It is important that you take the right steps to prepare your sofa for long-term storage so the fabric, material, and structure remains in perfect condition. How you do this will depend on the material and style of sofa, but there are some general steps to follow.
To store a sofa like the experts,
- Hire a purpose-built storage unit.
- Clean the sofa ahead of time.
- Cover with protective wrap.
1. Hire a Purpose-Built Storage Unit
Find and hire a storage unit that has been built to protect all of your items over time. In an ideal world, this will be a purpose-built storage unit that is climate-controlled, clean, under surveillance and insured.* Climate control is the most important factor for sofas as fluctuations in heat and condition can cause long-term and irreversible damage (like mould).
*Find out what else to look for in a storage unit in our article on the subject.
2. Clean the Sofa Ahead of Time
For similar reasons, it is important to clean your sofa ahead of time. If your sofa goes into storage covered in dirt and grime, this will just get worse over time.
How you clean your sofa is dependent on a few different factors but, for the most part, you should start by removing the sofa cushions that form the back and base of the sofa. Once these are off, hoover the dust and “bits” that will have made their way down the gaps. This is also a good time to remove and clean your decorative cushions.
If your sofa is leather, you can wipe down the exterior with a wet microfibre cloth and some gentle cleaning products. Metal sections can be cleaned with a polishing cloth and metal cleaner.
Fabric sofas will require a little more attention. You should scrub the sofa with a washing powder and water solution and remove stains with a Dr. Beckmann carpet stain remover as seen below.
3. Cover with Protective Wrap
Once your sofa is clean and dried, cover it with a protective wrap. This minimises contact between sofa and van, as well as between the sofa and other items in storage.
Some removals teams will sort out the protective wrap for you, so find out before you go ahead and purchase one yourself.
And you’re done! Your sofa is ready to be stored long-term.
At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your sofa is stored and kept in perfect condition.
To learn more about our storage facilities, or our removals service, take a look at out our website or contact Nathan.
