Storage Tips: Keep Your Antique Furniture Safe With This Guide

Storing your antique furniture may seem scary, as you might have irreplaceable items. But there are a few things you can do to help ensure your antiques stay in good condition. The following tips will help you store your items in your unit safely.

Control The Temperature

Controlling the temperature in your unit is imperative, as this will help you prevent certain issues like mold.

A temperature-controlled unit will also help discourage insects from coming into your unit, as they generally prefer normal room temperature. You can inform your storage specialist that you prefer a temperature of 65 to 68 degrees and humidity between 25 to 65 percent. Temperatures in that range keep the natural aging process in a somewhat stagnant state, and humidity within that range halts mold growth.

The storage facility may already keep the unit around this temperature, but it does not hurt to ask.

The Scorching Sun

The sun may be important to sustain life, but it can also damage certain antiques with a yellow tint. You should also know that sunlight can heat up your unit enough to dry out the oil on wood furniture, making it quite brittle. So make sure your particular unit does not have any openings or cracks that will allow the sun in.

Proper Storage Prep

Before you put your antique furniture in your unit, do some preparation to ensure your timeless pieces stay in perfect condition. You should make sure all furniture is cleaned properly. This will help prevent stains and may help keep insects from smelling organic matter like food or oils.

If you are storing wood, you can use olive oil mixed with a little cedar oil to keep your items clean. The cedar oil contains compounds that should repel insects, as well as kill them through osmotic dehydration or by attacking their respiratory system.

You can also wrap your pieces in plastic wrap and use duck tape to secure it in place. This will help to prevent moisture and protect your pieces. You should find plastic wrap made exclusively for furniture at your local hardware store. For pieces that contain fabric, you can wrap them in a blanket to protect them from damage and scratches while in storage.

Before you walk out of your unit, for added pest protection, you could also leave cloths dipped in eucalyptus oil or cedar oil around your unit.

Be sure to let your storage specialist know what you will be storing. He or she should be able to offer more tips to help keep your precious items in good condition. One place you can call is Santa Monica Mini Storage.