer and take it to our storage centre. One vault will fit around a room and a half’s worth of stuff, furniture included. Our vaults are made of kiln dried wood that breathes and ensures no moisture and risk of damage.
If you’re looking for hassle-free storage in and around Aberdeen, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Manchester, get in touch on 0845 430 9333 or fill out a quick storage enquiry form on our website.