Five Practical Self Storage Packing Tips

If you find yourself needing the services of self storage, then you will want to know the best way to pack your belongings. Depending on how long you plan to leave your items in the storage unit, and whether the unit is heated, will affect how you pack the boxes. Also, you should be aware that mice, rats and pests love to get into nooks, crannies, and crevices, and will ruin your possessions with their urine, feces, nests and chewing. Finally, you want to pack your things so that they are easily removed (in other words organized for unpacking), and so that damage does not occur inside the boxes while in storage.

To help with this task, we have put together our top five practical self storage packing tips.

1. 1. When packing up your house of belongings, while you wait to move into a new home, for example, it is best to ensure that your breakables are properly secured, to prevent damage while in storage. China, crystal, and figurines should be wrapped with plenty of tissue paper or the special sheets of paper used by professional moving companies. Other items that can work well to pack delicates are bed sheets, bathroom towels, and tea cloths. The key is to reduce the amount of friction between pieces in order to keep them still, and free from cracks, chips, and shatters. Before packing a box with delicate items, always line the bottom of the box with crumpled paper to cushion the contents.
2. 2. Place the heavy items on the bottom of the boxes. And, do not overload one box with all the heavy things, otherwise, you are liable to drop the box and damage the contents. Even when things are wrapped and cushioned, if they are smaller and lighter, the weight of large items will invariably crack the smaller pieces. Also, arrange things in a criss-cross pattern. Do not pile everything in a tower shape, but rather, start with the first item close to the side of the box, and continue around so all the space is used up, and pressure is not on one spot. Stuff the holes and empty areas with things like throw cushions, plastic kitchen utensils, and other items that are not prone to breakage. This keeps the packing tight, and makes good use of all the space, so that nothing is wasted.
3. 3. When preparing items to go into self storage, pack and mark the boxes according to room or area. If you keep the items from your closet together, then when you unpack, the task will be much easier and faster. Plus, if you need things quickly, you know which boxes to unpack first.
4. 4. Cover the floor in the storage rental unit with a thick sheet of plastic, and place the boxes on top of the sheeting. Most self storage units are outside, and the temperature change can be dramatic. As a result, condensation builds up, and can damage the boxes, and then the contents. Condensation also causes mold and mildew which is something you need to avoid, otherwise you will be throwing away many for your belongings when you return to collect them. When everything is placed into the rental unit, do not use plastic to cover the boxes. Instead, use items made from breathable fabrics such as old comforters. This will keep the dust off your boxes and will allow the condensation to dry.
5. 5. If you own appliances and need to store them, leaving them in an unheated room can cause rust and bacteria to build up. Always, make sure the appliances such as the washer, dryer, fridge and stove are clean before storing. It is recommended that you leave the doors open. Also, if you are going to store things on top of the appliances, make sure to cover them first to prevent scratches.