Tips for Packing and Moving a Leather Couch

Packing your leather sofa

The most important part of packing your sofa is ensuring the delicate leather is not ruined during transport. The following packing and wrapping tips will help you properly prepare your leather sofa for the move to prevent damage.

• Wrap your leather sofa in furniture blankets to protect it from scratches, scuffs, tears and dirt. Tape the furniture blankets securely to hold them in place. However, MAKE SURE the tape doesn't come in contact with the sofa's surface--it will damage the leather's finish or even take the colour off.
• Stand the couch on its end to make sure any finished wooden legs are covered and protected as well.
• After your sofa is wrapped carefully in furniture blankets, you may wrap the entire thing in shrink wrap to hold the blankets even more firmly in place. This is safe as long as you wrap the sofa with blankets prior to applying the shrink wrap-- you can NEVER wrap a leather sofa with plastic stretch wrap directly! The plastic can melt in extreme temperatures, sticking to and ruining your leather, or trap condensation, which can cause mildew and result in irreparable damage to your sofa.

Moving a leather sofa

• Plan the route. Make sure your pathway is clear of any obstacles and that your sofa will fit easily through any doorways, hallways or stairways (measure first!). Avoid bumping or scraping the sofa against door frames and sharp edges that could puncture the leather.
• Don't attempt to move it alone. If you are not hiring professional moving help, ask friends or family members to help. A sofa is heavy and cumbersome, and you should be carried by more than one person to avoid injury or damaging the sofa.
• Make sure you lift correctly. Attempting to lift heavy items improperly can result in pulled muscles, strained backs and other serious injuries. Begin by carefully lifting one corner off the ground to judge the weight of your sofa and avoid straining. Have your friend (or friends) hold the opposite end and together, slowly lift the sofa. Remember to always keep a straight back and hold the sofa as close to your body as you can. Bend at the knees and never at the waist when lifting and setting it down.
• If you have removed the legs from your sofa, never drag it across the floor. This can cause the bottom of the sofa to become badly scuffed, scratched and dirty. It can also damage your wood or tiled floors.
• If you have to move your sofa up or down stairs, be cautious and aware. Count the number of stairs you will be climbing or descending before beginning, and measure the width and height of the stairway to plan the best possible method (and to ensure the sofa will fit!). You can build a makeshift ramp out of two boards to get the sofa up or down the stairs easily. While slowly sliding the sofa down the boards, carefully back down in between them and have a friend aid you by supporting the sofa from the other side and directing your footing.

Storing a leather sofa

• Keep it in a climate-controlled storage unit. Leather often cracks or peels in extreme heat or dryness, and excessive humidity and damp conditions can contribute to mold and pest infestation. Climate-controlled storage is a bit more costly, but provides the ideal environment for expensive and delicate leather furniture.
• Have your leather sofa cleaned. You can have it one professionally or do it yourself by applying leather cleaner and conditioner with a lint-free cloth. These products can be purchased at most hardware and furniture stores.
• Apply paste furniture wax to any wood components on your sofa with a soft cotton cloth.
• Cover your sofa with furniture blankets (as you would for a move) to protect from dirt, dust and moisture while in storage. Remember to never use plastic shrink wrap against the surface of your leather sofa--it will trap moisture and cause mold and mildew to form.
• Cover the floor of your storage unit with sheets of plastic or use a wooden pallet to elevate your sofa to prevent damage from condensation and vermin.
• Never place other items on top of your leather sofa. The weight will crush or leave permanent indentations in the cushions.
• Leave a four to six-inch space between the sofa and the wall of your storage unit. This will enable sufficient ventilation and air flow. Be sure to keep any chemicals, paints, or any items that could result in damage away from your leather sofa.