Packing for self-storage
Packing for self-storage is an art
and you’ll need to put some thought into it before you begin. After all, one of
the primary advantages of using a self-storage facility is the fact that you
can continue to access your items even in storage.
The first thing to remember
therefore is to pack in such a way that you can find things at a later date
quickly and without unloading absolutely everything you’ve put away. Make an
inventory of what you’ve packed and where it is as you go along. Other packing
and storage preparation tips include:
- Make an estimate of the replacement value of each item
you store to help with accurate insurance policies and in case of
unforeseen damage in the self-storage facility.
- Invest in good quality sturdy boxes and packing
materials – box strength degrades with use. If you buy boxes of similar
sizes it’ll be easier to stack them securely in the self-storage facility
and will save you space.
- Box everything that you can – everything that is left
unboxed in a self-storage facility will get dusty and potentially dirty.
- Fill boxes to capacity wherever possible to avoid
breakages but avoid making them too heavy – remember you’ll have to be
able to lift them. You can use materials such as paper or towels or can
buy special packing to fill spaces if necessary. Depending on the space
you opt to rent from your self-storage facility, you might be stacking
boxes on top of each other and the lower levels need to be sturdy enough
to take the strain. Boxes that are only partly filled may tip over or
collapse.
- Label all boxes clearly so you can identify the
contents and keep an inventory. Label them on more than one side so you
can see what’s what quickly. Mark ‘Fragile’ on any boxes containing
breakable items.
- Don’t be tempted to fill large boxes with heavy items
such as books as they’ll quickly become impossible to carry and may break.
You can buy small book boxes from your self-storage facility that will do
the job just as well. If you do pack heavy items in a large box put in
just a few and then fill the box up with lighter items.
- Don’t pack items into sealed plastic bags, as humidity
can cause mildew.
- Pack books flat to avoid damaging their spines.
- Don’t store wet items in a self-storage facility as
they can cause water damage, mold and mildew.
- Large appliances need care before placing in a
self-storage facility – make sure you defrost fridges and freezers
thoroughly before storing them otherwise you’ll be leaving yourself open
to water damage. Tie doors up for the move, although you should leave them
slightly ajar once in storage to stop condensation forming and help ward
off bad odors. Drain washing machines before storing them and tie down
hoses etc. Appliances should be clean and dry and it’ll be worthwhile
wiping the insides over with bicarbonate of soda before you store them.
- Wrap all fragile items and breakables such as dishes,
glasses, ornaments etc separately. Paper will do but bubble wrap is a good
investment. Pack them tightly into strong boxes, filling any gaps with
paper or filler. Try to avoid putting heavy items on top of fragile ones
in a self-storage facility.
- If you’re going to be storing clothes think about
buying wardrobe or clothes boxes – you’ll then be able to simply hang the
clothes in them and they’ll keep their shape. It’s not wise to simply put
your clothes in bin liners in a self-storage facility as moisture can get
trapped inside when they’re sealed and your clothes could be ruined.
- For the best protection for mirrors and pictures in a
self-storage facility, wrap them in a protective covering such as bubble
wrap and stack them on their ends. Mirrors and pictures should never be
stored flat. Mark them as ‘Fragile’.
- Separate lamp bases and lampshades and wrap them for
protection.
- If you’re storing upholstered products such as
mattresses and sofas in a self-storage facility it might be a good idea to
invest in covers, bags or sheeting to give them some additional
protection. Stand sofas and mattresses on end wherever possible to save
space and don’t stack too much on top of soft furnishings. Mattresses are
best stored on the long end and should be ideally raised above floor level
or laid on protective sheeting.
- If you’re storing a few items of furniture on top of
each other a simple dust sheet or cover placed between items will minimize
scratching and damage in a self-storage facility.
- You’ll save space if you can dismantle furniture such
as beds and tables before you store it in a self-storage facility – make
sure you keep hold of all the bits so you can get it all back together
again! Wrap and cover furniture sections and keep them together, clearly
marked, for quick retrieval. You can put components such as screws and
bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly and tape to the
relevant piece of furniture. Store large pieces of furniture vertically to
save space in the facility.
- Chairs can be stacked seat to seat to save space. Cover
chair legs with protective wrapping for extra protection.
- Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture
spray before storing it in the facility to give it some added protection.
- Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos and computers
should be packed in their original boxes wherever possible. If this isn’t
possible, pack them into boxes that are about the right size making sure
that you pack gaps with paper etc. Make sure you tie down the player arm
of a record player and secure your turntable.
- If you’re storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn
mowers and cars etc in a facility, expect to be asked to drain the tanks
before you put them in storage. Fuel is one of the few things that you
CANNOT store in a self-storage facility.
- Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil
before storing to avoid rust formation.
- You can tie tools and long-handled items in bundles.
Don’t store a brush resting on the bristles.
- Don’t store vacuum cleaners with the bag in – throw it
away before you store them in the facility.
- Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before
you store them.
- Think hard about whether you really want to store
photographs in a self-storage facility. If you do store loose photographs,
place them between pieces of clean cardboard and tape them together to
avoid curling. Photographs will suffer temperature damage and, if the
facility you have chosen is not climate controlled, you might want to keep
them out of storage to avoid losing them.
- Think creatively and you’ll make more space. Plan to
use furniture drawers as an extra box (they are especially good for
fragile items) and you can use the inside of wardrobes to store boxes.
Kitchen appliances such as stoves and fridges can also be used in this
way.
- Seal all your boxes with packing tape before you put
them in a self-storage facility – this will help keep dust out of the
contents.
Organizing your self-storage unit
At this stage in your self-storage
process, it’s worthwhile taking some time to plan exactly how to pack your
items into the unit. Unit sizes are determined by price so you can be save
money here by assessing what you have to store and planning to pack it in
efficiently – a smaller and well-packed unit will be cheaper than a larger one
that is badly organized.
There are two key things to remember
when organizing your self-storage unit. Firstly, you need to make sure that you
can easily access the items you’ve stored in the facility when you want them.
Secondly, you must take care when storing – these are your belongings and there
are measures you can take, apart from careful packing, that will help protect
them during their time in the facility.
- It is recommended that pallets, boards, or cardboard be
put on floor prior to storing.
- In all but the smallest units, try to create an aisle
and leave enough room to be able to get round the back.
- Store your largest items first.
- If you’re stacking your unit high with boxes, always
make sure to put the heaviest boxes at the bottom to avoid damage.
- Stack boxes and similarly sized items together to save
space.
- Try not to lean anything against walls. Metal walls tend to sweat during
temperature change.
- If you’re storing metal objects avoid resting them
against items susceptible to damage.
- Try to assess what you’ll need to access frequently and
keep it at the front of your unit.
- Fill anything that’s hollow – i.e. wardrobes, drawers,
washing machines and fridges with small boxes and other items to maximize
your available space.
- Make sure to stack boxes and containers so that you can
see the labels you put on them.
- Wedge the doors of all kitchen appliances whilst in the
facility open to avoid bad odors and mildew etc., building up.
- Don’t store anything in the facility that you’re not
sure is sturdy vertically – if it seems wobbly store it horizontally.
- Cover everything with a light cloth sheet to help protect
from dust, etc.
- If you’re worried about the atmosphere/environment in
the unit put down moisture absorbers, deodorizers.
Pest
prevention.
Most people don’t frequent their
storage units, giving rodents plenty of time to destruct and destroy personal
items. This can put a huge burden on your checkbook when it comes to cleanup or
replacement, not to mention any heirlooms that may be irreplaceable.
Storage facilities are often blamed
for rodent infestations occurring on their sites, but there isn’t much they can
do to prevent tenants from bringing in items that ultimately attract rodents.
This is why most contracts state that the facility is not responsible for
damages caused by vermin and other forces of nature.
Fortunately, you can rely on the
power of prevention to stop pest problems before they begin. Natural pest
control is safe, easy, and effective — especially when you plan ahead. Knowing
the signs of a pest infestation will give you a head’s up if trouble begins to
brew in your storage unit. Taking a few extra steps when storing your personal
property will ensure that you can retrieve it in the same condition as when you
left it in storage.
Clean items
before storage to remove anything that rodents or insects may find attractive,
like food crumbs, or pheromone trails from other pests.
Store items
in airtight, chew-proof containers if possible.
Don’t store
any food items, pet food, bird seed, grass seed, and items containing food
products such as heating pads with rice or grains in them.
Steel wool –
put in any gaps to help prevent mice from traveling from another unit. You don’t know what your neighbor may be
storing.
Peppermint
oil, Bounce dryer sheets may help repel mice as well as keep your items
smelling fresh.
Please do
not put moth balls in climate controlled buildings. The smell is obnoxious and draws into other
customers belongings.