Antique items and art pieces, be them heirlooms or investments, are valued based on their state and how well they’re preserved. With that said, here are some tips to keep them safe: 1. Don’t wrap any items in newspaper. Printed newspaper is one of the worst things to pack with. The ink often smudges off and stains your items. 2. Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before storing. 3. Any metal surfaces should be treated with rust protector or wiped down with an oily rag to protect them from rust formation. 4. It’s always a good idea to wax any wood furniture, or spray it with furniture-spray before storing it. Sheets are great to cover the furniture for safekeeping. 5. Don’t stack anything on top of antique furniture. 6. Cover chair legs with bubble wrap or rags 7. If storing wool items, don’t forget about the moths and the damage they can do. 8. All glass items should be individually wrapped. Label all boxes containing glassware and fragile dishes. Don’t place any heavy items of top of these fragile boxes, and be sure to stack these boxes on top. 9. If you have collectible items or anything breakable, you should tape the item after wrapping it. 10. Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in bubble wrap or thick blankets and marked “FRAGILE.” Make sure you stand them straight up and never flat. 11. The best way to pack lamps is to separate the bases from the lampshades and wrap them individually for protection. 12. Pack your books flat. Storing books on their side can damage their spines. 13. NEVER store anything in closed/sealed plastic bags, especially if the item is in non-A/C unit. The humidity will cause mildew and damage to your items. 14. Leave a small space between your stored items and the storage unit’s walls. It’s never a good idea to have your items lean against the unit’s walls. 15. Be sure to have an inventory of your stored items and keep it in a safe place. For these types of items, items that are valuable or need specific attention, consider climate control. That’s one of the most essential items in this case. Central air and heat will maintain a constant temperature in the unit, which in return will help reduce moisture from accumulating. Moisture causes mold and mildew to form, and they can permanently damage your items. Click here to find USSC locations near you, and join us on Facebook! Become part of the community - make your voice heard, get tips, enter giveaways and connect with others. Yours in storing precious items, US Storage Centers
