Storing items properly protects your valuable property. Follow the tips below to aid in making the most out of your storage space. Prepare for storage by doing a little extra cleaning and sorting through forgotten boxes. Donate unused or unwanted items to charity or have a garage sale.
After you have gotten rid of unused, old, or broken items you can begin looking at what you have. Choose what things will move with you and what will go into storage. Then pack the items going into storage in small boxes and label them clearly.
How you pack your items will determine what size storage unit you need. Several small boxes may stack differently than several larger boxes. Therefore, when you are boxing your goods consider how manageable the box will be. Also, think of how heavy it will become and if it can be stacked or if other items can be placed on top of it. The more boxes you can stack, the smaller your self storage unit will need to be because you can take advantage of the height of the storage unit.
Storage Tips:
- Do not store food in your unit unless stored in a sealed container.
- Use damp-rid or some other absorable product like cat-litter to eliminate moisture and mold.
- Cover furniture with blankets or wrap for protection.
- For items that are highly sensitive to moisture like clothes, photos, books, and more, use airtight plastic containers to keep moisture out and provide you with a lasting storage solution for practically any use.
- Utilize Wooden pallets or boards to raise your items off the concrete floor to keep air flowing throughout the storage unit and avoid moisture buildup.
- Place all your heavy items towards the back.
- In the case of a large storage unit, be sure to leave a walkway on the side or the middle so that you can gain access to all of your items if needed.
- Label all containers for easy retrieval. Clear plastic containers are an excellent choice.
- When storing business files and inventory, label all boxes on more than one side so they are easier to see and accessible.
- If you need certain items on a frequent basis, store these toward the front of your storage unit.
- For delicate items wrap specially and label them as "FRAGILE". Bubble wrap and packing paper are excellent for this purpose.
- Store valuable paper items in plastic containers to prevent degradation from moisture or pest.
- Seal all boxes to help keep them dust free.
- When packing boxes, fill them to capacity but do not make them heavy.
- When packing toys or smaller objects, remember to fill boxes completely, stuffing open areas with plain newspaper to prevent collapsing when stacked.
- Do not store paint and chemicals which are combustible.
- Metal equipment can be prevented from rusting by wiping down with an oily rag, if they will be in storage for a long time.
- Lawn and garden equipment should be drained completely prior to storage to avoid corrosive damage.
- Break down items such as table legs, and store tabletops and sofas on end, to save space.
- Mattresses should be covered and stored flat on level surfaces.
- Using dresser drawers for linens and other delicate items is a way to keep them safe and conserve space in your storage unit.
- Appliances such as stoves or refrigerators provide additional space for storing towels, blankets, etc.
- Make sure that freezers are completely defrosted and dry.
- Pack the storage to the ceiling by placing heavier items like wardrobes at the bottom and lighter items on top.
- Use protective covers and treat wood surfaces before storing.
- Store books flat, as opposed to upright to protect the book’s spine. Also, use pallets or skids so that books are not directly on top of concrete floors to protect them from any condensation in the concrete. Books can quickly fill a box and become heavier than you can carry. Try using small boxes so that the weight is manageable.
