With the UK staying in Lockdown 3.0 for a little while longer, you might be thinking about redecorating your home to pass the time. Has spending endless days in your home given you the realisation that it’s probably time for a lick of paint, new carpets or perhaps some bigger renovation jobs?
Whatever your project, large or small, you need to consider how to protect your belongings against dust, paint and maybe even the builders themselves. Read on for our top tips on how to prepare all your belongings for a furniture storage unit.
Pack glassware properly
If you are decorating your kitchen, remember that glassware is easily broken, so safe storage is essential. Moving them to a furniture storage unit, along with other items that may get in the way is best to ensure that they remain in the same condition after the work is complete. The most important rule of storage for these types of items is to do it carefully – these items can be fragile and should be handled and packaged with care.
Do you have a disaster story to share about breakages while decorating or renovating? Maybe you’ve got some additional storage tips? Share them on our Facebook page!
Take everything apart
Before moving items from each room, take apart everything you can – this includes desks, bookshelves, wardrobes and more. This extra step will make packing up the removal van and furniture storage unit far easier. It will also reduce the likelihood of breaking or scratching anything in the process, and you’ll find that you have much more room in your unit.
Top tip – Put all screws, bolts, and other small items in a labelled food bag, and tape to the furniture piece to which it belongs – you’ll thank us later!
Clean everything thoroughly
The last thing you want to bring into a newly decorated home is dirty / dusty furniture! Protect furniture in storage by ensuring everything is cleaned thoroughly first.
Some tips for cleaning furniture before putting into storage:
- With wooden or plastic furniture, use a baby wet wipe to clean visible dust and marks.
- Clean fabric items like sofas and seat cushions with a mild fabric cleaner. Check that everything is completely dry before you start packing it up and make sure you vacuum the internal parts that gather items like coins, crumbs and wrappers.
- Polish any metal sections with a polishing cloth and metal cleaner. This step will help delay the build-up of tarnish.
- Cover larger items with a cloth or old sheet for added protection.
Make the most of your unit
If you decide to use a local furniture storage unit, make sure you protect your items properly. Don’t drag items across the hard floors as this can wear or damage the item. Don’t pack your shelves too high and avoid leaving breakables on the floor. Use proper storage boxes and mark them well, so you know which box is full of sturdy items and which is full of breakables, e.g. boxes with fragile objects should be clearly marked “fragile”. Also, we recommend that you completely fill boxes that store books, so they don’t crush when stacked.
If you’re short on the packaging supplies needed to move your belongings into storage, then we offer handy supplies at great prices. These are available to purchase at both our Dorset storage sites.
Don’t ever try to store food or perishable items.
It may seem obvious but whether you’re storing furniture long term or just for a few months or weeks, never leave anything perishable in your storage unit that may attract vermin, bugs or mould!
Consider a furniture storage unit from Hogleaze Storage
If you’re redecorating your home or having some renovation work done, it makes a lot of sense to put your belongings in furniture self storage.
Our furniture storage units are cost-effective, easily accessible and can cater to your needs, whatever they may be! We don’t have a maximum length of stay, meaning that you can continue storing your possessions for as long as you like and be confident that your belongings are in safe hands.
Get in contact with our storage experts to book your Dorset storage. Just call our Weymouth facility on 01305 830000 or email info@weymouthselfstorage.co.uk. Alternatively, you can contact our Dorchester storage team on 01305 889777 or info@hogleazestorage.co.uk.
And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more tips and tricks on furniture self storage.