Hi, I’m Dave. I own a storage facility over on Maple Street. You know the one with the slightly crooked sign? That’s mine. I’ve been in this business for fifteen years, and before that, I was a furniture mover. I’ve stored more wood furniture than I can count, and I’ve made every mistake in the book so you don’t have to.
Let me tell you about my grandmother’s hutch. Solid oak, beautiful piece. When I first started in this business, I thought I knew everything. I threw that hutch in a regular unit with zero preparation. Six months later, when I went to get it, the doors wouldn’t close right and there was this weird musty smell that took months to air out. I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.
Here’s what actually works:
Clean It Better Than You Think You Need To
I’m not talking about a quick wipe with a dust rag. I’m talking about getting down on your hands and knees and really looking at your furniture.
Last month, a customer brought in a beautiful cherry wood table. They’d obviously cleaned it, but they missed one thing – a tiny, sticky spot on one leg where someone had spilled soda. When they picked it up eight months later, that spot was dark and gummy, and had attracted every bit of dust in the unit.
Here’s my cleaning routine:
- Use Murphy’s Oil Soap (the orange stuff) mixed with warm water.
- Wring out your cloth until it’s just barely damp.
- Wipe with the grain, not in circles.
- Dry immediately with a separate dry cloth.
- Pull out every drawer and vacuum them thoroughly – crumbs attract bugs.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Use Plastic
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people wrap their furniture in plastic wrap or tarps. It seems like a good idea, right? Keep the dust off?
It’s the worst thing you can do to wood. Plastic traps moisture against the wood and doesn’t let it breathe. I learned this lesson with my own bookshelf – wrapped it in plastic, and when I took it out months later, it was covered in white mold and smelled like a wet dog.
Use these instead:
- Old blankets (I have a stack of moving blankets I lend to customers).
- Cotton sheets (the older the better).
- Butcher paper for tabletops.
Take It Apart (And Keep Track of the Pieces)
This seems obvious, but you’d be surprised. Take the legs off tables. Remove drawers. Take apart anything that comes apart.
Here’s my system: all screws, bolts, and hardware go in a ziplock bag. I then tape that bag to the underside of the furniture or inside the cabinet. Do not, I repeat, do not just throw the bag in a drawer. You will lose it. I’ve spent too many Saturday afternoons at the hardware store trying to match weird screws because I didn’t follow my own advice.
Setting Up Your Unit Matters More Than You Think
Where you put things in the unit is crucial. Here’s how I do it:
First, get everything off the floor. Concrete might feel dry, but it can pull moisture from the ground. Use pallets (I keep some by the office for customers), 2x4s, or even those plastic milk crates.
Don’t push everything against the walls. Leave a few inches for air to circulate. Stagnant air is bad news for wood.
Put heavy pieces like dressers at the back. Store tables upside down (with padding) to protect the tops. Keep drawers separate but nearby.
When You Might Want to Consider Climate Control
Now, I’m a big believer that most wood furniture does just fine in a regular unit if you follow these steps. My grandmother’s hutch? It’s been in a standard unit for three years now with no problems (after I learned my lesson).
But if you’re storing a genuine antique, or something with real sentimental value, or furniture with thin veneer, it might be worth getting a climate-controlled unit. The steady temperature and humidity give you peace of mind. That’s why we offer them – for those pieces that you just can’t risk.
You Can Do This
Look, storing wood furniture in a regular unit isn’t magic. It’s about being careful and avoiding the big mistakes. Clean it thoroughly, use breathable covers, get it off the floor, and keep track of the hardware.
If you’re ever at my facility and see a guy who looks like he’s wrestling with a stubborn lock, that’s probably me. Come say hi – I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned from my many mistakes.
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