10 Tips for Storing Wood Furniture

High-quality solid wood furniture is a great investment into your home décor, and one that can last a lifetime or longer. Here at Heywood-Wakefield, we build our furniture to last over a century. Many families have pieces built by our company that have been handed down across generations. Of course, it's important to take basic steps to protect your wood furniture at home. And, if you need to store your wood furniture—especially for an extended period—you have to take some precautions. Otherwise, the furniture that comes out of storage may not resemble the furniture that went in. If you'll be putting Heywood-Wakefield or other quality wood furniture into storage for some time, review the following 10 tips.

How to Safely Store Wood Furniture

1. Dust and clean the furniture with a soft, slightly dampened cloth prior to storage. If it doesn't go in clean, it can become discolored or damaged, or develop an off odor.

2. Treat wood pieces with a manufacturer-approved furniture polish to help prevent the lumber from drying out and cracking during storage.

3. Only store wood furniture in a climate-controlled atmosphere in which temperature and humidity are regulated; extreme temperatures and too little or too much humidity can cause cracks, warping, other distortion, and mildew or mold growth.

4. Keep the furnishings away from any radiators, ducts, vents, or other sources of hot or cold air, as well as any potential sources of dripping or leaks.

5. Securely wrap the furniture in protective layers to prevent scratches, dings, or other damage. Don't use plastic wrap, which can have condensation buildup that causes moisture damage to the wood; instead, use moving blankets or another durable, non-abrasive fabric.

6. Don't place or pile heavy boxes or items on top of your stored furniture.

7. Refrain from stacking hefty items or boxes nearby that can topple over onto the furniture.

8. Store the furniture off the ground in case there's a leak or flooding.

9. Have any leather professionally cleaned first. Be sure it's completely dry before wrapping and storing the furniture, or there's a significant risk of mold or mildew growth and developing unpleasant musky odors.

10. Be sure you wrap wood furniture with leather elements in a breathable protective fabric like cotton.