How many times have you found yourself with an extra bed, desk or table? Perhaps you moved into a new place that it does not fit in, got married and are combining homes or whatever.

Whatever your situation, the good news is self storage in public storage facilities is by far the best option from both a fit and economic perspective. Even better, these facilities can be found everywhere. They sprout up like crabgrass!

So, we just load the furniture in a truck and haul it off the storage place, right? Nope. You only do this if you want to come back months later and find furniture that is dirty and falling apart.

Just like smaller items in your home, furniture must be properly prepared and packed before it is stored. The issues you have to deal with include the threat of mold, water penetration and even rodents eating fabric.

To this end, the first step is to evaluate your area. If the climate changes dramatically season to season, you need a storage unit that has climate control. A leather couch will fall apart in super hot, dry air. It will not do much better in freezing temperatures.

Once you select a unit, your first step is not to put furniture in it. The floor of most storage units is made from concrete. Concrete holds water. You want to lay down plastic sheets throughout the entire floor area.

Furniture has many enemies, but water is undoubtedly at the top of the list. It will rot, rust and mold just about any furniture. If it gets into wood, it expands and contracts with the temperature causing wood failure.

As a general rule, if you can disassemble it, do it. Maximizing the space in the unit is not your concern. Instead, you want to take all screws and bolts out if possible. They will rust, so place them in a plastic bag that is air tight.

Closely following water damage is the proverbial deep scratch. Any furniture that has a flat surface is at risk. From table tops to mirrors to benches, you are running a risk. To limit it, wrap everything in a bed comforter.

Storing large glass surfaces is also a touchy subject. From mirrors to glass table tops, cracking is a huge concern. Putting a big X made of masking tape actually helps prevent this. For delicate pieces, tape cardboard to each side for further protection.

When packing your storage space, big items should go in first and to the back. Smaller items should then be used to fill out the spaces. It sometimes helps to draw a map of what should go where to get yourself organized.

Storage facilities by and large work out well for most people. They are convenient and safe. Just make sure you take time to prepare and pack things so the ravages of time do not take effect.