Your sofa is probably one of the largest and most expensive pieces of furniture you own. If you need to put your sofa in storage when you're between homes or when you just need to downsize, you'll want to prepare your sofa well so it makes it through the storage period without damage. Here are four tips for putting your sofa in a self-storage unit.
1. Pick The Right Unit
The unit you pick should be large enough that your sofa has room for air circulation and so it can go in without being forced against the walls. It's also best not to stack anything on the sofa or the cushions might get flattened. Consider everything you want to store along with the sofa and take measurements of the sofa so you know you'll have enough room.
When you're selecting your self-storage unit, you may also want to opt for one with climate control. Your sofa will fare better if the temperature and humidity are in a controlled range.
2. Clean The Sofa First
Whether you have a leather or fabric sofa, clean it before putting it in storage. Use a vacuum wand to pull out crumbs so there are no food bits to attract bugs to the sofa. You may even want to have your sofa cleaned professionally if it's stained or has pet odors. Just allow plenty of time for the sofa to dry thoroughly before you put it in storage.
3. Raise And Cover The Sofa
It's best to be safe and keep your sofa off the floor. This keeps your sofa dry if water seeps under the door. Raise the sofa on concrete blocks or bring in pallets to cover the floor of your storage unit so nothing has to rest on the floor.
It's also good to wrap your sofa to keep out bugs and dust. Use sheets or blankets so the sofa fabric can breathe. Don't cover your sofa in plastic because plastic can trap moisture.
4. Guard Against Mold And Bugs
Try not to pack your unit when it's raining so nothing gets wet. It's important for your sofa to be completely dry before putting it in the storage unit, and it's also important for your other stored belongings to be dry. If they're not, mold could grow on one item and then spread or give your sofa a musty odor.
In addition to protecting against mold, you may want to protect your sofa from insects by placing glue traps or other insect treatments in the unit.
To learn more, contact a self-storage facility.