Store Leather Furniture in a Storage Unit

Wondering how to store leather furniture in a storage unit without damaging it? You’ve come to the right place. There’s nothing like the feel and touch of fine leather furniture. It looks beautiful and adds a touch of class to any living, dining, or bedroom. It’s comfortable, too, a joy to sit in and read, watch TV or check out your fave social media. Leather furniture even smells good, with an earthy aroma that gives a sense of peace and tranquility.

One thing problematic about leather furniture, though, is that it’s a bit delicate. Sure, leather is tough and strong, but it stains easily and tends to fade with time. The leather oils can also dry out, causing it to crack and tear and leave it looking worn out. That’s especially true when you need to store leather furniture, whether short or long-term.

To help you, we’ve put together this list of tips on how to store leather furniture in storage. We’ll look at what materials to use, how to protect them from damage, and more. If storing your leather furniture is necessary, these tips will make sure it stays clean and pristine. Enjoy.

Store Leather Furniture In Climate-Controlled Storage Units

Leather, as we mentioned, is a delicate type of furniture covering. It can be negatively affected by moisture, heat, cold and dry conditions. That’s why, if possible, you should choose climate-controlled storage. That way, any significant changes in the weather won’t affect it as severely. As the name suggests, climate-controlled storage keeps the interior of your unit at a controlled temperature. Significant fluctuations in temperature won’t affect your leather furniture either. Yes, the cost of a climate-controlled storage unit is a bit higher but, frankly, not exorbitantly higher. If you have high-quality leather furniture, the extra cost is well worth it.

Clean and Condition Leather Furniture Before Storing It

We highly recommend that you clean and condition all leather furniture before storing it, even for short term storage. There are a few reasons why:

• If there are any hidden bacteria-producing particles, they can stain your sofa overtime.
• Conditioning will help to prevent the leather from drying out and cracking.
• When you take it out of storage, your leather furniture will be clean, conditioned, and ready to use.

We also recommend that, after conditioning, you let your leather furniture dry for a few days. You don’t want to put it in storage while the leather is still damp. That takes a little bit of planning, of course, so you have time to do it before the movers come. By the way, the best way to clean and condition leather furniture is as follows:

1. Wipe down the leather with a dry cloth first, paying particular attention to cracks and crevices. You can also use a gentle, low suction vacuum.
2. Next, dip a soft cloth in warm water and a bit of moisturizing soap. Ring it out so that it’s not dripping, and gently remove any stains.
3. Be sure to clean and condition all of the leather services—the reason why is that it changes the leather’s appearance. If you leave any spots uncleaned, they will look different from the rest.

Use Charcoal or Cat Litter To Absorb Any Moisture

Leather has a bad habit of absorbing moisture, which can significantly affect its longevity. If you aren’t storing it in a climate-controlled storage unit, make sure to keep humidity as low as possible. One easy way to do that is to either use charcoal briquettes or cat litter. You can place either In a small plastic container (or several, depending on your storage unit). It works great and, even better, it absorbs odors too! Plus, it’s super-cheap!

Cover Your Leather Furniture with Cotton Blankets

Leather is a natural fabric, and, as such, it needs to breathe. If you wrap it in plastic, which is popular these days, it can’t breathe. That’s why wrapping it in a cotton blanket is a better choice. Cotton or pap[er allow it to breathe freely. Plus, they also prevent dust and dirt from accumulating on your leather furniture and getting into the cracks and crevices.

We recommend thick, padded blankets for this task. It would help if you also secured them in place with plenty of tapes, ensuring no video touches the leather surface. That way, the blankets won’t fall off when the movers are handling your furniture.

Don’t Place Anything On Top Of Your Leather Furniture

If you’re going to be storing your leather furniture short term, you can stack lightweight boxes on it to save space. However, if you’re storing long-term, we highly recommend not putting anything on top of your leather furniture. Heavy packages can significantly damage the leather and the Cushion material underneath. Also, some items can scratch or rip leather upholstery, which would be a disaster.

Don’t Store Food With Your Leather Furniture

This might sound a bit silly, but many people make this mistake. Any food stored will attract insects, rodents, and other critters. Those insects and critters, after the food is gone, might start looking at your leather furniture. That could cause all sorts of damage, especially if you’re storing long-term. We also recommend not using cardboard boxes that came from the grocery store for the same reason.

No Plastic To Store Leather Furniture in a Storage Unit

Never store leather furniture wrapped in plastic. Leather can’t breathe when it’s covered with plastic, and, even worse, mold can begin to form. The worst thing about mold damage is that, in most cases, it’s permanent. So, again, wrap your leather in cotton blankets or paper pads.

Brought To You By Southern Self Storage

We hope these tips have been beneficial and empower you to protect your valuable leather furniture. At Southern Self Storage, we offer temperature-controlled storage units where you can store them safely. Our units are clean, secure, and affordable, too. Whether you’re storing long or short-term, you can count on us to make sure your leather furniture is well protected.