Preparing Your Valuable Antique Furniture for a Move
When you have valuable antique furniture in your home, facing a move can be intimidating. Scratches, dings, or even a broken handle can severely impede the value of some pieces. Therefore, properly preparing antique pieces before moving day is critical.
Whether it’s a family heirloom or a unique item you snagged at an antique shop, when making a household move, you want to protect your antiques. So take a look at a few tips to prepare your antique furniture.
Thoroughly Clean Your Antiques Before Packing
The first step in preparing your antiques for a move is to clean off the dust and dirt before packing them. Use a dry, soft microfiber towel and avoid harsh chemicals that can cause irreversible damage.
Remove Any Items Held In Drawers or Cabinets
Many people leave dresser drawers and wardrobe cabinets full before a move, but it’s best to remove everything held inside if you are dealing with antique furniture. If items are allowed to shift and move while you are transporting the piece, this could lead to damage. For example, a rolling pin left in an antique buffet could cause dings in the wood.
Consider Disassembling Larger Furniture Pieces
You should disassemble larger antique pieces before you transport them, so they are less prone to damage. Disassembly can be a good move for protection since smaller parts:
- Are easier to wrap with padding for adequate protection securely
- Are more convenient to navigate and maneuver than one large piece
- Make a furniture piece less vulnerable to damage
Consider something like an antique dining room table. The table is awkward to move without bumping into a door frame. Likewise, it can be difficult to wrap a blanket around the tabletop and legs fully. However, disassembly makes the piece easier to cover with protective material and maneuver through the house.
Take Off Vulnerable Fixtures Like Handles and Knobs
Did you know carved wood drawer pulls are common implements on furniture built in the 1800s? These wooden pieces may be a minor part of an overall piece but can hold substantial value. Unfortunately, handles, knobs, drawer pulls, and other items attached to a piece of antique furniture can be most vulnerable to damage during a move. Therefore, ensure these fixtures are carefully removed and packed in a box before moving day. Or, if you can’t remove them, wrap the items in moving blankets.
Use Moving Blankets to Wrap the Furniture Piece
Industry professionals use a lot of moving blankets during a residential move. These padded blankets help protect a furniture piece from scuffs and scrapes, the most common damage to furniture pieces during transport. If you have an antique item you want to protect, ask the movers to wrap it securely in a moving blanket to keep it protected.
Get Help with Antiques and Everything Else with Professional Movers
Whether you are moving a house full of antiques or simply everyday items, residential movers can help with the process. Contact us to discuss your upcoming move and get a free quote.