As items that are usually either passed down from generation to generation or bought at an extremely hefty price tag, antiques are pieces of furniture we simply cannot afford to damage. But as life goes, even your most beloved items will have to get into a situation which will put them into jeopardy. When it comes to your antiques, putting them into a self-storage unit is one of those situations. As useful a solution this is for many moving troubles, as well as the lack of space, storage units are known by the risks you assume while using them. Especially if storing your items for a long time. That doesn’t mean you should let those risks stop you from storing antique furniture.
Your antique furniture is something you’ll display with pride for the whole world to see.
There are always lots of safety measures you can take to secure the well-being of your cherished possessions. As some of the best movers Canada has to offer, our team has collected plenty of storage hacks while serving our beloved customers. Voila – we bring you the best pieces of advice on storing antiques we could possibly think of.
Getting a climate-controlled unit is imperative
Have you ever walked into a storage unit on a scorching hot day? If you have, you probably immediately felt the need to get out. The temperature and humidity were unbearable, and there might even have been a few pests. Had you known that all of that could have been avoided simply by using climate control, you probably would have done it right away. Well, we think it’s never too late to make a sol
id, groundbreaking decision, which getting a climate-controlled unit certainly will be.
How do climate-controlled units even work? By regulating the temperature inside the facility and keeping it at a nice and comfortable 50 to 80 degrees, a climate-control unit prevents:
- Humidity
- Pests and insects
- Mold
You wouldn’t want to be caught in a unit on a scorching hot day, so why put your antiques through it?
It’s a well-known fact that some furniture pieces, like those made of wood, can come out of the unit with considerable damage. That just means they weren’t stored properly, which means they weren’t in a unit with climate control. When storing antique furniture, art, wood furniture, and valuables, a climate-controlled unit is a must!
A good cleanse is in order when storing antique furniture
Well, we do assume you are already keeping your antiques in picture perfect condition. They are your pride and joy after all. It doesn’t matter whether you are waiting for your Toronto movers to arrive because you are moving or you are putting your antiques in storage, but before your items leave the house, they must be properly cleaned. But, beware – antiques aren’t like all the other furniture you own. Due to their delicate nature, they have to be handled with special care.
Start off by wiping your furniture and removing any dust. A bucket full of water and a piece of soft cloth should be enough to do the trick. Once you finish with that part, treat each of your items with a product that is suitable for the material. For example, for wooden furniture, you can use polish or wax to ensure the wood doesn’t crack while in storage. It goes without saying that you won’t be using wax for your leather pieces. It’s all about informing yourself and knowing what will harm your antiques, and what will do them good.
Disassembling is a big part of the process
If you are storing antiques that are big and bulky, you will face many challenges. Besides not being able to fit them all into storage, you will be in a pickle trying to transport them from your home to the unit. Not to mention the process of fitting your item through a narrow doorway. And unless you opt for professional help, which will be an added expense, your best bet is to disassemble those items which allow it.
Storing antique furniture is much easier when you disassemble some pieces.
Note: we are by no means suggesting you start tearing your furniture apart. We are simply hinting that you could look for detachable items, such as drawers and headboards. Just remember to keep a record of what you’ve disassembled and how to put it back together.
Protection plays a key role when storing your antiques
You can do everything by the book but it won’t matter if you don’t protect your antiques well enough. What flies on the wall know by now is that your items can easily get damaged while in storage. That is, they can unless you go the extra mile to protect them. What’s so great about antique furniture is that you don’t have to spend bundles of cash on protective materials. We are pretty sure you already have everything that’s needed right at your fingertips.
Wooden furniture is not a fan of plastic and it best responds to specific fabric covers. By wrapping your antiques in sheets or blankets, you will protect it from dust while still allowing it to breathe. It’s a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.
All that’s left is some good organization on your part
Congratulations – you got to the actual storing of your items. The only thing that’s left is for you to showcase your exceptional organizational skills. And we do hope you have some, as moving and storing heavy furniture will call for it.
The worst thing you can do is start throwing items inside your unit without any specific order. And unlike some other items, stacking antiques one on top the other is not recommended – quite the contrary. The golden rule when storing antique furniture is to always make sure everything is secure and compact while at the same time allowing your items to have enough space between them so that air can circulate. And remember those pieces you disassembled? This is when you should keep them together, and not have one part in the back of the unit and another one in the front. Just use your brains which we are sure you have plenty of, and everything should be just fine.
