How to pack for Self-Storage
Congrats! You’ve already done the hard work. You’ve spent time sorting, organising, de-cluttering, picking and planning. But now you’re faced with the task of exactly how to pack your items.
We’ve put together a list of tips and tricks to follow, when preparing and packing your items for self-storage.
Preparation is key
No matter what you’re looking to pack into self-storage, it’s important to prepare your items properly.
- Remove excess dust, dirt and build-up to give your items the best chance whilst they’re in storage.
- Wash and dry any clothes and fabric items before you pack them away
- Wipe down all appliances to ensure they’re free of dust
- Take time to repair minor damages to prevent cracks or breaks in furniture getting worse during the moving process.
- If you’re using boxes to pack smaller items, always make sure you have enough on hand before you start to pack! The last thing anyone wants during the packing process is to stop halfway through because you’ve run out of tape, packaging or boxes. We sell everything you need at your local Super Easy Storage – just give us a call.
Short-term or long-term storage?
Ask yourself: are you storing things for the short or long term? If you keep this question in mind during the organisational process, it will make things so much easier in the long run. Separate your short-term and long-term storage items for ease of access. Place your short-term storage items towards the front, so you don’t have to dig through boxes and belongings just to get to what you need.
Label everything
This one might seem like a given, but if you’re packing items in boxes, make sure you label everything. There’s nothing worse than having to dig through box after box, just to find the item you’re after. Label your boxes with:
- Quick description of items
- The room it would generally live in (this will help when you eventually retrieve your items)
- Who the items belong to
- If it’s heavy or fragile
It’s a good idea to create an inventory of your items – just a handwritten list on paper will do (unless you want to get super advanced and whip out a spreadsheet) – so you know exactly what’s going into storage and when, without the need for a photographic memory.
Speaking of books…
When it comes to storing items, it’s important to consider what the item is made of, before you start the packing process. Apart from general wear and tear, some items are built to last forever, but what about that book collection? You can extend the life of your precious paper products by preparing and packing them correctly. Moisture, water, and pests like silverfish can reduce the life of your collection dramatically. When packing your books, especially if they are of the antique variety, check the pages for hidden, unwanted pests. It’s also worthwhile to wrap each book individually and utilise climate control methods to reduce the risk of humidity and moisture damage whilst in storage.
Use moving blankets
Moving blankets, or furniture padding, have many different uses when packing, moving, and storing items.
- Add that extra layer of protection for bulkier items, like furniture you’d rather not scratch.
- Protect not only the items they’re wrapped around, but your walls and floors during the move.
- Provide that little bit of buffer during transport, reducing the risk of potential damage if bulkier items are packed close together.
- When it comes to oddly shaped items (such as bicycles or bulky furniture) the blanket will contour to the exact shape you need, exactly when you need it.
Still stuck on how to properly pack your items for self-storage? Get in touch with one of our professional team to discuss your options, or learn more about our premium service where our inhouse removalists do all the heavy lifting, packing and packaging so it’s even easier for you.
