Whether you love to frequent flea markets or received part of a loved one’s estate, you may have acquired several precious antiques over the years. If you no longer have enough room to display them, the next best option is a storage unit. Use the following guidelines to ensure your prized possessions remain safe at the storage facility.

3 Tips for Storing Antique Items

1. Clean & Protect

Before loading your items into a storage unit, you may want to clean off grime or residue that will eat away at the surface of your valuables. Wooden antiques, such as tables, should be sprayed and wiped down with furniture polish to prevent the material from becoming dry, brittle, and prone to cracks. Treat leather clothes and accessories with a leather conditioner to help them retain their natural moisture, and wipe down metal furniture or hardware with oil to prevent tarnish or rusting.

2.  Cushion Fragile Items

Whether you’re storing a wooden dresser, a family portrait, or a glass vase, it’s better to be safe than sorry when wrapping antiques. Use blankets and sheets for items that need to be protected from surface scratches, and double up with bubble or shrink wrap for more fragile belongings. Place irregularly shaped items in boxes filled with cushioning to prevent them from being stepped on or warped by the weight of a nearby object.

3. Choose a Climate-Controlled Unit

To preserve your antiques, you’ll need to monitor the temperature and humidity of their surroundings. The ideal humidity level for sensitive items is around 50% — any more, and you could risk mold growth, rusting, and pest infestations; any less could cause cracking or shrinking. To preserve organic materials found in frames, paintings, clothing, and other common antiques, keep your climate-controlled storage unit at around 64° at all times.

If you have too many antiques cluttering your home, rent out a storage unit at EZ Storage of Lexington, SC, today. They have nearly 20 years of experience providing rentals at their secure facility, which features cameras, an electronic security gate, and fencing. With their climate-controlled options, you can preserve your antiques for years to come. To learn more about their leasing program, visit the website or call (803) 808-9328 today.