Yes. Container storage works well for furniture that goes in clean and dry and is packed so air can move around it. Our containers at Chipping Norton and Shipston-on-Stour are insulated to help prevent condensation, and because you can drive right up to the doors, a whole household of furniture can go straight from the van into the container.
Why dry packing makes the difference
On a cold night, steel cools quickly, and any moisture in the air or in the furniture itself can settle on the coldest surfaces. Insulation keeps the inside walls warmer, so far less moisture settles, but it can’t take out damp that arrives with your things. That’s why how you pack matters most.
How to pack furniture for a container
- Make sure every piece is completely dry before it goes in. Anything damp is best dried out at home first.
- Take apart what comes apart. Bed frames, tables and bookcases pack more neatly in pieces; bag the fixings and tape them to the piece they belong to.
- Stand furniture on pallets, boards or battens to lift it off the floor.
- Use breathable covers, such as cotton dust sheets and furniture blankets, which keep dust off and let air through. Plastic is handy for the journey, but it traps moisture in storage, so take it off once everything is unloaded.
- Leave a small gap between pieces and away from the walls so air can circulate.
- Put a few moisture absorbers where you can reach them easily, and swap them when they fill. Our units don’t have power, so absorbers are the simple way to keep the air drier.
When you visit, lift a cover or two and feel the backs and undersides. If anything feels damp, take it out to dry and give us a call.
Which furniture suits a container best
Solid wood tables, chairs and chests store well in a container when they go in dry. For fine veneers, antiques, upholstery or anything you’d hate to see marked, especially over a winter, an indoor unit gives a steadier home. Tell us what you’re storing and we’ll help you choose. Our team can also help you work out how much space you need, so it’s worth measuring your biggest pieces before you call.
Keeping it covered
Everything stored with us needs contents cover, either through our contents protection or your own policy. Our cover protects against things like burst pipes and water leaks, fire, and theft involving forced entry. It doesn’t cover gradual damp, which is one more reason dry packing is worth the effort.
To talk it through, call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online.
Related questions