Household Storage: How to Store Furniture Correctly

When putting furniture into storage, one of the first things to consider is how to protect it. No matter what the item, whether it’s a sofa, table or cabinet, it is integral that you take a few additional steps before placing it into a storage unit – especially if it’s going to be in there long term.

Ensuring furniture stays in top condition whilst it is in storage takes a little bit of extra work, but you’ll be so thankful for the results in the future. Here are our top tips for how you can make sure that any household furniture going into storage is stored correctly.

8 Step Guide: How to Store Furniture Correctly in a Storage Unit

1. What are your storage options?

Placing household furniture into storage can be a costly decision. Alongside the financial considerations, you will also need to look at whether it’s going into long term storage, or if you could sell the items and buy new furniture when you’re ready?

If you’re opting to store your furniture then you may consider choosing a climate-controlled storage unit, alongside other protective factors. One of the main takeaways when storing furniture in a storage unit is making sure everything is clean, dry and well protected.

2. Clean every item thoroughly

One way to protect furniture, especially for the long term, is to clean it before it goes into a storage facility. It is never advisable to put dirty household items inside a storage unit as this can cause offensive odours. By cleaning furniture and household items before placing them into storage you can also significantly reduce the chance of mould and dust inside the storage space.

Tips for cleaning furniture for storage – 

• For wooden or plastic furniture you can simply use soap and water. When cleaning wood you can also use a wood cleaner to protect the finish.
• When cleaning fabric furniture items such as sofas and cushions, you can clean with fabric or upholstery cleaner. Before placing anything into storage, make sure these are completely dry
• For metal sections of furniture, you can use a metal cleaner and polishing cloth and solution. This helps to remove any existing oxidation, delaying the build-up of tarnish.

3. Take furniture apart

When moving large items of furniture from your original location into a storage facility, it is a good idea to disassemble anything you can first. This will make desks, bookcases and shelves, tables, chairs and more, easier to pack and transport. Taking furniture apart also reduces the likelihood of breaking, scratching or damaging anything. 

4. For long term storage, wrap the furniture

It is always best practice before putting anything into a storage unit, to lay down a thick plastic sheet on the floor. This helps to prevent moisture from the floor seeping into any household items and furniture.

When placing furniture into storage, never put it in uncovered; you can use old sheets, blankets, cloths and plastic wraps to cover every household item. This will help protect furniture from dust and moisture; always make sure there is enough breathing room by loosely draping the material over the furniture.

5. Protect any glass

Before placing any glass items into storage, we need to take a few extra precautions such as wrapping any fragile items in packing paper, and covering with bubble wrap or placing into a box for extra security.

6. Raise the furniture off the ground

If you’re storing furniture in a unit that does not contain climate control, it is best to avoid putting furniture directly on the floor and raise it instead. You can use pallets, blocks, or even cardboard and cloth, to raise furniture off the floor; this will provide an additional layer of protection, particularly against flooding.

7. Remove any food from the storage unit

Never leave anything that is perishable when storing furniture long term or for a few months as it may attract unwanted wildlife and bugs!

It is also worth checking where any cardboard storage boxes came from – any that previously came from food shops or stalls may be soiled. Although storage facilities have pest controls in place, you can never be too careful.

8. Don’t over cram the storage facility

It is tempting to fill a storage unit to the brim, but actually the best way to store furniture is to not overdo it. Over-cramming storage units can lead to items breaking, falling over and becoming damaged. Take a moment to organise the storage unit for easy access and try to pack furniture methodically.

You can create an aisle at the back and sides of your unit, this will keep storage clean, decluttered and protect any household storage items and furniture inside. 

Contact Arden Self Storage

If you’re interested in placing personal goods or furniture into short term or long term storage, then you’ve come to the right place.

Here at Arden Self Storage, we specialise in providing domestic storage solutions for customers across Birmingham and Solihull. You can give us a call on 01675 442 827 or fill out our online contact form, and we’ll be in touch.