Renting a space in a storage facility provides a great place to keep valuables you might not have room for at home. However, these special items require unique care and attention to prevent damage over time. Here are some packing essentials you can use as you prepare delicate and valuable items for storage.
Use Acid-Free Tissue Paper
Paper can help protect fragile items, such as china and glassware, from potential scratches and scuffs. However, not all paper is created the same. Tissue paper intended for gift bags and boxes, newspaper, and copy paper may degrade over time. Newspaper carries the extra risk of ink transferring onto your delicate items. Instead, opt for acid-free tissue paper. The lack of acid helps the paper retain its structure for longer, creating a lasting solution for packing your items. If you are packing away photos and fabrics, acid-free paper can help prevent fading and discoloration over time.
Wax Or Oil Wood Items
Whether you are storing a beloved dining room hutch or an antique end table, properly preparing your wood furniture for storage should include oiling and waxing your items. Waxing wood helps protect against scratches and scuffs, which can be an issue when you are moving items in and out of the storage facility. Using linseed or other similar oils provides some protection against humidity, helping prevent warping over time. Acid-free tissue paper can also be used inside of dresser drawers and cabinets to protect felt linings, upholstered shelves, and other delicate surfaces. These practices combined with placement in a climate-controlled storage facility can help ensure the lasting beauty of your treasured wood furnishings.
Minimize Contact With Walls And Floors
When storing valuables, it's a good idea to keep them away from bare floors and storage facility walls. Walls and flooring can experience condensation from changes in temperature, potentially exposing your items to moisture damage. Close placement can also provide easy access for termites and other pests. Consider using pallets to raise furniture off of the floor. Moving blankets should be placed over the pallets to prevent scratching and scuff marks. The blankets can also be used to cover delicate items to shield them from dust, dirt, and debris. Storage boxes or containers with smaller valuables should also be kept away from the floors. If the storage facility experiences minor flooding, items on the floor might become damaged. You can use freestanding shelving to raise these items off of the floor and keep them away from walls.
Be sure to properly clean all items before placing them into storage to prevent stains and damage from setting in. If you are unsure about how to care for antiques and other valuables, consult with an expert before transporting them to your storage facility. Jewelers, antiques experts, and archivists can help you learn the correct way to clean and treat items to prevent possible damage.
