The problem of insufficient storage space is more common than one might think. You can mostly see it in times of relocation, or big house projects, such as renovation. And, if downsizing is in the picture, some extra space is more than welcome. With this in mind, it is only logical that you turn to storage options. However, before you allocate your items, and call the movers to take them, you need to prepare your furniture for long term storage. Even though relocation is best handled by best movers in Hamilton Ontario, it might just be the smartest move to take care of this task on your own. Still, you won’t be all alone. The text in front of you will be your lighthouse and a guide, so do read on.
A little backtracking is due at this moment. Before you begin to prepare your furniture for long term storage, it would be smart to decide whether storing itself is worth it. So, let us answer that question first.
Is storing your furniture worth it?
This question, although possibly sounding trivial, is actually sound and worth considering. Namely, you ought to know if it is the right move in terms of investing your time and your money into the whole furniture storage idea. You see, if you decide to store your large and heavy items inside a storage unit that is good and near your home, you will have to pay a nice amount. And not everyone is ready and happy to do so on a monthly basis. In addition, if you happen to choose a bad storage unit where your items are neglected or mismanaged, storage costs can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. We believe that this is a serious financial burden not many are willing to take, nor able handle.
Howbeit, you are still left with this quality furniture you are not ready to toss. And you shouldn’t. Especially if it’s items that are practical, comfortable, fashionable and trendy or ones that are treasured within the family as family heirlooms. In addition, you do not want to go around discarding furniture of greater quality. So, before you go on this venture, make sure to ask yourself if the furniture item is:
- practical, comfortable, convenient and easy to use?
- well-crafted from high-quality materials?
- in good condition and shape, useful for years to come?
- valuable in a sentimental way (a precious gift, a family heirloom, etc.)?
- expensive?
Answering these ought to give you a clearer picture. After the decision has been made, make sure to do thorough research, and find a safe, secure and reputable storage company.
How to prepare your furniture for long term storage?
In an ideal case scenario, you have made a clear distinction between the furniture pieces you plan on moving to your new home, storing, and getting rid of. If you plan on moving to Hamilton Ontario from afar, chances are the latter two groups will be larger in size. This is perfectly fine. Now, let’s see how you should prepare your furniture for long term storage:
Clean the furniture thoroughly
The very first step of this process involves some hard work. You would start with removing any dust and debris that has been lingering. It is best that you use a soft, non-abrasive and dry cloth. Do this very gently and avoid pressing or rubbing down the dust particles onto the delicate finish of the furniture pieces. When it comes to wooden furniture, you want to use a suitable wood cleaning product. Wipe it carefully with a damp cloth. Finish with furniture polish on all wooden surfaces. This will prevent the wood from drying our while in storage.
Leather furniture needs thorough vacuuming, followed by a high-quality leather cleaner. After some time, you would finish the cleaning process with a dry cloth, and a leather protecting product.
Make sure to polish all the metal parts on your belongings, so as to remove the accumulated oxidation.
You also want to make sure that all furniture items are as dry as a bone before packing and storing them. Trust us that you don’t want to get familiar with what can grow on damp furniture.
Pack the furniture pieces
This is the second step, and just as important as the previous one. If you do a good job here, and you get a guarantee of your items staying perfectly safe and protected for as long as you like. So, when wrapping furniture for storage, you want to start by disassembling the largest pieces. This will help you pack, transport and store the separate pieces with greater ease and safety. You want to wrap your furniture with blankets, bed sheets, large pieces of cloth, or any other suitable furniture covers. This is done so as to prevent dust, dirt, and moisture from making contact with your furniture. These materials are soft and breathing, which is great for wood and leather. Apart from keeping them safe from scratches and dents, it will allow the air to circulate freely, thus preventing moisture and mold from appearing and making a permanent stay.
Make sure that you provide extra protection for all protruding parts of your furniture. These include legs, arms, ornaments, and everything else you cannot classify as a boxy shape. You would wrap these elements with soft paddings, such as blankets and clothes, and then add some bubble paper over them. Avoid placing bubble paper directly over delicate wood or leather surfaces at all costs. It can lead to the formation of condensation, and we all know what lies at the end of that road. Mold. The enemy.
When you set out to prepare your furniture for long term storage, you want to use small pieces of packing tape and secure all of the protective materials. Now, restrain from placing them directly over the delicate furniture pieces. This can lead to some unwanted damages, and it’s always smart to avoid those.