In our last blog we talked about what kinds of items need to be kept in environmentally controlled storage if you want them to last. These include paper, musical instruments, wine, electronics, and also wooden furniture. Here we will discuss what heat, cold, and fluctuations in humidity do to wood and how you should store your wood furniture to keep it safe in the short or even long term.

Why Is Wood Furniture Vulnerable?

Wood is organic. Furniture is made from tree lumber, and, if left to its own devices, will rot if it’s exposed to water, air, and heat. Water causes it to warp and eventually decay, making it food for pests like termites. Exposure to heat and cold will cause it to crack, giving those same pests more space to invade. When left out in the elements, wood breaks down naturally to become part of the earth again. Your wood furniture should not meet such a fate.

Antique wooden furniture is even more vulnerable to decay and breakage because it’s older and often more brittle or fragile from use. If you go to museums or art galleries, you will see antique pieces will be cordoned off with small signs that say “Don’t touch,” and the building itself will be kept at a certain temperature and humidity in order to preserve art and pieces of historical value. Curators know the steps that should be taken to protect precious objects.

How Should You Store Wood Furniture?

If your wood furniture is important to you, the most important action to take is to house it in climate controlled storage space. This will eliminate the hazards of humidity and fluctuations of temperature and provide you with peace of mind.

Once you’ve made that decision, there are additional ways to ensure that your wood furniture will still be in good condition when you are ready to use it again. These include:

  • Treating it with furniture polish before you store it. This keeps the wood from drying out.
  • Leaving space around the furniture in the storage bin so that it doesn’t get knocked about or tipped over when you are searching for other things. Avoid stacking furniture on top of other furniture as well.
  • Covering the wood with cloths or blankets so that it does not get scratched or dusty. Do not use plastic covers. Covering it with plastic can lead to moisture build up which, as we have said, is not good for the wood.
  • Raising it above floor level. This adds another layer of protection from water damage should the area experience heavy rains or flooding.

If you take the above steps, your furniture should be well protected for later use.

Bykerk Southbelt Storage specializes in self storage for the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. We offer our customers options in size and climate control, but all of our storage facilities are clean and secured with cameras and military grade fencing. Our office is located on site, so our staff is around to supervise the grounds. We offer prepaid discounts and competitive pricing, and as Bykerk Storage is located a half a mile from M-6, we are easily accessible from anywhere in West Michigan. If you’ve been looking for a place to store your wood furniture and other valuable items, look no further than Bykerk!