Four Tips For Putting Cloth Furniture In Storage
by Charles Martinez
Having to put your items in storage can bring up unsettling feelings of worry – especially if they're expensive items like sofas and recliners. However, if you take the time to prepare your cloth furniture properly, you can ensure it emerges in good shape. Follow these tips and you won't have to worry about mold, odors, or rodent damage in storage.
Clean the furniture first.
Crumbs between the cushions could attract rodents and insects, and any spills left behind will just seep deeper into your furniture while it's in storage. Take the time to thoroughly clean your furniture before putting it in storage. Remove the cushions and use the wand attachment of your vacuum to suck up any hair, crumbs or dust. Remove stains with a spray-on upholstery cleaner. (Follow the instructions on the bottle.) Make sure you do this several days in advance so that the areas you spray have time to dry before you put the furniture in storage.
Place the furniture on a pallet.
Do not place the furniture directly on the ground. If something in a nearby storage unit spills or there's a flood, water will come directly into contact with your furniture or its legs. Place a few pallets on the ground, and then place your furniture on top. You can usually get pallets for free or at a very low cost if you check with warehouses in your area.
Cover the furniture with a linen sheet.
Do not wrap your furniture in plastic. If there's even a little moisture in the furniture (such as that from moist air or a cleaning spray) the plastic will trap it in, and you'll have moldy furniture within weeks. Just drape a simple linen cloth over the furniture; this will keep dust and bugs off of it while also letting it breathe.
Place baking soda under the cushions.
This will help absorb any lingering odors, and it will also absorb moisture so your furniture doesn't mold. Sprinkle a generous amount directly on the surface of the chair or the sofa, and then put the cushions back into place. Don't worry – you'll be able to vacuum the baking soda up easily when you pull the furniture out of storage. Do not substitute any fragrance or deodorizing spray for the baking soda. It may leave a stain behind or attract insects.
In addition to the tips above, you should make sure you choose climate-controlled storage for your fabric furniture. This way, you don't have to worry about changes in temperature or humidity harming the items. Click here to learn more about self storage units.
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About Me
I have never been the kind of person who loves to go through and eliminate clutter, but about six months ago, I realized that my storage space was a complete nightmare. It was really difficult to figure out what I needed to do and where I needed to put things, but the more I cleaned, the more I realized how much I had left to tidy up. It was amazing to see how far things progressed, and before I knew it, my space looked and felt a lot better. This blog is all about understanding proper storage practices and keeping your unit immaculate.