Your Guide to Furniture Self-Storage

Furniture is a big investment, and sometimes, the pieces you want to keep are too big to store at home. Whether you’re remodeling, relocating, downsizing, or keeping a family heirloom safe, storing furniture properly protects your pieces and gives you peace of mind. With the right prep and a reliable storage facility, your sectional, dresser, or four-poster bed will come out looking as good as when it went in.

How to Prep Furniture for Storage

Proper preparation keeps your furniture in top shape and makes the whole process smoother when the time comes to retrieve your items. Follow these steps to prepare different pieces for storage.

Upholstered Sofas, Chairs, and Ottomans

• Vacuum first: Remove all the dust, dirt, and crumbs from between the cushions. This prevents oil and grease from settling into the fabric.
• Treat stains: Use the recommended fabric cleaner for your material. If you’ve never used it before, test a small spot first to ensure colorfastness.
• Cover it right: Use cotton sheets or furniture pads to protect the upholstery from dust. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture and can lead to mildew.
• Raise it up: When loading the sofa, chair, or ottoman into a storage unit, set down pallets or furniture sliders first to keep the item off the ground. This promotes airflow and reduces the risk of dampness transferring from the concrete floor.

Tables and Desks

• Clean: Wipe down wood, glass, or laminate surfaces with a mild cleaner to remove dust and grime. This helps prevent scratches when wrapping the furniture and keeps the finish intact during storage.
• Disassemble: Remove the legs from the tabletop when possible. This saves space in your storage unit and lowers the risk of damage during transport.
• Bundle the hardware: Keep all screws and bolts in a labeled plastic bag and tape it to the tabletop or underside of the frame.
• Wrap surfaces: Bubble wrap or moving blankets help prevent scratches or dents during transport. Just make sure surfaces are clean before wrapping.

Dressers and Armoires

• Empty them out: Leaving stuff inside drawers and cabinets may seem convenient, but it adds weight and increases the risk of damage. If you want to store these items, too, transfer them to a box or bin first.
• Secure drawers and doors: Use stretch wrap or furniture straps to keep everything from sliding or popping open.
• Protect the finish: Cover with moving pads or thick blankets to prevent nicks or dings when rounding tight corners.

Bed Frames and Mattresses

• Take it apart: Unscrew frames and headboards to simplify transport and conserve storage space.
• Bundle and label: Group similar parts and clearly label them to prevent headaches when reassembling.
• Wrap the mattress: Avoid sealing with plastic, which traps condensation. Instead, use a breathable fabric mattress bag with a zipper closure or Velcro straps to keep out dust while allowing air circulation.

Shelving Units and Bookcases

• Remove shelves: Wrap each one individually with bubble wrap to avoid scratches.
• Store properly: Stand bookcases and tall shelves upright if possible to save floor space and prevent warping.
• Use blankets as padding: Pay particular attention to the corners and edges to protect these surfaces on your way to the storage facility.

Choosing the Right Storage Unit

Not all storage units are created equal, especially when storing items with specific requirements like furniture. A few key features can make all the difference. Here’s what to look for.

Indoor and Climate-Controlled Units

Furniture materials don’t always handle weather changes gracefully. After all, wood can warp, leather can crack, and upholstery can trap moisture. That’s why climate-controlled storage is worth considering, especially for valuable or delicate items. These units maintain a consistent temperature and humidity to protect your belongings from Southern California’s seasonal extremes.

Pouch Self Storage offers climate-controlled units at select locations. Whether you’re storing a vintage armchair, your grandmother’s armoire, or your favorite loveseat during a home renovation, these units are worth the investment.

Security

Storing furniture doesn’t mean dropping items off and crossing your fingers. You want to know your pieces are safe from vandalism or theft.

Rest assured that Pouch Self Storage facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art computer monitoring systems, including high-definition video cameras and electronic gate entry. Only authorized customers can access the property, and on-site managers are available during business hours to keep an eye on things. For added convenience, 24-hour self-service kiosks and the POUCH App make it easy to manage your account or make a payment anytime.

Transportation Options

Not everyone has a pickup truck they can borrow to move a sofa to a self-storage unit. Large furniture needs reliable transportation, which is exactly what Pouch Self Storage’s We Move You Free program offers.

When you rent a unit, we provide a moving truck and driver for free. We’ll come to your home or office so you can load it up, then meet you at the facility to unload. It’s easy, saves you money, and makes moving furniture far less of a headache.

Packing Supplies

Furniture needs proper padding, wrapping, and strapping to make it to your storage unit unscathed. While you can always pick up these materials yourself, Pouch Self Storage makes things even easier.

We stock everything you need at our facilities—sturdy moving boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, mattress covers, furniture blankets, and more. Orders over $150 within a 10-mile radius of our location qualify for free delivery. Buy more than you think you’ll need, and return any unused items for a full refund.

Check out Pouch Self Storage in Anaheim

Since 1979, we’ve focused on offering clean, secure space for personal and business storage in Southern California. With nine convenient locations around Anaheim, our facilities are built with convenience, access, and protection in mind. We’re proud to offer a storage experience that goes beyond the basics. Contact us today or visit us in person to find the perfect unit.