3 Steps To Prepare Your Upholstered Furniture For Storage
If you have to place some of your favorite upholstered furnishings into storage, you may not know how to prepare them to be stored away for an extensive period. If your items are not properly prepared, they can become damaged. Here are a few ways that you can prepare your upholstered furniture for storage:
Clean the upholstery.
If you don't clean your upholstered furniture before it is placed in storage, dirt or debris that is resting on the furniture can travel deep into the fabric and become almost impossible to remove. Also, if there are any mold spores present, any contact with moisture can cause the fabric to become a breeding ground for a mold infestation. Here are a few steps to clean the upholstery of your furniture:
- Vacuum away any loose dust or other contaminants from the upholstery.
- Using a cloth or a gentle brush and upholstery cleaning liquid, gently clean the upholstery. If you don't have any upholstery cleaning liquid or foam available, you can make your own by mixing one quarter of a cup of clear dishwashing liquid with one cup of warm water and agitating it until it becomes a stiff foam. The foam can be applied directly to the upholstery with a soft cloth or brush. After the application, gently wipe the fabric with a slightly damp cloth to remove loosened dirt and stains. It is important not to use a large amount of water when cleaning the upholstery. Too much water can lengthen drying times and make the furniture more susceptible to mold and mildew.
- Allow the upholstery of the furniture to try fully.
Clean the wood components.
Wipe wood components of the furniture with a cloth to remove dust that may have settled there. Then, using furniture polish, spray a clean cloth and wipe it over the wood to help condition it and protect it. During a long stay in a storage unit, the furniture may be subjected to extremely dry air. Conditioning the wood beforehand can help prevent the wood from drying out. In addition, if the wood does come in contact with moisture, the barrier formed by the conditioners in the polish can help prevent the wood from swelling.
Wrap the furniture.
Upholstered furniture can be wrapped gently in drop cloths or sheets to help protect it while still allowing the furniture to receive a good flow of air. Wood components of the furniture can be wrapped in bubble wrap to protect them from nicks and dings that may occur during transport.
If you are interested in storing your upholstered furnishings or other items in a storage unit, visit a storage facility in your area like Regency Self Storage.