Wondering how to properly store your sofa? With the right preparation—cleaning, disassembling, and covering—you can help protect your sofa from dust, moisture, odor, and pests while in storage. Whether you’re using storage while moving or during home renovations, here’s your step-by-step guide to storing a couch!

Inspect & Clean Your Couch

One of the best ways to prepare your couch for storage is to check for any pre-existing damage. This allows you to repair anything before you store it, helping to prevent minor damages from worsening over time. Thoroughly inspect the cushions and frame for wear, including tears, stains, loose stitching, and scratches. Then, clean your couch to prevent musty smells and pests. Cleaning your couch will typically involve vacuuming the entire upholstered frame and cushions, gently dabbing stains, and letting it completely air dry before storage.

Some considerations for how to clean different types of furniture material include:

• Polyester Couches: Spot-clean polyester by mixing mild dish soap with warm water and gently blotting the area with a clean cloth. Use a separate damp cloth to remove soap residue.
• Microfiber Couches: Break the cleaning process into several sessions to avoid over-saturating the couch. For microfiber couches that have an “S’ care tag, use an undiluted rubbing alcohol or solvent-based cleaner to gently dab stains. For couches with “W” tags, use a mixture of mild, clear dish soap and warm water in a spray bottle.
• Cotton Couches: Use a mild soap or upholstery cleaner mixed with warm water, and carefully blot the stained area with a cloth. Remove any residue with a damp cloth and air-dry the couch.
• Velvet Couches: Blot the stain with a small amount of mild soap mixed with water. Once the couch is dry, use a soft-bristled brush or upholstery brush to gently restore the fibers.
• Linen Couches: For poly-linen blends, use a water-based cleaner. For a pure linen couch, use a solvent-based cleaner to prevent shrinkage or water stains. Remove soap residue using a damp cloth.
• Leather & Faux Leather Couches: Wipe down genuine leather with mild soap or a leather cleaner, then finish with a leather conditioner. Faux leather just needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth and mild soap.

Disassemble Sofa

Depending on its size, disassembling a sofa can make the packing and storage process much easier. Start the couch disassembly process by removing cushions, pillows, legs, and armrests, then place any hardware in a labeled bag so nothing gets lost. If you have a large couch like a sectional, consider separating it into its individual pieces—this will make it easier to move, store, and protect. If your couch has a slipcover, you can remove, clean, and store them separately to prevent odors and mildew growth.

Move Couch to Storage Location

To safely move large items like a couch, you should always enlist the help of another person or hire professional movers. For further support, utilize furniture sliders or a dolly for easy transport. The best way to pack furniture for transport is wrapping it with moving blankets, plastic stretch wrap, and bubble wrap to protect any fragile parts or sharp edges. Once your couch is secured, ensure that a clear path has been made from the couch’s current location to the moving truck (or to its final destination in your home). Moving heavy furniture can be dangerous, so make sure to utilize proper lifting and carrying techniques during the process.

Consider Climate-Controlled Storage

While you can store a couch or sofa in a basement or attic, items with wood and fabric components are best kept in a cool, dry, climate-controlled environment to help prevent cracking, warping, or rotting. Renting a climate-controlled storage unit is particularly helpful if you need long-term storage to preserve your couch for future use. Depending on which region of the United States you live in, you’ll want to consider different kinds of climate-controlled storage, like air-cooled storage, heated storage, or humidity-controlled storage.

Cover Your Couch

A couch cover can help prevent dust, dirt, and moisture from damaging the sofa’s frame and upholstery while in storage. Ideally, you should cover your couch with a breathable cotton or linen cover. Avoid non-breathable materials that trap moisture, such as plastic wrap, polyester, or trash bags. If you only need short-term storage for your couch and don’t want to invest in a sofa cover, simply laying a breathable cotton bedsheet on top of it is a great solution.

Position Sofa Correctly

To best support the couch’s frame in storage, place it in its upright position rather than on its side, and refrain from placing heavy items on the cushions as this can cause them to sag. Avoid placing the couch directly against a wall to allow for air circulation on all sides—this helps prevent mold and mildew build-up. For the best protection, place your couch on pallets in storage to prevent potential moisture from the floor damaging your furniture.

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• Venice, CA Climate-Controlled Units
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With facilities across the U.S., you can easily find climate-controlled storage near you!