Leather furniture is beautiful when it's in good shape, but it is prone to molding or cracking if temperature and moisture conditions are not just right. If you have to put your leather furniture in storage, it's important to take the proper precautions to ensure it emerges in good condition. Follow these dos and don'ts for success:

Do: Pay extra for climate-controlled storage.

A climate-controlled storage unit typically costs a few dollars more than a non-controlled one. But when you have leather furniture, paying this extra cost will mean the difference between having furniture that's in good shape and furniture that's unusable once you remove it from storage. The temperature and moisture fluctuations in a non-controlled unit are almost certain to leave your furniture either cracked and dry or moldy.

Do: Clean your furniture before putting it in storage.

Any foreign oils, mold spores, or dust on your leather furniture may perpetuate issues while the furniture is in storage, so it's essential to clean your furniture to remove these materials before putting it in storage. Use a conventional leather cleaner according to the instructions on the package. Make sure you remove all of the cleaner completely, since leaving it on while the furniture is in storage may lead to staining or darkening of the leather.

Don't: Over-condition the leather.

After you clean your furniture, you can give it a light coating of leather condition to help protect it from cracks and dryness in storage. But avoid over-applying conditioner in an effort to ward off future problems. Excess conditioner or oil will just make the leather too moist, leading to rotting or mold formation while in storage. A single wipe-down with a cloth or sponge that has been moistened with leather conditioner is all you need.

Don't: Cover the furniture with plastic.

Plastic won't allow the leather to breathe and may perpetuate molding. To keep dust and debris off of your leather furniture, cover it with a simple sheet while it's in storage. This will offer some protection while also allowing it to breath. Just drape the fabric loosely – don't rubber band it or tie it around the furniture, as this may leave pressure marks.

Don't: Store items on top of the furniture.

Placing items on top of the furniture can leave imprints on the leather.  Store any other items you need to put in storage on separate pallets or on a shelving unit.