How To Prepare Furniture For Storage?

Preparing furniture for storage is important, so you can avoid damage to your belongings. It is also important to easily find small items like a footstool or sofa pillows. In this article, we share our vast storage experience on how to prepare furniture for storage.

What Does Preparing Furniture For Storage Mean?

Preparing furniture for storage means taking specific steps to ensure its protection and longevity while in a storage facility. This involves cleaning the furniture thoroughly to remove any dirt or residues. Disassembling larger pieces, like bed frames or tables, can make them easier to store and transport. It’s essential to wrap and cushion furniture using materials like bubble wrap, fabric covers, or plastic to shield them from dust, moisture, and potential damage. Additionally, considering the storage environment, such as opting for climate-controlled units, can further protect furniture from temperature fluctuations and humidity.

What Type Of Storage Movivan Offers?

Movivan Removals offers a specialized storage solution tailored to your needs. We provide wooden container-type storage, ensuring a robust and protective environment for your belongings. Situated inside a secure warehouse, our storage facility guarantees a safe and dry space, making it excellent for storing your furniture. With our commitment to quality and security, you can trust that your items will be preserved in optimal conditions.

Materials You Will Need

Here’s a comprehensive list of materials you might need to wrap and protect furniture intended for storage:

• Bubble Wrap: Provides cushioning for delicate and breakable items.
• Furniture Pads/Blankets: Offer a thick protective layer, especially useful for wooden and metal furniture.
• Stretch Wrap: Plastic film that wraps around furniture to protect against dust and minor scratches.
• Furniture Covers: Specific covers designed for sofas, chairs, mattresses, and other pieces to shield them from dust and contaminants.
• Cardboard Corners: Protect the edges of flat items like paintings, mirrors, and tabletops.
• Packing Paper: Useful for wrapping small items and for stuffing empty spaces in boxes.
• Corrugated Cardboard Sheets: Provide an extra layer of protection for flat surfaces.
• Packing Tape: For securing bubble wrap and other protective materials.
• Sealable Plastic Bags: Handy for storing screws, bolts, and other small parts when disassembling furniture.
• Rope or Twine: Useful for tying down or bundling items together.
• Foam Wraps: Offer cushioning for delicate items and can be used to fill voids.
• Desiccant Packets: Absorb moisture, helpful in preventing mold and mildew.
• Furniture Sliders: Assist in moving heavy furniture without scratching the floor.
• Kraft Paper: Thick paper ideal for wrapping items that might be sensitive to newspaper ink.
• Corner Protectors: Protect the corners of furniture, especially useful for glass or mirrored pieces.
• Cushioning Foam: Adds a protective layer to items susceptible to breaking or chipping.

What You Need To Do Before We Come To Collect?

There are a couple of important steps to take when preparing your furniture for storage.

Clean the furniture

It is a good idea to clean your furniture before putting it into storage. This will help prevent any dirt, dust, or grime from accumulating on the furniture while it is in storage. Over time, this can cause damage or discoloration to the furniture.

To clean your furniture, start by wiping it down with a soft, dry cloth to remove any loose dirt or dust. For more stubborn dirt or stains, you may need to use a cleaning solution. Make sure to test the cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture first to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage.

If you’re storing upholstered furniture, it’s important to vacuum it thoroughly to remove any loose dirt or dust. You may also want to use a fabric cleaner to remove any stains or odors.

Once the furniture is clean, allow it to dry completely before putting it into storage. This will help prevent mold or mildew from forming while it is in storage.

Wrap and protect the furniture

If you do not want to use our wrapping service, we strongly advise you to do it yourself. Not having your furniture properly protected can cost you more money! If this service is not provided by us, we would expect everything to be ready, wrapped, and labeled accordingly. If you leave this for the last moment or while our movers are trying to load everything onto our removal vans, this can cause delays, and confusion and it could lead to mistakes.

How We Prepare Furniture For Storage

If you are using Movivan to wrap and move the furniture into storage, there are a few simple steps we always follow to make sure every move goes smoothly and organized.

Follow and update the inventory list

Once our removal team arrives, we typically have an inventory list of what will go into storage and what will need to be protected while in storage. As wrapping of the furniture costs money, not all customers like to pay for this service. Our strong advice is all furniture must be protected and properly padded, to avoid any damage to each item during the transit or while inside the storage.

Having a detailed inventory list is absolutely necessary so there is no confusion about what is going into storage and what is not. If there are items missing from the list, our team leader will add all missing items- big or small. Everything must be on this list. You can easily forget what you have stored if you are planning to store furniture for a long period of time.

Dismantle The Furniture

Any large items like beds or wardrobes will have to be taken apart to come out of the property and be stored. Even in rare situations where they can come out as one piece, we still might dismantle the furniture to save space and apply better protection.

Wrap and protect the furniture

If you haven`t done this before we arrive, our skilled movers will bring all wrapping materials needed like blankets, bubble wrap, furniture paper, and stretch folio. If you have chosen us to do the wrapping, once the inventory list has been confirmed and updated, we will quickly start the protection process. Further into our article, you can more information about what is going to be wrapped with blankets and what with plastics.

Once each item is wrapped, it will be labeled. This is very important for small parts of furniture which have been dismantled like doors and drawers. Once this is all done or sometimes during the wrapping ( to make space to wrap the other furniture ) our movers will start moving and loading everything into our vans.

Which Furniture We Cover With Plastic And Which With Fabric Covers?

When storing furniture, the choice between plastic and fabric covers largely depends on the type of furniture and the environment of the storage facility. Here’s a guideline on which furniture should be covered with plastic and which with fabric:

Plastic Covers:

• Outdoor Furniture: Resistant to water and other elements, plastic is a good choice for patio sets, grills, and other outdoor items.
• Metal Furniture: To prevent rusting from potential moisture, covering metal pieces with plastic can be beneficial.
• Glass or Mirrored Furniture: Plastic can provide a protective barrier against scratches and dust.
• Appliances: For items like washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators, plastic can protect against dust and moisture.
• Mattresses: Plastic mattress bags can protect them from moisture, pests, and dirt.

However, be cautious when using plastic in non-climate-controlled environments. In humid areas, plastic can trap moisture, leading to mold or mildew growth.

Fabric Covers:

• Wooden Furniture: Wood needs to breathe. Fabric covers, like cotton sheets or drop cloths, allow for air circulation, reducing the risk of warping or mold growth.
• Leather Furniture: Leather can get damaged with moisture. Fabric covers allow leather to breathe, preventing it from becoming too dry or forming mildew.
• Upholstered Furniture: Fabric covers can protect upholstery from dust while also allowing it to breathe, preventing mold and mildew.
• Antique or Valuable Furniture: Breathable fabric covers help maintain the integrity of these items, protecting them from dust and potential environmental damage without trapping moisture.
• Musical Instruments: Many instruments, like pianos, are sensitive to humidity. A breathable fabric cover can offer protection without causing harm.

How Glass Or Mirrored Furniture Pieces Can Be Protected?

Protecting glass or mirrored furniture going into storage requires meticulous care to ensure they remains intact and scratch-free. We typically use bubble wrap, generously wrapping each glass or mirrored section, and secure it with packing tape to cushion against impacts. Cardboard will be placed over the bubble-wrapped sections for added protection, especially for larger pieces. When storing or transporting, always keep glass or mirrored furniture upright and avoid placing heavy items on top to prevent pressure cracks or breaks. We will also label the items accordingly, but if you are doing the wrapping, please place visible labels on all fragile furniture and pieces.

How Do I Protect Leather Furniture In Storage?

Protecting leather furniture in storage is essential to maintain its quality and appearance. First, clean and condition the leather with a suitable leather conditioner to keep it moisturized and prevent cracking. Do not wrap leather furniture in plastic as it can trap moisture; instead, use breathable fabric covers or cotton sheets to allow air circulation. Store the leather furniture away from direct sunlight and in a climate-controlled environment to prevent temperature fluctuations and humidity, both of which can damage leather over time.

What Furniture Might Not Be Allowed To Be Stored?

Certain furniture items may not be allowed in ours or other storage facilities due to various reasons such as potential hazards, legal regulations, or the nature of the item. Here are some examples:

• Infested Furniture: Any furniture infested with pests, like bedbugs or termites, is typically prohibited to prevent the spread to other units.
• Hazardous Material Furniture: Furniture that contains or is treated with hazardous materials or chemicals might be restricted.
• Odorous Furniture: Furniture that emits strong or foul odors can affect other items in the storage facility.
• Wet or Damp Furniture: Storing wet furniture can lead to mold or mildew growth, posing a risk to other items in the facility.
• Perishable Furniture: Any furniture with organic components that can rot, like certain eco-friendly designs, might not be allowed due to the risk of attracting pests.
• Stolen or Illegally Acquired Furniture: Storage facilities won’t accept items that are stolen or acquired through illegal means.

Is It Safe To Stack Furniture In A Storage Unit?

Stacking furniture in a storage unit can be safe if done correctly, but it requires careful planning and consideration. It’s essential to place heavier, sturdier items at the bottom and stack lighter ones on top to maintain stability. Protective materials like padding or blankets should be placed between furniture pieces to prevent scratches or damage. Additionally, ensure that stacked items are not pressing against fragile or breakable parts, such as glass components or delicate woodwork. Periodically checking the stacked furniture for any signs of stress or shifting is also recommended to address potential issues promptly.

Choosing our affordable London storage to store your belongings will give you the benefits of using experts in removal and storage services. Combining both we can also give you a lower price and you can be saving up to 40% off your initial prices for moving and storage.

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