Most of us probably have belongings with a huge sentimental value, which can not find their place in our homes, due to the lack of space. If you want to know how to take good care and how to protect items in storage units, follow up on these steps.
The Need for Safe Storing
Whether you are relocating, or simply doing some redecoration and downsizing of your household, we’re pretty sure you have some furniture, larger and smaller, that you may find excessive. And perhaps those pieces are not those that could be sold or donated, because they hold a sentimental value to you. In that case, choosing a storage unit to stove away all those cherished items is a perfect solution for you.
Properly Choose a Facility and Don’t Forget Insurance
Using a unit to store your belongings means that you should make most of it. It’s easy to make mistakes, and that means that the wrong unit size, conditions, and security may affect the safety of your things.
Is It the Right Size? Adequate Space of Your Unit
When choosing a unit, it’s best to make sure it’s not too small, so your things don’t get too cramped and get in danger of damage. This is one of the biggest mistakes when wanting to save money. The right size of the unit makes sure your belongings are well-protected and the long distance movers will have an easier job of stacking everything inside.
Important Tip – Check up on Security but Buy Insurance Nonetheless
Avoid choosing a storage facility that doesn’t have security elements, like cameras and secured gates. Be sure you inform yourself well in advance about the security measures of the long distance moving experts you are planning to hire. Keep in mind that however safe and well protected the facility you choose, if a disastrous event occurs, and your property inside a unit sustains damage, the facility owners won’t be liable for it. So, remember that an important thing to do is to protect yourself and your property with insurance. For more information and advice on security and other tips, watch the following video.
Packing Your Belongings for a Self-Storage Unit
The preparation phase is essential in storing your belongings correctly, and it’s important to organize them systematically. The other important thing to do is to secure them against any possible damage, such as moisture, dirt, and alike. Here’s how to do it:
- Keep in mind that everything needs to be clean and dry, for correct and safe packing and storing,
- Large items need to be disassembled and each part prepared,
- Use quality packing materials for moving that don’t get damaged that easily.
Before moving out for the first time, you should probably consider which of your belongings you should store, and which you don’t need anymore. Think about donating unwanted items, and make the whole process a stress-free moving experience.
Prepare Furniture for the Self-Storage Unit
The first step is to clean your furniture with a wet cloth, and then let it dry. Check inside and remove any other belongings and vacuum clean them. Wax the wood to secure it from mold, and use the leather spray when applicable. Use bubble wrap to protect smaller elements and put smaller parts in plastic bags, so they don’t get misplaced. Disassemble large furniture, prepare every part, and put them all together. Cover everything with blankets and sheets and secure it with plastic wrap. All these tips also help when you’re moving furniture with a long distance moving company.
How to Prepare Appliances
You should empty all of the appliances meant for packing into the storage unit, defrost freezers, and refrigerators. Clean everything thoroughly, and don’t forget to disinfect. Drain all water from hoses and internal mechanisms, to prevent water from freezing and damaging your appliances. Secure all cables and hoses, and store them inside. Another good piece of advice is to leave the doors slightly open to prevent odors.
Electronic Devices Need Special Care When Packaging
Make sure your electronics are all clean and dust-free. Prepare them just like you pack electronics for moving – store them in their original boxes. Or just find boxes that fit, and fill all the empty spaces with anti-static peanuts or packing paper. You shouldn’t let moisture harm your devices, so seal everything tightly.
Clothes Can Also Be Stored
Among the best tips, we can give you when it comes to storing your clothes, is to avoid folding them, and wrinkling them by doing so. Hang them on a clothes rail and store them in wardrobe boxes. Don’t forget about insect repellents, as they should be used for long term storing of your clothes.
Packaging Your Books for Safekeeping
Before packing your books, it’s best to spread them in sunlight to make sure they are dry, to avoid mold. Books with leather covers should be protected by packing paper. Also, when packing books for moving, remember to lay them flat, and put them inside smaller boxes, so they can be easier to lift and packed into a moving truck.
The Best Way to Prepare Fragile Items
When packing fragile items, always use bubble wrap and packing paper. If you wonder how to protect fragile items in moving, remember to pack each piece individually. Make sure all the boxes for storing delicacy are padded with bubble wrap, blankets, and other fabric. Paintings are also fragile, and if you’re wondering how to protect framed items when moving, you should fit them into specialized boxes when preparing them to be stored in a storage unit.
If it seems like too much work for you, or you’re afraid you won’t package everything properly, you can always invest in packing services your long distance moving experts have to offer you.
What Not to Pack and Store Away
From seasonal clothing and shoes, that take up too much space in your home, to the Christmas ornaments, and even that large, but sentimentally valuable grandfather clock, there’s a lot of your belongings that can be safely stored away. But, not everything can pass through regulations of safe storing. Flammable and hazardous materials, stuff that will attract pests, anything that is susceptible to mold and mildew, are the things that won’t be accepted for storing. Also, you can not leave anything living, e.g plants and animals.
Now You Know How to Protect Items in Storage Units
Self-storage provides you with a simple solution for storing items you don’t need at the moment and can relieve you of all that moving stress. If you are in the relocation process and using long distance moving services, and need to temporary store some of your stuff, storage services may prove to be just what you need. It may also come in handy if you are downsizing your home, or you have just inherited furniture from your grandparents that you can’t find a place for. Search online, get referrals, find a reputable long distance moving company that offers you safe and reliable storage. Follow up on our advice to keep your belongings clean, protected, and properly stored away, and you’re good to go.
