Many of our customers use self storage while they are moving house to keep their personal items safe. To make sure your items are kept in pristine condition, there are a few tricks to protect your things while they are in storage. If you need some tips, this article written by our Leicester self storage team has got you covered!
Clean your furniture
While this will make life easier when you unload your storage unit, thoroughly cleaning your furniture is vital to make sure it stays in good condition.
Make sure each piece of furniture is completely free from dirt, crumbs, and daily life debris. If you are storing chairs or a sofa, make sure to take off the cushions and hoover in every crevice.
To clean wooden furniture, use warm soapy water, and when it is dry use furniture wax to keep it moisturised. To clean fabrics, use an upholstery cleaner (but make sure the item is completely dry before storing).
Arrange transport
When using self storage you will need to arrange how to transport your items to your storage unit.
Things to consider will be the size of the vehicle you have available, if you will need to do multiple trips, whether you can actually fit the item inside the vehicle etc.
Many customers will hire a van so they only need to make one journey and they can fit everything inside. Most removal companies can let you know what sized van will be suitable for the number and type of items you will need to transport.
Make your furniture easier to store
The easiest way to fill your storage unit is with boxes, however you may have gotten rid of the boxes your items came in, or simply have items that don’t fit in a box.
Any items that can be taken apart, such as wardrobes, beds, bookcases, chairs etc, should be dismantled and kept together (it’s often good to have a small bag of any screws etc. and tape it firmly to the inside of the item, to make sure they don’t get lost. You can even include instructions for how to rebuild the item, so you don’t forget during the moving process).
Not only will the dismantled items make it easier to transport, but it will mean you can use the space inside the storage unit more effectively.
You can also use empty space, for example putting smaller items inside drawers to provide them with extra protection. While we have trolleys onsite to help make moving your items easier, it’s best to move your smaller items into the empty space of bigger items (like drawers) when you are inside your storage unit, so the larger items remain as light as possible while moving them.
Wrap or cover your furniture
Use bubble wrap to protect delicate items, such as glass table tops and mirrors. You should also invest in some dust sheets which are available at our reception, to cover larger items, as this will prevent dust settling on them.
Make sure to avoid using very tight plastic coverings as these will trap any lingering moisture (although if you have followed these tips there shouldn’t be any to trap)! We have sofa covers, armchair covers, and mattress covers available to purchase at each of our locations which are designed to protect your furniture whilst still allowing air to circulate.
Aim for efficient furniture storage
If you won’t be needing your items during your stay at self storage, make sure all your items are organised in the best layout possible. Read our other articles about how to pack your storage unit to help you decide which layout is best for you.
If your follow the above suggestions, it will ensure your belongings are securely and properly looked after during your stay with us. If you have any questions or require additional assistance on storing specific items, speak to one of our friendly team on 0330 333 7866, who are happy to help with any self storage needs