Wooden furniture is aesthetically pleasing and practical, but it also demands proper care if you want it to last.
This applies during storage too. Store a hard wood table, chairs or sideboard incorrectly and there’s a good chance the wood will dry out, crack, discolour and even warp. Instead, follow some simple steps to protect your wooden furniture, during moves and when it’s in storage.
1. Polish
An easy way to protect wooden furniture is by applying furniture polish. This moisturises the wood and prevents it from cracking, and adds a protective layer. Apply a liberal amount of polish to each item pre-storage.
2. Disassemble
Remove all loose items, including drawers and shelves that aren’t firmly secured, from wooden furniture. This will make the furniture lighter and easier to move. It will also eliminate the risk of damage due to loose components banging around or being worked right out of the piece while it’s in transit.
Where possible, also remove legs, headboards and footboards, and wrap each piece individually in a moving blanket. You’ll find you’ll use less storage space, and it will take a lot less effort to get your wooden furniture in and out of the removals van.
3. Don’t lose the small stuff
If you disassemble the furniture, you may be left with small items like screws, nails, knobs and hinges. Pop these items into a Ziploc bag, mark it clearly and tape the bag to the bottom of that particular piece of furniture.
4. Wrap and secure
Ideally, wrap your wooden furniture in one or more removals blankets and secure it with tape. This is the best way to avoid scratches, nicks and dents.
You may need to strap taller items into the back of the removals van to prevent them from toppling over.
5. Careful with the lifting
Wooden furniture is usually bulky and heavy. One of the main causes of damage is simply dropping or bumping the furniture as it’s carried.
To move your furniture without damaging either it or your back, it’s a good idea to get help. Ask a friend or family member to assist you, or leave the job of moving the furniture to a professional mover. If you’ll be moving the furniture yourself, make use of the right equipment, such as a moving trolley. Also plan out the route you’ll take and remove any obstacles before you start.
6. Cover, but not with plastic
Once your wooden furniture is safely stowed in a storage unit, cover each piece with a dust sheet, blanket or towel. Never cover furniture in plastic or bubble wrap. This will cause condensation to accumulate, potentially damaging the wood and encouraging mildew and rot.
7. Raise the furniture
If possible, raise wooden furniture off the floor by placing each piece on blocks or a wooden palette. This will allow air to flow around the wood, helping protect the furniture from damage due to moisture.
8. Be storage savvy
Choose a storage area that’s clean, dry and dust free. Direct sunlight, moisture and heat are wood’s worst enemies, so keep the furniture away from windows and off damp concrete floors.
At XtraSpace, we offer clean, secure self-storage units that are ideal for storing wooden furniture. Contact us for more information or browse to find a branch near you.