How to Store Furniture Short or Long Term

First thing, you’ll need to find a safe place to store your furniture. Most likely the basement or garage are the most practical and cost effective solution.  

Primary considerations are moisture, pets, pests, and the family. You’d be surprised how moisture, pests, and the family can get in there and create chaos. 

Should space be a problem, opt for a self storage unit. Self storage is an excellent choice if you are between moves, or simply need more space. 

Store Furniture the Right Way

Follow these super easy steps to protect your furniture. Take time to prepare, protect, and stow your valuables. 

One – Clean everything thoroughly. 

  • For wooden or plastic furniture, use mild soap and water. Use a gentle wood cleaner such as Murphy Oil Soap for valuable antiques to safeguard the finish on the wood.
  • Deep clean fabric on couches or seat cushions with an upholstery cleaner. 
  • Use a metal cleaner to protect and preserve any metal sections on your furniture. 

IMPORTANT

Make sure everything is completely dry before packing it up to prevent mold and mildew growth.

Two – Take everything apart.

Disassemble anything you can before moving furniture such as desks, bookshelves, tables, and chairs. This will make it much easier to move and store your furniture. Put all screws, bolts, tools, and other small items in a labeled bag for safekeeping. This can be stored alongside the furniture piece to which it belongs to make your life easier.

Three – Wrap furniture to protect during the move and while in storage.

Use either plastic sheeting, moving blankets, or old sheets to protect your furniture for storage. While in storage make sure everything is completely covered, especially the floor. 

Four – Raise furniture off the floor.

Whether you’re storing furniture in a garage or storage unit, avoid putting anything directly on the floor. Put down a thick plastic tarp on the floor to prevent moisture from the floor from seeping into your furniture. 

PRO TIP

Use old sheets, blankets or drop cloths to cover the pieces and protect them from dust and moisture. Do not wrap furniture with thick plastic covers that will seal in moisture. Make sure your items can breathe by loosely draping canvas or cloth material over the furniture. Never wrap furniture too tight. 

Five – Measure

Use a measuring tape to determine the dimensions of your items. This will ensure you safely move your furniture through doorways, into vehicles, and into the storage space. 

Six – Transporting Furniture 

The most critical part of the move is transport. This is the primary cause of damage to your furniture. Invest in hiring professional movers to safely transport your valuables to the storage space. If you’re moving your furniture yourself, remember to clear pathways and take extra precautions to prevent damage.

Seven – Selecting the right size space?  

Use a storage unit size tool to help decide how large a storage unit you’ll need. 

PRO TIP

Leave plenty of space for every item to ensure that humidity does not get trapped in tight spaces. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least two inches of free space on every side of your furniture. 

Not sure how much storage space you’ll need? 

For many of us, there just isn’t enough available space in our home for everything we own. Self storage eliminates the need to move to a larger apartment or opt for an expensive office lease. 

Give our friendly and professional staff at Montgomery NY Self Storage a call anytime (845) 457-6229. Let’s store it together. The phone is always on. 

About Montgomery Self Storage

Montgomery Self Storage is your friendly, local neighborhood, mom and pop, self storage center. Making people’s lives easier for 15 years.

Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your unit is monitored by a closed-circuit video surveillance system. The facility is routinely checked for pests and all units are well-lit and super-clean. 


Montgomery Self Storage follows state and federal guidelines for social distancing and sanitation. The health and safety of our customers and employees is our highest priority.

Please stay safe during your move. 

Book a unit online or call anytime, the phone is always open.

Montgomery Self Storage
9 Factory Street, Montgomery, NY 12549

Phone: (845) 457-6229
SelfStorageMontgomeryNY.com

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