How to Safely Store Antiques

People love antiques for various reasons. Often, they get passed down to keep them in the family, so they are highly treasured. Others love to collect antiques as they harken back to a different time in history. These valued pieces can range from furniture, artwork, and books to glass or porcelain display pieces like Capodimonte that have a high monetary value. Whatever your reason for owning antiques, the need to place them in personal storage can leave you anxious about possible damage to your most prized possessions. Let’s look at some tips to keep your valuable items safe to ease your concerns.

Choosing The Right Storage Unit

While you should regularly check on your stored antiques, especially if using a standard storage unit, you might be making more trips than if you chose a climate-controlled storage space. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can quickly destroy valuable and sensitive antique items. The safest bet for protecting your valuables is to select a reliable climate-controlled storage facility. Mini U Storage has the perfect spaces for your antiques.

Cleaning Items Before Storage

One essential step in storing valuable antiques is to clean them prior to placing them in storage. Of course, you tend to them when they are in your home, but a thorough cleaning immediately before storage will help ensure there is no build-up of damaging residues while your pieces are tucked away for safekeeping. A good quality wood polish or paste should be applied to wooden items. There are many to choose from, including specific types for different woods. A simple Google search can help you find the perfect polish for your particular wood furniture. For antique leather furniture or clothing, first, clean it with a suitable leather cleaner. Before doing so, make sure to test a small inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t cause damage. Next, to prevent mold and mildew growth, treat with a leather conditioner. It will help keep your leather furniture or clothing in pristine condition for the duration of storage. For antiques made of glass and porcelain, soap and water are often sufficient, though it would be wise to research your particular pieces as colors and finishes can easily be damaged by chemicals.

Disassemble Before Storing

Stacking furniture is never a good idea, especially antiques. However, if larger pieces can be safely broken down, you should do it for a couple of reasons. First, it will remove the temptation to stack other items on top of an antique table, for example. Second, it will reduce the risk of damage during transportation. Scratches on table and chair legs are quite common in the moving process as bulky items can easily become unbalanced, resulting in unintentional contact with other things.