SUTTERS FORT SELF STORAGE BLOG
SIX ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR STORING WOODEN FURNITURE
Admin • April 27, 2017
Wooden furniture can be ornately beautiful, but it's also susceptible to certain types of damage, like rotting, scratches, and cracks. If you'll be putting your wooden furniture into storage, it's important that you take several measures to protect it. Follow these tips, and your items will look as good as new when you pull them out of storage several months or years later.
1. CLEAN THE FURNITURE FIRST
Any slight stains and spills will only become worse when given months to settle into the wood. Plus, cleaning and polishing your wood re-balances its moisture levels to reduce the risk of cracks and rot.
To clean your wooden furniture, follow these steps:
- Dust the item with a soft cloth to remove surface dust.
- Dip a rag in a mixture of mild dish soap and water.
- Wring your rag out well and wipe down the furniture.
- Use a cotton swab dipped in the dish soap mixture to remove grime from any nooks and crannies.
- Let the furniture dry.
- Apply a layer of furniture polish and buff it into the furniture with a soft cloth, using circular motions.
2. DISASSEMBLE THE FURNITURE IF POSSIBLE
If your furniture comes apart easily, as do many bookshelves and entertainment centers, disassemble it. This will reduce your chances of banging the furniture on something as you move it into the storage unit. Place any screws or washers in a resealable bag and put the bag inside a drawer or on a shelf where you'll find it easily when it comes time to put the furniture back together.
3. CHOOSE A CLEAN, WELL-MAINTAINED STORAGE UNIT
Make an appointment to tour the storage facility before you sign a rental agreement. You want to ensure the facility is free from pests like wood bees and carpenter ants, as these may wreak havoc on your furniture. Ask the manager about the facility's pest control policies. Also, make sure the units look generally clean and well-kept so you don't have to worry about your furniture being exposed to grime and moisture.
4. CHOOSE BREATHABLE COVERS
As long as you're in a reasonably warm and dry climate, like that of Santa Cruz, it's best not to fully encase your wooden furniture in plastic. Encasing furniture in plastic will just trap moisture against it, increasing your chances of mold. Just drape the furniture in a light cotton sheet. Secure the sheet around the legs using zip ties or rubber bands, if you desire. The sheet will keep dust from falling on the furniture while still allowing the item to "breathe."
5. DON'T STORE THE FURNITURE DIRECTLY ON THE GROUND
While furniture is made to sit on the ground, it's best to set it on a pallet, or at least a tarp, while it's in storage. If anything were to spill in a nearby storage unit, you want your wooden furniture protected from the spill, not wicking the moisture up from the ground.
6. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PLACE ON TOP
It's perfectly fine to place items on a wooden shelf, a table, or even a dresser while such an item is in storage. Doing so can maximize your storage capacity! However, it's very important that you're careful what you place on top of your furniture.
Don't place anything made from rubber directly on top of the furniture. The rubber may break down and leave marks on the wood. Also, avoid storing anything made from wool on or near the wood, as the wool may attract moths that can leave stains and nicks on your furniture. If you place anything metal on the wood, check to ensure the item is not rusty first, as the rust may also leave stains.
If you're looking for a clean, safe place to store your wooden furniture, contact Sutters Fort Self Storage. We offer a variety of storage solutions in Santa Cruz, CA.
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HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE SELF-STORAGE FOR SEASONAL CLOTHES Living on the Central Coast of California offers you the chance to enjoy a beautiful climate. The weather may be beautiful year-round. However, you still need to dress for each season to be comfortable. Whether your idea of enjoying the great outdoors is sitting in the park with a good book or taking to the slopes or waves as the seasons change, you need to have the right clothes easily available when you need them. Keep your fall and winter clothes accessible by storing your spring and summer clothes away until you need them next year. WASH AND DRY ALL CLOTHES BEFORE STORING THEM When it comes to storing clothes, it may seem natural to wash all your clothes that were recently worn. Nevertheless, if your clothes from last season have just been sitting in the closet for a while, you may be tempted to just put them in a box and store them. However, it's important to wash all your clothes just before storing them. Also, store delicate clothes separately. Delicate clothes that are just for one season should be washed separately according to instructions on their tags. Give them plenty of time to dry before storing them. If you pack away wet or even damp clothes, you may find that they end up musty and moldy when you retrieve them. Just one damp clothing item can leave all the surrounding clothes smelling awful, and you may end up choosing to dump the clothes. Save yourself the trouble and be sure to dry clothes before storing them for the season. PACK ALL YOUR CLOTHES (EVEN T-SHIRTS) WITH CARE You may carefully button your favorite dress shirt before carefully folding it and wrapping it with tissue paper. On the other hand, you may be tempted to quickly fold T-shirts and pack them into a box without much care. After all, they're sturdy, right? Not so fast. According to The New York Times, folding your T-shirts can help keep them looking good. Fold the sleeves of each T-shirt toward the back, and then fold it in half only once in a crosswise position. That way, you won't have to create extra creases that can fold over the image on your shirt. It's preferable to fold T-shirts for storage, rather than hanging them. CHOOSE THE RIGHT HANGERS FOR CLOTHES YOU PLAN TO HANG You may choose to hang up some clothes in your self-storage unit. If you do so, be sure that you choose the right clothes hangers for storage. Wire hangers should be avoided for nearly any clothes. Be sure you opt for padded hangers if you're going to store coats, jackets or other large clothing items. Dresses are best stored from hangers with loops that can support the garments. You don't want dresses to fall and stay on the ground for the long period of time you may plan to store them, so be sure that they are secure on the hanger. Otherwise, it may be best to fold and store them. GO FOR PLEASANT SCENTS WITH STORAGE Consider storing your clothes with pleasant scents. Moth balls are often used with clothes storage, but that should not be necessary with a self storage unit. Instead, try storing your clothes alongside sachets in your favorite scents or even cedar. That way, you will be met with wonderful scents when you go to retrieve your clothes. Finally, keep in mind that choosing a self-storage facility that is reliable and secure is important. Whether you need short-term storage for seasonal clothes or want to store outfits for a long time, Sutters Fort Self Storage LLC can meet and exceed all your storage needs. Your storage unit will be available 365 days per year, so you can get your clothes whenever you need them.