Storage Tips to Preserve Your Furniture
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November 2017
Moving house is an exciting experience, particularly if you’re moving into your dream home! But sometimes things don’t go to plan, or timings don’t fall into place and your move isn’t as seamless as you thought it would be. And instead, you’re left with a whole bunch of furniture, nowhere to put it, and nowhere to move into yet.
This is when storage facilities will become your best friend! Furniture storage is a necessity in life, particularly if you move a lot. This is true not just for those who move house, but also for those moving abroad – you don’t want to part with your furniture just because you’re moving away for a year. You can’t take it with you, but you’ll need it when you get back, so long term furniture storage is your solution.
And with moving house, sometimes the settlement timings aren’t ideal, you need to move out of your old house, but can’t move into your new one, so you need somewhere to store your furniture short term until you’re able to move in.
Short and long term furniture storage is also ideal if you’re downsizing your home but have not yet sorted through your belongings or your new smaller home doesn’t offer as much storage to suit your needs.
Whatever your situation, short and long term furniture storage can be a lifesaver – but how can you ensure your furniture will be protected while in storage?
Here’s how to protect your furniture while it’s being stored:
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Sort any necessary repairs beforehand:
Make sure your furniture is in tip top shape before you put it into storage. This can include tightening any screws and securing hinges to ensure they will remain robust during storage, especially as some items may be stacked on top of others. You would hate to unpack your furniture only to find something has collapsed due to the loose screws and the weight of something that was stacked on top of it.
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Clean your furniture:
Give your furniture a decent clean before storing it and let it air dry completely. This will mean your furniture is stored nice and clean, but most importantly dry, to avoid any moisture being trapped in the furniture and leading to damage such as mould or discolouration.
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Disassemble if appropriate:
Some items should remain intact, such as tables and cabinets, and other items of furniture, like bed frames should be dissembled for easy storage. This will allow you to save more space when storing disassembled items, meaning you can store more furniture if needed.
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Wrap or cover the furniture:
To prevent pulls, scratches and dings and dents when packing or unpacking your storage space, cover all furniture with plastic wrap or sheets. More valuable items can be covered with padded covers for extra protection. The better you protect your furniture, the better condition it will be in when you unpack your storage space. As items will be stacked on top of each other, the wrapping or padding can help prevent the shape of the furniture warping over time.
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Protect fragile items:
Anything fragile will require some extra attention. You should consider storing your fragile items in padded boxes, or with bubble wrap, to ensure it is fully protected and will remain secure while in storage. This can include lamp shades, antiques, china, or other valuables. Sheets and towels can be great options for extra cushioning when packing fragile items.
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Stack with care:
When filling your storage space, it pays to have a rough idea of how you will store and stack your items. Fragile items can be stored in boxes under tables, so they are better protected. Bed frames and larger items can be stored against walls, particularly if there are provisions to secure these to the wall for extra protection. Don’t rush into filling the space, as you may have to pull it all out and start again. Take your time, and move your items in with care.
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Leave space between furniture when packing:
While stacking furniture means you can fit more into your storage space, you should also make sure you leave space around items of furniture, and not cram everything in. This will allow adequate air-flow around the furniture, and can help prevent the musty smell that stored furniture can sometimes accumulate. This will also help if you will be coming back to the storage facility over time to collect pieces as it will be easier to navigate around your furniture.
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Opt for a professional service:
Storage facilities offer safe and secure short and long term storage solutions, that adhere to all plumbing and electrical requirements as well as fog-fumigation, inspections and more. A storage facility will offer you peace of mind when storing your belongings, and you can rest assured knowing your belongings will be in the exact same condition you left them in.
John Ryan Removals is the leading furniture removals service in Melbourne. For over 40 years, our moving service has been helping Australians move down the road, interstate, and around the world. We’ve also helped countless customers with short and long term storage solutions.
As well as offering relocation services, our storage facility offers a cost-effective and secure environment to store your furniture. The facility is dust-free, climate-controlled and regularly inspected by fire authority personnel, and includes smoke and movement detectors and regular after-hours security patrols.
John Ryan Removals can also help with containerised storage, commercial equipment storage and storing of caravans and cars.
To find out more, contact our friendly team or request a free quote.