How To Store Antiques and Heirlooms
There are certain items kept in our possession that always tend to mean a little more to us than others due to the stories and people surrounding those items. It’s important to make sure those items remain in pristine condition in order to preserve the memories associated with those heirlooms. When it comes to proper storage, you can never be too careful with antiques, collectibles, vintage furniture, and family heirlooms.
At Go Store It, we want to help you protect these items from irreparable damage with a series of tips and tricks for proper storage preparation. In this article, you will learn how to protect vintage furniture, and other family heirlooms such as clothing, photos, and collectibles. We will also take you through finding optimal storage conditions to give your antique items their best chance of survival while in long-term storage. Continue reading to learn more about heirloom storage.
Finding the Perfect Environment for Antique Storage Items
Prior to preparing your items for long-term storage, it is important to first have a great place to store your items that is both convenient and safe. While storing your items in your attic, closet, basement, or storage shed may seem like the most convenient choice, these environments may not offer the best protection for delicate items. If certain heirlooms or antiques are subjected to extremely hot or cold temperatures, they could be at risk of warping, tearing, melting, or fading.
Climate-controlled storage is your perfect defense against temperature-related damage. These units are kept at a steady temperature year-round in order to offer you optimal storage conditions for antiques, collectibles, and family heirlooms. Several Go Store It facilities offer this convenient service so you can enjoy peace of mind while storing these delicate storage items. Find your local facility for more information on climate-controlled storage near you.
Preparing Vintage Furniture for Storage
When learning how to protect furniture in storage, there are two important steps to take as you prepare it for storage. The first step is cleaning your vintage furniture. Begin by wiping your furniture down with a dry cloth and vacuuming it to remove any dust and debris. If your furniture is wooden, you will want to clean it with a wood cleaner and wipe with a damp cloth. Otherwise, a damp cloth will work for other materials. After waiting for everything to dry in a well-ventilated area, begin applying wax to your wooden furniture or furniture polish to other materials to protect it from scratches or other damage.
The next step in preparing your furniture is wrapping it properly. If you’ve ever wondered how to wrap furniture for storage, we are here to help. Start by disassembling any pieces you are able to and packing those pieces away in a sealed container for safekeeping. You can then begin wrapping your furniture with old sheets, blankets, cloths, or plastic wrap.
Try to steer clear of thick plastic covers as they can trap moisture and cause damage. As you are wrapping furniture, make sure it is not wrapped too tightly and that you lay a sheet or protective cloth over it prior to placing it in storage. You may also consider investing in some sort of plastic sheeting to lay on the ground of your unit to prevent water from seeping into your furniture.
Preparing Family Heirlooms for Storage
Depending on what material your items are made of, there are different steps you can take to ensure they aren’t subject to severe damage. From photos and collectibles to delicate clothing items, each item requires a unique preparation plan.
Storing Photos and Collectibles
If you are storing photos in your storage unit, make sure not to mark them or use paper clips, rubber bands, or tape to organize them. Keep photos stored in acid-free envelopes or in an album with protective sheets. You may also consider investing in plastic archival storage boxes if the photos are extremely old or delicate. It’s also important to keep them off the floor and away from areas that may be subject to excessive moisture. The same advice goes for baseball cards or postcards.
When it comes to storing collectibles such as glass trinkets or coins, it’s important to first dust or clean them before you place them in a storage container. For items made of glass or porcelain, you will want to wrap them in bubble wrap or newspaper to prevent scratches or cracks from forming. Once they’ve been wrapped, place them in a box or storage container for safekeeping. To protect your coin collection, you will want to invest in hard, plastic coin holders for optimal storage safety.
Storing Clothing
From quilts made by your grandmother to clothing items such as military uniforms and wedding dresses, there are always important fabric items that are meant to be kept and treasured for a long time. If the clothing item you plan on storing is new, it is best to have it professionally cleaned before wrapping it in acid-free paper. Antique clothing, however, should not be cleaned in order to protect its integrity and instead should immediately be placed in an acid-free container. It is also incredibly important to store these clothing or fabric items in an environment that is stable in terms of temperature fluctuations. As always, we recommend climate-controlled storage for these and other delicate storage items.
Protect Your Antique Items With Climate-Controlled Storage at Go Store It
In order to preserve old furniture, antique clothing, and other delicate items, proper preparation and optimal environmental conditions are key. At Go Store It, we can help you achieve these conditions with convenient climate-controlled storage near you. Find your nearest Go Store It facility to begin taking advantage of our high-quality climate-controlled storage units as well as other helpful features and amenities today.