Storing Furniture Long Term
In short: Furniture keeps well in storage if it goes in clean and dry, is raised off the floor, is covered with breathable sheets rather than plastic, and has a little air around it. Our 20ft containers are spray-foam insulated to reduce condensation, which is the main cause of furniture going damp and fusty in a steel container.
Prepare it before it goes in
- Clean and dry everything. Polish wood, vacuum upholstery and make sure nothing is damp from a wet moving day.
- Take apart what comes apart: bed frames, table legs, shelving. Label the fixings.
- Empty drawers and wardrobes of anything that could leak or spoil. Food and perishables cannot be stored at all.
- Drain fridges, freezers and washing machines, and leave their doors slightly open.
In the container
- Stand furniture on pallets so air can move underneath.
- Leave a small gap at the walls rather than pushing pieces hard against them.
- Cover wood and fabric with breathable dust sheets or blankets. Plastic sheeting can trap moisture against them.
- Keep sofas the right way up, stand mattresses on their sides in covers, and do not stack heavy boxes on upholstered pieces.
- Put the pieces you will want first near the doors.
Why insulation matters for furniture
A plain steel container warms by day and cools quickly at night, so condensation can form on the inside and drip onto what is stored. Each of our containers is lined with spray-foam insulation, which keeps the temperature inside steadier so far less condensation forms. They are waterproof and ventilated. More on this in do storage containers get damp?
How long can it stay?
There is no time limit. You rent month by month, and when you are ready to take everything home you give two weeks’ notice. How renting works explains the agreement, payments and notice, and how to pack a storage container covers loading.
Questions people ask
Yes. Clean and dry it first, raise it off the floor on pallets, cover it with breathable sheets and leave a gap at the walls. Our containers are insulated to reduce condensation.
Breathable dust sheets or blankets are better. Plastic can trap moisture against wood and fabric.
As long as you like: there is no time limit, you rent month by month and give two weeks’ notice when you leave.
The contents of an average three-bedroom house. See what fits in a 20ft container.