When people rent a storage space, they often do so for the primary purpose of storing extra furniture. This is completely understandable, especially since it’s quite common to inherit furnishings from family and friends over the years.
While a storage unit enables you to affordably keep this furniture without unnecessarily cluttering up your garage, attic, basement or shed, you must prepare the furniture for storage first:
Wood-Based Furniture
If you have a piece of furniture that’s made of wood, you’ll first want to clean it and then apply any furniture polish or oil as necessary. Check to see if you can take it apart for easier traveling and storage; beds and tables can customarily be taken apart so they take up less space. Use older blankets, rather than bubble wrap or plastic wrap, to protect wooden furniture while it’s being stored.
Particle Board Furniture
Particle board is a cheaper alternative to solid wood furniture, which makes it a very affordable option for many homeowners. However, it necessitates that the storage space be humidity-controlled. Particle board is known for warping, so it shouldn’t be kept in an area that could become moist. Try wrapping the particle board in plastic, since it doesn’t need to “breathe” like solid wood.
Glass Furniture
A glass table top or glass curio shelves needs to be well-protected while in storage. After cleaning it, protect it using several layers of bubble-wrap or a similar alternative. Once in the storage unit, make sure it is positioned so it can’t be broken.
Plastic Furniture
Plastic furniture, such as kids’ tables and chairs, can be wiped down and put into storage without much fuss. There’s no need to put any protective covering on it, either, because it can be so easily washed if it becomes dusty.
Make Sure Your Storage Unit Is Ready, Too
Purchase some pallets or shelving so your furniture never touches the floor. Also, plot out a map of the storage room where everything is going to be stored. Then, when you want something, you can find it without difficulty and won’t have to turn the whole unit upside down.
The more prepared your furniture items are for storage, the better they’ll look when you need them again.