Antiques, paintings, silk carpets, silverware, and other objects d’art need to be stored carefully if they are to maintain their value. So finding a safe place to store these precious items without them getting damaged can be a problem. Using a self storage unit for storing antiques can solve this, whether you need long-term or short-term storage.
Often these objects are very old and fragile and can easily be damaged if not stored correctly. Water, sunlight, and pests can cause damage to your wooden pieces as well as to Persian carpets and paintings.
You may own beautiful antique pieces that you have inherited but they do not fit into your smaller home, or they may not suit your décor style. These items are also of sentimental value too, so they are not something that you necessarily want to sell. They need to be kept safely until you get a larger home with more space to accommodate them. Or depending on the circumstances, you may keep them until your children are in a position to take them into their homes.
Prepare Your Valuable Antiques for Self Storage
These tips will ensure that your antique furniture and other heirlooms are properly prepared for their time of storage in a self storage unit.
Wooden Furniture.
Wood was the material that antique furniture was constructed from. When treated correctly it is durable and long-lasting. But any neglect in your antique’s upkeep may lead to damage and you can kiss the value of your piece goodbye. By following these steps though, you can ensure that your pieces will be safe in storage.
- Cover your antique furniture with a thin layer of wax rather than the furniture oil that you use on your more modern pieces. Wax is long-lasting but not permanent, and is the ideal protection against dust, moisture, scuffs, and scratches. It also feeds the wood and protects against cracks and splits.
- Disassemble the furniture if possible. Remove drawers and shelves and wrap these in sheets for protection.
- Remove any glass or mirrors and wrap these carefully in bubble wrap.
- Wrap the entire piece of furniture in breathable fabric such as cotton sheets as an extra layer of protection against dust and scratches.
Silverware, Crockery, Glass, and Paintings
- Polish silverware and store it in its original wooden case if possible. Silver gets tarnished by being exposed to air, so it should be enclosed completely in clean tissue paper or wrapped in unbleached cotton muslin before being placed in a zip-top plastic bag. Adding a piece of chalk to each bag will help prevent tarnishing too.
- Crockery and glass should be wrapped in bubble wrap and carefully placed in clean cardboard cartons. Don’t make the boxes too heavy as there is always the danger of the bottom falling out and your tableware being smashed. Using clean newsprint paper instead of newspaper to wrap crockery to keep it free of newsprint.
- Paintings should be dusted with an artist’s brush before being wrapped up carefully in protective material. Art needs to be stored in a cool, dark place, so if your paintings are particularly valuable, you should consider investing in a temperature-controlled self storage unit.
Soft Furnishings
These would include any cushioned furniture such as dining room chairs, couches, and chairs.
- Have the cushions cleaned professionally or clean them yourself using an antimicrobial cleaner.
- Let the furniture dry completely before putting it away to reduce the risk of mold and mildew.
- Don’t pack anything on top of the furniture as airflow is important.
- Clean leather furniture with wax or polish and wrap it in a breathable cloth to prevent any mold from forming.
How to Prepare Your Self Storage Unit
Many antique items are old and fragile which makes them more susceptible to damage. It is advisable to line the floor of the unit with pallets or with a tarpaulin so that your items are not placed onto a cement floor. Cement is prone to give off moisture and any type of dampness in your storage unit is a major threat to your stored goods. Wood and other furniture can disintegrate and rot in damp, humid conditions.
Never store any foodstuffs, even if they are dry, in your unit as they will encourage pests such as rodents or insects which can wreak havoc with your belongings.
Pack your antiques carefully into your unit. Don’t stack items on top of each other and leave space around the individual pieces to encourage airflow.
How to Choose a Self Storage Facility
It is vitally important to choose a self storage facility where you can be sure your valuable antiques will be safe and properly protected. So, the security arrangements need to be top-notch to ensure the safety of your possessions.
Units need to be clean and dry. The facility must be well-lit and well-maintained with no sign of any pest infestations.
Choose a storage unit that is easily accessible with drive-up access to make offloading and loading easy.
Why Choose Stop & Store Fareham for Storing Your Antiques
When you have valuable antiques to store, renting one of our units is a decision that you will not regret. Our self storage facility ticks all those boxes that are essential for the secure storage of your valuables.
- Our storage facility is fully secured with monitored CCTV, and individually alarmed with intruder alarms meaning that your products will be safe from theft.
- Our hours of operation are from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week.
- Our modern steel units vary in size from 12sq ft to 200sq ft so there are many sizes to choose from.
- You can hire one of our units for 1 month or for as long as you need it and no deposit is required, making it an affordable way to access storage.
- Please check for customer reviews on our website.
We are centrally situated in Thackeray Mall, Unit C on the First Floor in Fareham. This storage facility is well situated to serve the communities of Fareham, Porchester, and the surrounding areas.
Please contact us on 01329 556174 for any information you may need with regards to storing your antique furniture.