Tips To Store Leather Furniture Items Long Term
If you need to place all of your furniture items into a storage space for a long period of time, then you may need to safely secure a leather couch, chair, or other furniture piece. You can store the leather furniture items safely over the course of months or years. However, you need to do a few things to make sure that your furniture stays in great shape. Keep reading to find out what you need to do to store a leather item safely.
Opt for Climate Control
Most belongings do not need to be kept in climate controlled units unless they deteriorate quickly and consistently when exposed to fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels. Leather is one of the items that is affected by these things. Since most pieces of leather furniture cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, it is wise to invest in climate controlled units. If you do not, then the moisture that enters the self storage space can be absorbed into the leather through the tiny microscopic holes that line the exterior of the hide. While moderate levels of moisture keep leather from drying out, high levels can cause mold and mildew to form. High levels of heat can cause the leather to crack, and so can extremely cold temperatures.
To keep your leather furniture from becoming damaged, make sure the climate controlled storage space offers an environment that is close to what you see in your home. Many storage spaces offer climate controlled units with a consistent temperature between 55 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and this is well within this range.
Clean and Protect Your Furniture
It is best to place your leather furniture item off the floor on a plastic tarp to protect it from any moisture that enters the storage space. Elevating the furniture on one or several palettes is a good idea too. While these things, along with the dehumidifier units that are secured within the space, help to reduce moisture damage, you also should clean the couch and condition it before storing it.
To clean the couch properly, use a cotton or microfiber cloth to gently dust the piece to remove debris. Afterwards, purchase some saddle soap. This material contains neatsfoot oil which is an oily substance that is made from cow feet and shin bones. The oil cleans, conditions, and moisturizes leather. To use the saddle soap, place the soap on a wet cotton cloth and wipe the leather until you see a slight lather appear on the surface. Rub the lather into the leather and use a clean cloth to wipe away excess. Only wipe gently though, so the neatsfoot oil is left behind.
When you are done cleaning the leather, look for wooden legs and other wooden pieces that need to be protected as well. Use gentle dish soap and water to clean the wood and then apply paste wax to it. Simply rub the wax on the wood and use a clean cloth to rub it off. Afterwards, place a cloth made out of breathable cotton or linen over the furniture item. This will help to protect the leather from dirt and debris while also allowing air to move through the material so that moisture does not get caught underneath it and allow mildew to grow.
Furniture items made from leather are quite expensive and need to be stored carefully. Make sure to choose a climate controlled storage unit and also clean and condition the item beforehand. Also, think about asking the owner of the self storage business for other good tips to keep leather in great shape over an extended period of time. For more information on storage units, check out a storage facility online at a site like http://www.allamericanself-storage.com.