antique furniture storage

Tips for storing antique furniture

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.antique furniture storage

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.

 

 

 

 

storage shelf packing

How to pack small items in advance for a quick and easy move

Learn how to pack small items in advance, and your move will be quick and easy.

Preparing for a move can be a headache. With so many things on your schedule, it is essential you keep track of everything. It is also crucial to make as few mistakes as possible. Whenever you must redo something, it is a massive waste of time and money. With that in mind, it is important to educate yourself when it comes to moving. If you are a first-timer, you might think you can handle it; however, the truth is you probably don’t know what to expect. Consequently, you’ll lose a lot of time figuring out how to deal with all the little things that just keep coming up. To help you prepare for the move, today’s lesson will teach you how to pack small items in advance.

Trust me when I say this, time is a crucial factor when it comes to relocating. If you learn how to manage time, you are halfway done with the preparations. Packing your stuff in advance will help you in the long run, since you’ll have more time to deal with the rest of the tasks. To pack small items, you just have to make a solid plan, and stick to it!

How to pack small items in advance?

Planning is not difficult, as long as you know what your goal is. To pack small items, you must:

  • think about time management
  • categorize your items
  • make a list
  • find appropriate packing material
  • label your boxes properly

These are five essential steps that will help you to pack small items. Also, if you learn this principle, you can apply it to anything you wish to pack. I also advise you to use planning apps to help you with this process. Technology makes everything easier!

Time management

Start packing in advance! If you have previous experience with moving, and you are short on time, here is how to fix the time problem. The number one packing tip for your next move should be to start packing as soon as you can. The amount of time you need to prepare for the move is proportional to the size of the move. So, think about your relocation. How many belongings do you have? Are you downsizing or moving to a bigger home? Is it a local move, cross country, or are you moving to another continent?

It is essential to answer these questions so you can allocate enough time to stay on schedule.

Learning how to allocate enough time for all tasks is a valuable skill.

Are you moving on your own or with a moving company?

I have to step out of our little five-step list for a moment. Before we can proceed with the next step, decide if you are hiring professional movers or moving on your own. It makes a difference, both financially and organizationally. Professional movers will pack everything, but they cost money. When relocating with a moving company, your planning will be different in many ways.

Nevertheless, even if you go with a moving company, knowing how to pack small items in advance is a valuable skill. You never know what can come up. Sometimes, the packing cost can be too much for your wallet. So, if you know how to pack small items and the rest of your belongings, you can save up a lot.

Categorize your items

Let’s get back to our five essential steps. Before you start to pack small items, you have to categorize them. This step is important because it will help you with packing later. First, divide them into fragile and non-fragile items. These two categories are packed differently.

Next, there should be a category for electronic parts. It is a rule that you disassemble all movable parts from any electronic devices and pack them into plastic bags. This way, you will make sure they don’t break during a bumpy ride. As I always say, when moving, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Another category should be clothes. There are multiple creative ways and tips on how to pack clothes. You can fold them, roll them, pack them in boxes or keep in drawers and hangers. Whatever way you choose, make sure they are tightly packed, so you can save space when moving.

There are many other categories, like kitchenware, toys or tools, but they all follow the same principle. These four categories are essential for every move.

Making a plan for your move is essential, put everything on paper so you don’t forget any step.

Make a list

Once you have your items categorized, make a list of all of your belongings. This is mostly to keep track of what is packed and what is not. When you start to pack small items in advance, it is essential to have this list. You can later go over it to make sure you didn’t forget anything.

Find boxes for packing

Another great tip is to pack small items in small boxes. You’ll save space, and it is easier to keep your belongings protected. Also, avoid packing too many heavy items in one big box. For example, books should go into smaller boxes. If you pack too many books into a bigger box, you not only risk tearing the box but also injuring your back. Finding the right box to pack small items is your primary goal.

However, there might be some things that you cannot bring to the new place. So just remember – if you can’t move it, store it! Finding affordable storage is much better than carrying too many boxes with you.

Labeling boxes

It is absolutely essential to label everything correctly. This way you’ll know which boxes are the fragile ones, or which box goes to which room when unpacking. Also, you need to label the essentials box, as you will unpack that one first.

Loading boxes into the truck

I have to talk about loading the boxes onto the truck for a moment. This has more to do with protecting your belongings. Heavier boxes always go on the bottom of the truck. Also, make sure to put your valuables on top of other boxes. If there is rain during the move, they might get damaged. A denied insurance claim after water damages your belongings is not something you need.

Keeping up with the schedule is crucial, always remember that time is money.

Saved time is like money in the bank

I hope that you now understand how to pack small items in advance. It is also essential to understand the importance of packing on time. Being behind schedule when moving is a terrible mistake, so think a few steps ahead and prioritize. Have a safe move and happy packing!