How to Store Antique Furniture in Professional Storage

From fine china and figurines to carved oak and mid-century furnishings, every antique has a story to tell and historical significance to preserve.
Do you own a family heirloom passed down through the generations? Or, have you snapped up a rare trinket while thrift shopping? No matter how you’ve found your antique furniture, these beloved treasures hold deep sentimental value, and can often carry high financial worth due to their craftsmanship, provenance, and historical significance.
It’s vital to store your collectibles in a safe and protected environment, especially if you’re looking to cut down on clutter in your home. At U•STORE•IT, we offer spacious and secure self-storage, along with specialized packing supplies to safeguard your prized possessions from environmental damage and deterioration.
Once you’ve chosen the best storage unit for you, be sure to take the right preservation steps to stow away your valuables. Read on for helpful tips to prep, clean and store your antique furniture to keep your possessions sparkling and shining for decades to come while maintaining their authenticity and value.

Properly Clean Your Antique Furniture Before Storage

Before you pack your antique furniture away, keep it looking fresh with a proper cleaning. Every collectible has unique care instructions based on its material, age, and condition, so research extensively before ever spraying it down with chemicals. Always read the package directions or consult an expert conservator if you’re unsure how to proceed with cleaning your valuable pieces.
But, as a rule, antique collectors recommend you take these preservation steps:

• Wipe down items like wood furniture with a soft, dry cloth to remove excess dust and grime. If that’s not doing the job, wax the wood with a natural polish, which prevents cracking and drying while maintaining the wood’s natural patina.
• Consider cleaning glazed porcelain and ceramics with isopropyl alcohol to remove surface dirt without damaging the glaze. However, steer clear of this chemical when wiping wood or painted glass, as it can strip the finish and damage the original appearance.
• Dust off delicate pieces with a soft-bristled paintbrush or moisture-free canned air to reach intricate carvings and details. But, avoid the temptation to over-clean jewelry, which can lose its historical patina and shine when scrubbed too often.

Disassemble Furniture for Safe Preservation

Stacking chairs to the ceiling might sound like a clever storage solution, but you’re risking damage to your antique furniture if you go this route, particularly to delicate joints and original hardware.
Wherever possible, you should disassemble pieces to prevent stress and damage on joints. Try these preservation techniques:

• Carefully dismantle removable pieces, such as legs, headboards, slats, shelves and drawers, following the original construction methods.
• Stay organized by labeling each part with removable tags and creating a complete checklist of all components to ensure nothing gets lost.
• Take detailed photographs to remind you how to put the furniture back together in its original configuration. If you should ever need to make an insurance claim, these photos will also come in handy as evidence of condition and value.

Proper Packaging Techniques for Antique Safekeeping

When properly sealed and packed, antiques retain their beauty and value over long periods of storage. Whether it’s a stately desk, ornate mirror or delicate porcelain doll, it’s essential to choose the correct material to protect your treasures from dust, moisture, and physical damage.
Luckily, we offer a variety of storage supplies to preserve your vintage collectibles:

• Cover your antiques with acid-free protective paper pads to shield against dust, moisture and mildew that can degrade materials over time.
• Add Saf-T-Pak corner protectors to the edges and corners of mirrors and artwork to prevent chipping. Store them horizontally to prevent them from falling over and suffering structural damage.
• Glass- and dish-guards will cushion your delicate ceramic pieces against chips and damage during transit and long-term storage.
• Depending on the size of the antique, place it in one of our small, medium or large acid-free storage boxes. Arrange pieces closely enough together to maximum square footage while still allowing air flow through the space to prevent moisture buildup.

Climate-Controlled Storage Facilities for Valuable Heirlooms

Your antique furniture deserves a safe and stable environment, one that will keep it looking as immaculate as the day you inherited it by protecting it from temperature fluctuations and humidity changes.
Once you’ve cleaned and packed your possessions, we’re eager to help you determine the perfect size storage unit for your needs. Our modern and highly hygienic storage facilities located in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, South Edmonton, St. Albert, and Red Deer come fully equipped with 24-hour surveillance, climate-controlled bays and expert staff to ensure your antiques remain in optimal condition.
Be sure to explore our residential storage options and contact us to get pricing today.