How to Store Wood Furniture Without Climate Control

Storing wood furniture in a standard storage unit takes more planning than storing plastic bins or metal shelving. Wood reacts to moisture and temperature changes. It can swell, shrink, crack, warp, or grow mildew if it is packed too tightly or stored while damp. A non-climate controlled unit can still be a safe place for wood furniture if you prepare each piece correctly and set up the unit to manage airflow and moisture.



We see wood furniture come in every week as residents choose More Space Self Storage for their storage needs, whether it’s for spring cleaning, or packing up for a move. Solid wood dining sets, dressers, antique chairs, bed frames, coffee tables, and heirloom cabinets all store well when they are cleaned, dried, protected with breathable materials, and positioned correctly.

For those in a hurry

• Clean and fully dry every surface before storage
• Fix existing moisture problems before you pack
• Disassemble large pieces and bag hardware
• Protect wood with polish or wax when appropriate
• Wrap with breathable materials, not sealed plastic
• Keep furniture off the floor using pallets or blocks
• Create airflow gaps between items and walls
• Control moisture with desiccants and smart unit layout
• Avoid stacking heavy weight on wood furniture
• Check the unit periodically for humidity and shifting

Know What You Are Protecting Against

Without climate control, the main risks are moisture buildup, condensation, and temperature swings. In many parts of Washington, damp air is common and storage units can trap humidity. Condensation forms when warm air meets cold surfaces. That moisture can settle into wood grain, under cushions, and inside drawers.

Wood furniture also has joints and veneers that can loosen when humidity changes. Glue can weaken. Thin panels can warp. Finishes can cloud. Your goal is to store furniture clean, dry, elevated, and able to breathe.

Step 1: Clean Every Piece the Right Way

Cleaning does two things. It removes grime that can stain wood over time, and it reduces residue that can bond with moisture.

Dust first

Use a soft microfiber cloth or a vacuum with a brush attachment. Dust in grooves, carvings, and corners. Dust left on a surface can mix with humidity and become harder to remove later.

Wash gently

Use a mild soap solution with a damp cloth, then wipe again with a clean cloth that is only slightly damp. Do not soak wood. Avoid harsh cleaners, vinegar mixes, and ammonia products on finished wood.

Dry immediately

Follow every damp wipe with a dry towel. Pay attention to edges, seams, and decorative trim where moisture lingers.

Handle drawers and interiors

Remove drawers when possible. Vacuum inside. Wipe interior wood lightly and dry completely. If drawers smell musty, leave them out in a dry room for a full day before packing.

Upholstered wood furniture needs extra time

Chairs with fabric seats or padded backs must be fully dry before storage. If you shampooed fabric, allow multiple days of drying with airflow.

Step 2: Let Furniture Air Dry Before You Wrap It

This is the step many people skip. Even if furniture feels dry, moisture can remain in joints, drawer runners, and under decorative pieces.

Place furniture in a dry indoor area with airflow for at least 24 hours after cleaning. If the piece came from a garage, basement, or patio, give it more time. Do not wrap furniture the same day you clean it.

If you are storing items during a rainy week, run a fan in the room where you are staging furniture. Dry air moving across surfaces matters more than heat.

Step 3: Do Minor Repairs Before Storage

Storage is not the place for a piece that is already failing. Small issues become harder to fix after months in a unit.

• Tighten loose screws and bolts
• Reglue wobbly joints and allow full cure time
• Replace missing feet pads so wood does not sit directly on blocks
• Touch up exposed raw wood if the finish is worn through

Furniture should be stable and dry before it goes into storage.

Step 4: Disassemble What You Can

Disassembly reduces stress on joints and saves space.

• Remove table legs if designed to detach
• Take headboards off bed frames
• Separate sectional pieces
• Remove glass shelves and wrap them separately
• Bag hardware in labeled plastic bags and tape the bag to the underside of the furniture piece

If you cannot disassemble, protect joints by keeping the piece upright and avoiding sideways pressure during moving and stacking.

Step 5: Protect the Wood Finish Before Packing

Different finishes benefit from different protection.

For finished solid wood, a light coat of quality furniture wax or polish can add a barrier against humidity and help prevent the finish from drying out. Apply sparingly and buff fully. Do not leave oily residue that can attract dust.

For antique or delicate finishes, test a small hidden spot first. Some older finishes can react poorly to modern polishes. If you are unsure, skip wax and focus on breathable wrapping and moisture control.

For unfinished or raw wood, avoid wax and use clean breathable fabric wrapping. Raw wood absorbs moisture quickly, so drying and desiccants matter more.

Step 6: Choose Breathable Wrapping Materials

The biggest mistake in non climate controlled storage is sealing wood in plastic. Plastic traps moisture. Condensation can form inside the wrap and sit against the finish for weeks.

Use breathable materials instead.

Best options:

• Moving blankets
• Cotton sheets
• Furniture pads with stretch wrap applied only to hold pads in place, not sealed tightly around wood
• Corrugated cardboard on corners and flat faces for impact protection

If you use stretch wrap, use it like straps. Wrap over the blankets to keep them from slipping, and leave the underside and some seams less sealed so the furniture can breathe.

Avoid bubble wrap directly on wood. Bubble wrap can trap moisture and imprint texture into softer finishes.

Step 7: Protect Drawers Doors and Moving Parts

Wood furniture often fails at the moving parts first.

• Remove drawers and wrap them separately when possible
• If drawers stay inside, place a soft cloth between drawer fronts and frame to prevent rubbing
• Leave cabinet doors slightly ajar, then secure them with soft cotton ties so they do not swing open
• Do not use tape directly on finished wood

Leaving doors and drawers slightly open supports airflow inside the piece, which matters in humid months.

Step 8: Elevate Everything Off the Floor

Even a clean, well maintained facility can have temperature differences at floor level. Concrete can wick moisture. Cardboard boxes on the floor can absorb dampness and transfer it to wood legs.

Use elevation for every wood item.

• Place pallets, 2 by 4 blocks, or plastic risers under furniture
• Put a moisture barrier under pallets if you have one, such as a tarp laid flat under the pallet area only, not wrapped around furniture
• Ensure legs are supported evenly so frames do not twist

If a piece has delicate feet, place a flat board under the feet so weight is spread and dents are avoided.

Step 9: Create Airflow Inside the Unit

Airflow is your substitute for climate control. Pack with intentional gaps.

• Leave a few inches between furniture and the unit walls
• Avoid pushing items tight into corners
• Keep a central aisle so you can reach the back without dragging items
• Do not fill every cubic inch with soft goods that block airflow

When stacking, keep airflow paths. For example, do not sandwich a wood dresser between mattresses on both sides. Mattresses hold moisture and block circulation.

Step 10: Use Moisture Control Products Correctly

Desiccants help, but only if used the right way.

• Use moisture absorbers in multiple spots, not just one corner
• Place them low and high, since humidity can settle in different layers
• Replace or recharge them on schedule
• Do not place desiccants directly on wood surfaces

Avoid open containers of baking soda for humidity control. It helps odors, not moisture. Avoid charcoal briquettes that can shed dust.

If your unit is large or your area is very damp, you can use a rechargeable dehumidifier bucket that you swap out regularly. In a non climate controlled setting, the goal is reducing spikes, not eliminating moisture.

Step 11: Pack the Unit to Prevent Warping and Damage

How you stack matters as much as what you wrap with.

Rules that protect wood furniture

• Keep heavy items low
• Do not stack heavy boxes on tabletops or chair seats
• Store sofas and upholstered items off direct contact with wood pieces
• Keep long items supported at multiple points so they do not bow
• Store tables upright only if the design can handle it, otherwise store flat with padding and no weight on top

For mattresses, store them flat when possible. If stored on edge, keep them straight and do not compress them against furniture.

Step 12: Do Scheduled Check Ins

Non climate controlled storage benefits from periodic inspections.

On each visit

• Look for damp smells
• Check moisture absorbers and replace as needed
• Inspect the underside of furniture and the backs of pieces near walls
• Confirm blankets are dry and not sticking to finishes
• Verify nothing shifted and no weight is pressing on wood edges

If you notice condensation or musty odor, increase airflow gaps and add additional moisture absorbers.

A Simple Packing Order That Works

• Lay pallets or risers first
• Place large wood pieces on pallets with airflow gaps
• Add medium pieces, leaving a walkway
• Store soft goods in sealed bins away from wood surfaces
• Place moisture control products in multiple locations
• Finish with lighter boxes and labeled items near the front

This layout keeps wood elevated, accessible, and surrounded by airflow.

Storing wood furniture without climate control is a preparation job. Clean and dry the furniture, protect it with breathable layers, elevate it off the floor, build airflow space into your unit, and use moisture absorbers that you maintain over time. Those steps protect finishes, joints, veneers, and interior panels through seasonal humidity and temperature changes.

Finding self storage in Spokane, Washington that knows how to prep customers by providing them with the tools for successful storage is key.  If you are planning a move, remodeling project, or long term storage, organize your unit around elevation and airflow before the first piece goes inside.