Whether you’re interested in using a storage unit to store items temporarily or for an extended period of time, it’s important that you prepare properly for their stay. The way that you store your furniture and other belongings in a self-storage facility can drastically affect how those items keep while they are there. Often, simply putting your furniture in storage won’t be enough to ensure it’s fully protected from things like dirt, pests, and weather. For your furniture to remain in tip-top shape it should be cleaned, disassembled, and sealed with the proper products or materials prior to being placed in storage. In order to keep your furniture clean, protected, and in good condition, be sure to follow these steps for how to store furniture in a storage unit.
You may think that making a list of all your belongings is silly, but when it comes to storing large and expensive items like furniture, it’s actually a good way to protect your investments. Typically, people will take inventory of all the items in their storage unit and send the list to their insurance company. This ensures that in the case of stolen or damaged furniture, you will be compensated for your losses.
When it comes to listing your items that are being stored, be sure to include the name of each item along with a description or photo of the object. This will help prove ownership of the items and gives your inventory list some validity.
Prior to storing your furniture, you should ensure each piece has been properly cleaned using the appropriate cleaning supplies and then sealed for its protection.
Preparing Wood Furniture for Storage:
In order to completely keep moisture out of your wood furniture, you’ll need to coat it with a protective sealant. The best way to keep wood patio furniture safe while it’s being stored in a Reno self-storage unit is to coat the surface with a protective sealant and cover it with a tarp.
Preparing Leather Furniture for Storage:
To prepare your leather furniture for storage, start by vacuuming the surface gently. This will remove any crumbs, or large particles and prepares the furniture for the next steps. Following this, use a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar and a soft clean cloth to wipe down the leather surface, removing any dirt or dust. Next, apply a leather sealant and cover the furniture with a tarp or moving blanket.
Preparing Metal Furniture for Storage:
To prepare your metal furniture for storage, treat any rusted areas with a rust-neutralizing primer and follow with paint to match the metal. Next, you’ll want to apply a coat of paste wax which protects the surface from water damage and will preserve the metal while it’s being stored.
Preparing Fabric Furniture for Storage:
To clean fabric furniture, follow the instructions on the label for each fabric. If there are no instructions or the label has been removed, you can use a mild cleaning solution such as the one listed:
After making your cleaning solution, use a sponge with the detergent mixture to scrub the cushions, then rinse with water and leave the cushions to dry completely.
Step #3: Disassemble large furniture for more efficient storageLarge furniture such as tables, bed frames, and large sofas can be difficult to move and store in their current state. To save yourself some storage room and the trouble of moving big, heavy furniture, be sure to disassemble these pieces prior to moving. To do this, carefully take apart each individual piece of the furniture such as the legs, and wrap the pieces together. Place any smaller pieces of hardware (i.e. nuts, bolts, screws, washers, etc.) in a plastic bag taped to the back of the furniture for safekeeping.
Placing your furniture in a self-storage unit is a great way to keep it safe from the elements and out of your way while you aren’t using it. However, a storage unit won’t keep your furniture free of dirt and dust. For this reason, we recommend to all our guests that they wrap their furniture using moving blankets or a special kind of cling-wrap designed for moving large items. The movers stretch plastic wrap is also great for securing loose furniture, keeping doors and drawers closed, and binding furniture for safe travel and storage.
Extreme heat and cold temperatures can drastically affect the quality of your furniture. Leather, wood, glass, and fabric materials can all suffer from weather-related damages if they are stored in a unit where temperatures fluctuate radically. Glass and wood often expand with heat and contract in the cold. This can lead to unwanted warping and dimensional changes in your furniture that result in permanent damage. Other common damages that may occur are rust, fading, and even material that becomes dried out and starts to break apart.
A climate-controlled storage facility will prevent such damages from occurring and leaves you feeling confident about your stored belongings.
The way that you store your furniture can make a huge difference in how it holds up while being in a storage facility. When it comes time to store your furniture in a storage unit, be sure to place all large furniture along the back and sides of the unit. This will keep these big pieces out of the way for when you need to access the unit later. And when it comes to stacking furniture, always be sure to put the heaviest items on the bottom and keep the lighter ones on top. This will help prevent damage to your delicate furniture. Also, keep all furniture off the ground using wood pallets or moving blankets to keep your furniture clean.
Now that you know exactly how to store furniture in a storage unit, it’s time to find the right storage facility for all your furniture needs. While there are many Reno self-storage options available, it’s crucial to rent from a facility that offers the best protection for your valuable items.
If you’re looking for self-storage in Reno, NV, then give Ample Storage a call today! We have a variety of unit sizes ranging from 5×5 to 20×20. Our storage facility is equipped with 24-hour video surveillance as well as onsite staff ensuring your belongings are secure at all times. Whether you need long-term or short-term storage in Reno, Ample Storage is here to assist in all of your self-storage needs. Call us today at 775.851.3535
