There are a few things to consider when looking for furniture storage and planning on storing some of your belongings in a self storage unit. Some of your concerns may include if can you safely store some of your large items in self storage? Also, how safe will your stuff be, and when you remove it from your unit will it still be in good condition?
This will depend to a large extent on how you prepare. So once you have decided to make use of a self storage unit for storing any of your belongings including large furniture items, bear in mind that it is important to prepare your furniture for storage. After all, you want your belongings to come out of the storage unit in the same condition that they went in before you packed them away. At Stop & Store Fareham we provide a safe secure environment for your belongings, so it is worth packing them properly.
1. Give Everything a Thorough Clean
A good clean of each item of furniture that you wish to store is essential as any dust or dirt can result in stains or other permanent damage when it is kept in storage for any length of time. Any sign of damp or mildew will worsen over time so treat any if you see them.
Wooden Furniture
Wipe them down with a dry cloth to remove all dust. Use a wood cleaner with a damp cloth and once it is completely dry, apply a coat of furniture polish or liquid wax on the wood to seal it and prevent it from drying out and cracking whilst in self storage. There is a danger of mould and mildew growing on the wood if there is any moisture left. This will cause the wood to discolour.
Check for any signs of woodworm or any other infestations and get them treated as these will become much worse when stored in a dark environment for any length of time. These will also infest your other items of furniture if left untreated.
Upholstered Sofas and Chairs
Vacuum well to remove any dust and dirt. Make sure you remove the cushions and get into every corner to remove food crumbs or any other dirt particles. If they have loose covers, remove them for washing and make sure they are dry before putting them back on. Otherwise if they are not removable, spot clean any stains. Apply a fabric protector if you can.
For leather upholstery clean with the special leather cream before applying a leather protector.Mattresses
Your mattress needs to be vacuumed thoroughly and spot cleaned with baking soda and a spray of water before being stored. Make sure it is completely dry.
It is acceptable to transport your mattress upright, but once it is placed in your self storage unit it needs to lay flat. Otherwise if it is on its side, the filling and the coils will fall to the bottom and the cushion of the mattress will be destroyed.
Cover your mattress in a protective wrap and once you have stored your mattress by laying it flat, don’t put heavy items on top of it as this will damage it.
2. Disassemble Your Furniture for Easy Storage
If any of your furniture pieces can be taken apart before storing them, then do so. It will make it simpler for you to transport and to pack away as you can use your storage unit space much more efficiently.
- Take it apart carefully and if you still have the manuals, try to follow them.
- Keep track of which part goes where by labelling each piece and grouping the relevant pieces together when you pack them away.
- Store any screws, bolts, and hinges in a plastic bag and tape it firmly to the related piece of furniture so that when you need to put it all back together again you are easily able to.
3. Prepare Your Self Storage Unit
Once you have prepared your furniture for storage to the best of your ability, there are a few extra steps you can take as the way that you store it is just as important.
By following a few steps will ensure that your furniture is protected as far as possible.
Keep Your Items off the Floor
Line the floor of the unit with tarpaulin so that your furniture does not come into direct contact with a cement floor. These floors can seep moisture up into anything that rests on it directly which will ruin any of your belongings.
Placing your furniture on pallets will allow air to circulate in the self storage unit and allow your wooden furniture to breathe.
Pack Your Pieces Correctly
It is not only mattresses that need to lie flat. Couches are not designed to be stored on their ends, and neither are tables. Rather store them in the position that they are designed to be used in otherwise they may break at the joints.
By carefully wrapping your large pieces to protect them, you can certainly pack smaller pieces under tables and even store light boxes on the tops.
The more carefully you pack your large items, the safer they will be in terms of getting damaged, scratched, and dented. After all, when you retrieve your furniture you want it coming out looking as good as when it went in.
Use Stop & Store Fareham
Our storage facility is the perfect place to use for when you need to keep your precious possessions in storage for any length of time.
We offer top security so that you need not be concerned about the safety of your goods. Our security measures include monitored CCTV cameras 24/7. We also have intruder alarms and access is strictly limited.
We have a simple state-of-the-art booking system which allows you to book and pay online. Once we receive your payment, we email you your own PIN code and you have immediate access to your unit.
Our units are steel partitioned, lockable rooms and are dry and safe. These are ideal conditions to keep your belongings from being damaged by moisture or pests.
We have a number of units of different sizes, but if you are not sure what size unit to book, check out the space calculator on our website. If you need any assistance with your choice, we will be happy to help you.
Please check our website for any specials we may be running and for what our customers are saying about us.
Address: Thackeray Mall, Unit C (First Floor) 26a, Fareham PO16 0PQ, United Kingdom
Tel: 01329 556174