Keeping Your Things Clean In Storage

Putting things in long-term storage can be a great way to protect you precious items. Many people store things when they move, while they build a house, or even if they just need more space outside their current home. However, if you don't properly store these items you could easily damage them beyond repair. Here are a couple things you need to know when storing certain items.

1. Control The Climate

One of the most important things you can do for your belongings is make sure that you get a climate-controlled storage unit. If you live in an area that has all four seasons you could easily damage your belongings by leaving them exposed to temperature and humidity changes. Most woods, leather, musical instruments, pictures and even decorations can be damaged as the weather and temperature changes.

Some units allow you to keep the temperature in a certain range. This will help to make sure that nothing heats up or freezes. In addition, a humidifier will be one of the best things for your belongings since it will control the humidity.

2. Keep Furniture Off The Floor

When you pack the storage unit you need to do what you can to keep all of the furniture off the floor. Most storage units have cement flooring. This keeps the unit safe, but it can be terrible for your furniture. Even in a climate-controlled unit, the floor will be the most susceptible place for moisture and temperature changes. Your couches, table, pianos and much more will take in the heat or the cold from the floor and could be damaged.

You should get blocks to help raise them up, or put the furniture on other items that won't be damaged by being on the floor.

3. Polish and Cover

Lastly, before you put everything in the unit, you need to polish it. If it is wood, get a wood polisher; for leather, a specific polish for that. This will protect the material from absorbing any moisture. You could easily get the furniture to expand and shrink with time, but polishing it will act as a barrier. Second, it will help to protect it from dirt and dust.

After you have polished it you need to cover it lightly with a sheet. You need enough air to pass through the sheet, so don't cover with plastic. This could damage it. A sheet or fabric lightly draped will be the best.

By doing these things you can protect your precious items. For more information, talk to a professional like LoDo Self Storage & Moving Center.