Do you move? Are you planning to do work in your home? The chances are that with these changes, you will need to store your furniture temporarily. Sofas, household appliances, desks… it’s not easy because these parts are bulky and can deteriorate over time.
So, how and where to store your furniture?
For a simple and effective solution, follow our 4 steps. Let’s go!
1. Properly clean your furniture
Cleaning is essential. Beyond unpleasant odors, it considerably reduces the risk of degradation, in particular mold or the appearance of pests.
Before storing your furniture, cleaning them well will allow you to find it in good condition. A few cleaning tips:
For wooden items
Start by dusting your furniture. To do this, very slightly dampen a microfiber cloth and rub the wood. Remove excess moisture with a dry towel.
Now we have to move on to the cleaning step.
When cleaning wooden furniture, never use all-purpose cleaning sprays unless the furniture has a plastic coating.
Opt for natural solutions like black soap (for raw wood furniture) mixed with hot water. Dilute a little baking soda in lukewarm water and scrub for stained wooden furniture.
Rinse, then dry with a cloth. Finally, polish your furniture to give it a second life. To do this, you can use polishing beeswax, a natural and effective solution.
For fabric furniture
Like wooden items, they must first be dusted with a vacuum cleaner. There are many tips for cleaning. For example, using shaving foam to remove superficial stains (leave the foam on the stain for 1 hour, then rub with a damp sponge.)
For metal furniture
Dust first with a soft brush and a toothbrush for detailing. Then clean with a little water mixed with white vinegar.
Polish all metal parts with a soft cloth and metal cleaner. This step will remove any existing oxidation and delay the appearance of tarnish.
Congratulations, your furniture has found a new lease of life! Let’s go to the next step.
2. Choose disassembled furniture
To facilitate transport and optimize your future storage location, we strongly advise you to dismantle everything you can: desks, shelves, tables, chairs, etc. This will also reduce the risk of breakage and scratches.
Here are some tips and tricks for dismantling furniture:
- Use a pencil or post-its to indicate the location of each item by number.
- Remove the elements in the correct order: the doors, the top or the bottom, depending on the model, then the boards and drawers if necessary.
- Place all screws, bolts, Allen keys, and other small items in a labeled bag, which will be stored next to the furniture.
3. Pack your furniture like a pro!
To store your furniture good packaging is essential to protect your furniture against dust, rodents, and humidity.
For furniture that cannot be disassembled:
- Use pallet stretch wrap. Generously roll up your bedside table, small chest of drawers, or whatever.
For furniture that comes apart:
- Use fabric: old sheets, blankets, or drop cloths.
- Avoid using plastic sheeting, which can create condensation and thus promote the appearance of mold.
- Wrap furniture so it can breathe by covering it with loose fabric.
If you have a mattress to store, follow this method. To get a mattress storage bag or more protective packaging, visit Britwrap.com.
Bubble wrap will be ideal for fragile furniture such as a glass table.
4. Organize your storage location
Humidity and temperature changes can damage your furniture, especially wooden ones and fabric sofas.
Your storage location should be clean, dry, and well protected.
Have you thought about renting a storage box? Self-storage has many advantages.
The concept?
You store your furniture in a secure, maintained place for a non-binding period, all with free access. The premises are ventilated, insulated, and temperate to ensure the storage of your belongings in the best conditions.
In addition, the storage center makes your job easier by providing you with handling equipment: moving boxes, hand trucks, etc.
If you store in a place where the temperature is not controlled, you have to fight against humidity. Click here to buy a container desiccant to prevent humidity.
Start by laying a thick plastic sheet on the floor to prevent moisture from seeping into your furniture.
Also, make sure you don’t put anything directly on the floor. Instead, use flat boxes, pallets, or concrete blocks to raise. Do not stick your furniture against the wall.
Never leave anything perishable in your storage unit that could attract insects or unwanted creatures.
A few tips for storage in your storage location:
- Each object must be easily identifiable and accessible.
- If you have a lot of items, make a quick diagram to display at the entrance to your storage location.
- Plan an aisle to access the back and sides of your furniture.
- If you really don’t have space, put separators (cover, cardboard, etc.) between the stored furniture.
- Finally, nothing should be placed on your armchairs and sofas to avoid any deformation.
We hope in this article you find these tips helpful.
