Everything else appears fitting and flexible except for couches when we prepare to store our essentials in a storage unit. Understanding how to keep a couch in a storage unit might seem complex, but following the proper procedure is effortless.
Even though couches aren’t as fragile as other items, such as electronic appliances, you shouldn’t overlook any precautions. Below are seven steps you can implement while storing a couch in a storage unit effortlessly.
1. Engage Storage and Moving Companies
The top-most step of storing a couch in a storage unit is communicating with a moving and storage company a month before the storage day. You shouldn’t just stick to a single company but look for several to scrutinize the charges and come out with the best. The storage company measures the couch in height, weight, and height to ascertain if it will fit in their storage units.
Contrary, the moving company discusses the day, time, and possible charges regarding the movement and any additional services offered. Ensure to work with reputable companies to win the value of your money back. It would be best to visit the storage units before settling for them.
2. Move to the Storage Unit
The long waited day to move your couch to the storage unit is finally here. Assuming you’ve planned and communicated with a moving company regarding this day in advance, be prepared to receive a moving truck around your premises around the stipulated time.
While a reputable moving company will naturally adhere to all weight-lifting tips concerning couches, your keen supervision is highly advised for more outstanding performance.
Ensure that the movers have secured the couch firmly to prevent it from ‘dancing’ during movement, as it could easily topple over or cause imbalance to the driver. You can use ropes to secure the couch to the truck for maximum stability.
3. Prepare the Storage Unit
When you land at the storage unit, you shouldn’t store the couch immediately without inspecting its condition. A significantly small, stuffy, and dirty storage unit might not be appropriate to keep a couch, whether for the short or long term. Luckily, most storage companies will thoroughly clean and disinfect the units in preparation for new clients.
Ensure the space is enormous enough to allow the couch to rest at least 6 inches from the walls. Additionally, you can prepare the unit by laying wooden or plastic pallets on the floor to keep the couch from pests, dirt, and moisture possibly prevalent on the surface.
3. Prepare the Couch By Cleaning it
The second step of storing a couch in a storage unit is to clean it thoroughly, depending on how long you wish to store it. You can begin by vacuuming all the surfaces to eliminate dust, dirt particles, food crumbs, hair, and fur. You might need to treat leather couches with an appropriate cleaner and conditioner to keep the surfaces stable until next time.
The wooden parts of a couch should also be treated with furniture wax applied with a soft and clean cotton cloth. Experts also recommend DIY cleaning and treatment solutions with a water-vinegar blend (in equal amounts) and beeswax.
4. Wrap for Short-term Protection
After thoroughly cleaning and treating your couch, you can now wrap it with bed sheets or stretch wraps to protect it as it moves to the storage area. For easier portability, you can cover the pillows and cushions separately in a box covered with clothes or wrappers.
Keep safely any screws, legs, or arms you dismantle during cleaning. Covering the couch and its components prevents it from dust, dirt, and scuffs during movement.
6. Bring in the Couch
The sixth step of storing a couch in a storage unit is to move it into the storage area. As highlighted earlier, you shouldn’t just place the couch but situate it at least 6 inches from the walls. Additionally, no matter how space-saving the idea of keeping your couch upright appears, you should avoid it at all costs as it increases the risk of falling as days proceed.
Instead, it would help if you placed the couch as it has been in the house and avoided placing heavy items, such as an extra couch or chair, on it.
7. Wrap the Couch for Long-term Storage
Lastly, it’s now time to wrap and say goodbye to your beloved couch at the storage unit until the storage period elapses. After you’ve removed the temporary wrappers you had installed earlier, cover the couch with new and more reliable material, such as clothes, light blankets, or furniture pads, for long-term purposes.
These improvised covers allow maximum airflow within the storage unit, preventing the growth and development of moulds and insects that would otherwise ruin the couch.
Conclusion
Whether for short or long-term purposes, you can be assured of getting your couch back in stable condition if you adhere to the above steps. Besides engaging various moving and storage companies in advance, ensure you’ve planned the process extensively to avoid last-minute rush and misfortunes that might occur. Remember to deal with reputable companies only!
