If you’ve ever sold or used rubber wood dining chairs, you know the pain of getting them ready for a busy season only to find a few warped seats, faded finishes, or spots of mildew from improper storage during the off-season. As a rubber wood dining chair supplier, I’ve spent years testing storage methods, talking to residential customers and restaurant owners, and troubleshooting the most common (and avoidable) storage mistakes that end up costing someone time, money, or a perfectly good piece of furniture. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how we guide our clients to store these chairs when they’re not in daily use—whether that’s during a slow winter for a local café, when a family is remodeling their dining room, or for a seasonal rental property that only operates six months a year. It’s not just about shoving them in a garage, I promise. Rubber wood is a fantastic, durable material—light, strong, and sustainably harvested—but it has specific needs when it’s not being sat on regularly, and following these steps will keep your chairs looking and performing like the day they arrived. Rubber Wood Dining Chair
First, let’s talk about prep work, because this is the step most people skip, and it’s the reason so many chairs end up damaged before they even make it to storage. I always tell my team at the supply warehouse to never put a rubber wood chair into storage without cleaning it thoroughly and doing a quick check for small issues that can turn big in a dark, humid space. Start with the seat and frame: for our standard rubber wood dining chairs, we use a food-safe, water-based finish (most of our clients choose this for restaurants and homes with kids or pets) so you don’t need harsh chemicals. Mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water, dip a soft microfiber cloth in, and wring it out until it’s almost dry—you don’t want excess water sitting on the wood. Wipe down every part: the slats on the back, the legs, the armrests if it’s an arm chair, and especially the gaps between the seat and frame where crumbs and dust love to hide. Those tiny particles might seem harmless, but if they’re left there for months, they can trap moisture and scratch the finish over time.
Next, do a quick inspection. Run your hand along each leg to check for small scratches or dents, and peek at the seat underside where the wood grain is exposed. If you notice any tiny cracks or chips, even ones that look too small to worry about, address them now. For minor surface scratches, we recommend a matching wood wax stick—we keep these in the warehouse for our regular clients—and buff them lightly with a soft cloth so the scratch is less visible. If there’s a loose screw (and let’s be real, chairs take a lot of use, so this is common), tighten it with a small screwdriver before storage. Loose screws can cause the chair to shift even when it’s stacked or sitting idle, which can lead to warping or joint damage over time. One quick pro tip: if your chairs have fabric or upholstered seats, vacuum them with the soft brush attachment to remove crumbs and pet hair, then spot treat any stains with a gentle upholstery cleaner before putting them away. Stains left untreated can set permanently in storage, especially if the space is humid.
Once your chairs are clean and checked, the next step is handling humidity and temperature, which is the biggest enemy of rubber wood. I learned this the hard way a few years back when I had a client who stored 50 rubber wood dining chairs in an unheated basement over the winter, and by spring, 12 of them had noticeable warping. Rubber wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture from the air easily. When the air is too dry, it shrinks and can crack; too humid, and it swells, leading to warped seats or loose joints. The ideal environment for storing rubber wood furniture is a space with a consistent temperature between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and relative humidity between 45 and 55 percent. That’s not always possible if you’re using a garage or a shed, but there are workarounds.
If you’re storing chairs in a garage, make sure it’s not the type that gets freezing cold in winter or sweltering hot in summer. Temperature swings are just as bad as extreme humidity. I’ve had clients in places with harsh winters use insulated garage doors and a small space heater set to maintain a steady temperature during storage, and that worked perfectly. For humidity, we recommend placing small desiccant packs (the kind used for packing moisture-sensitive goods) in the gaps between stacked chairs. You can also set a few open containers of silica gel around the storage area—just make sure they’re not sitting directly on the chairs so they don’t leave residue. If your space is particularly humid, a small dehumidifier running on low will make a huge difference. I always warn clients against storing rubber wood chairs in basements or attics if you don’t have climate control, because those spaces almost always have inconsistent temperature and humidity. I once had a client store a batch of chairs in an attic in Phoenix over the summer, and the extreme heat made the finish crack on every single one—total loss. It’s not worth the risk.
Now, how to arrange the chairs for storage. This is another area where people make mistakes, usually stacking them incorrectly. Rubber wood dining chairs are designed to be sturdy, but stacking them the wrong way can put uneven pressure on the legs or seats, leading to warping. The best way to stack them is chair back to chair back, with the seat of one chair resting on the back slats of the one below it. That way, the weight is distributed evenly on the strongest parts of the chair—the back frame and the legs—not on the flexible seat. If you have arm chairs, take off the armrests if they’re removable (most of ours are, for easy storage) to make stacking easier and to prevent damage to the armrests. If you can’t remove the armrests, stack them with armrests facing inward, so they don’t scratch the adjacent chair’s frame.
Never stack more than 10 chairs high, no matter how sturdy they look. Too much weight on the bottom chairs can bend legs or crack the seat rails. If you have more than 10 chairs, split them into smaller stacks and leave a small gap between the stacks for air circulation—stagnant air between closely stacked chairs is a breeding ground for mildew. For clients who don’t want to stack their chairs, or who have chairs with unique shapes, we recommend storing them vertically, leaning against a wall, with a small cushion between the wall and the back of the chair to prevent scratches. Just make sure they’re not leaning at an angle that puts extra pressure on one leg—keep them straight up, leaning slightly against the wall, with the legs resting on a flat, level surface. Never store them on uneven ground, because that can cause one leg to bear more weight, leading to warping over time.
Once the chairs are arranged, covering them properly is the final step to protect them from dust, scratches, and small pests. I always tell clients to use breathable covers, not plastic. Plastic traps moisture, even if your storage space is controlled, and that’s a fast track to mildew and mold on the wood or finish. We sell custom-fit cotton and polyester blend chair covers to our clients, which are lightweight but durable, and they let air circulate while keeping dust out. If you don’t want to buy custom covers, a fitted sheet or a large cotton drop cloth works in a pinch—just make sure it’s not plastic. Avoid using old blankets or towels that have detergent or fabric softener residue, because those can transfer to the finish over time and cause discoloration.
If you’re storing chairs for longer than six months, we recommend checking on them every two months. Pull a couple out of the stack, wipe off any dust, and check for signs of warping or mildew. Give the space a quick check to make sure the temperature and humidity are still consistent, and top up desiccant packs if they feel saturated. We once had a client who stored chairs for eight months without checking, and when they pulled them out, there was a small spot of mildew on one seat because a desiccant pack had spilled. A quick mid-storage check would have caught that.
Now, let’s talk about some common off-season scenarios, because storage needs change depending on why you’re putting chairs away. For example, if you’re a restaurant owner closing for a slow winter, you might have a mix of wooden and upholstered chairs. For upholstered seats, we recommend using a fabric cover that’s treated to repel dust and bugs, and avoid placing the chairs directly on concrete floors—use wooden pallets to lift them off the ground, so moisture from the concrete doesn’t seep up. For residential clients who are remodeling their dining room and storing chairs temporarily, you might have space in a spare bedroom. Just make sure the chairs are kept away from windows, because direct sunlight can fade the rubber wood finish over time—even if it’s not sitting in the sun, through a window is enough to cause discoloration after a few months. For seasonal rental properties, where storage might be in a less ideal space like a shed, add extra desiccant packs and cover the entire stack with a heavy tarp (but make sure it’s breathable, not plastic) to protect against rain or snow if the shed isn’t fully sealed.
As a supplier, I always stand behind our rubber wood dining chairs, but I also know that proper storage is part of keeping them in good condition for years. We’ve had clients who’ve had chairs from us for over 10 years, still looking almost new, because they followed these storage steps. The ones who skip the prep, stack wrong, or store in a damp garage usually come back to us asking for replacements, and that’s why I’m so passionate about sharing this advice. It’s not about making the process complicated—it’s about a few simple, intentional steps that save you time and money in the long run.
At the end of the day, rubber wood is a great choice for dining chairs because it’s durable, affordable, and eco-friendly, but it does need a little care when it’s not in use. Whether you’re a café owner getting ready for a new season, a family getting their home ready for a remodel, or a property manager storing furniture between rentals, following these storage rules will ensure your chairs are ready to go when you need them. If you have questions about storage specific to our rubber wood dining chairs, or if you’re looking to purchase new chairs for your space, feel free to reach out to us for a consultation. We’re always happy to walk through your needs and recommend the best storage solutions for your situation.
Wood Chair References:
- American Wood Council. "Hygroscopic Properties of Common Hardwoods for Furniture Applications." 2021.
- Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada. "Climate Control Guidelines for Wood Furniture Storage and Display." 2019.
- National Restaurant Association. "Furniture Care and Storage Tips for Commercial Dining Spaces." 2022.
- Forest Stewardship Council. "Rubber Wood: A Sustainable Material for Furniture and Fixtures." 2020.
Langfang Shengfan Trading Co., Ltd.
Langfang Shengfan Trading Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional rubber wood dining chair manufacturers and suppliers in China, also supports customized service with low price. Please rest assured to wholesale CE approved rubber wood dining chair in stock here from our factory. Contact us for quotation.
Address: Shengfang Town, LANGFANG CITY, HEBEI PROVINCE
E-mail: sale04@shengfan-furniture.com
WebSite: https://www.shengfan-furniture.com/
