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| Packing Tips |
| Appliances - Wrap small appliances in inkless newsprint or your kitchen towels or linens. Tape the bottom of a medium box securely and put down a layer
inkless newsprint for padding. For large appliances, make sure you check your owner's manual for any special instructions before you start to pack. Tape down any
parts that could come loose -- the burners on your stove, the electrical cords, etc. Wrap the appliance with furniture pads and tie securely. |
| Art and Collectibles - Put Corrugated Corners on and wrap each piece in bubble wrap. Pad the bottom of a large box with crumpled inkless newsprint.
Give the items plenty of space, and make sure you add lots of packing material on the sides, between items and on top. Remember to label the box "fragile." |
| Books - Use only small boxes for books -- they get very heavy, very fast. You can use small paperbacks to fill the sides of the box if
there is extra space. |
| Clothing - This is where wardrobe boxes come in handy. You can move clothing on hangers straight from your closet to the wardrobe boxes. Clothing
in drawers should be packed in suitcases or boxes. |
| Electronic Equipment - Ideally, you should pack electronic equipment such as stereos, TVs and computers in their original boxes with their original
packing material. If this is unavailable, wrap the equipment in plastic bags. Wrap each piece in bubble pack and pack in our heavy duty TV Box (25" x 25" x 25" DW). |
| Furniture - If you can take your furniture apart in any way to make it easier to move, make sure you put all nuts, bolts and screws in a small zip-lock
bag and tape the bag to the furniture. Tape drawers shut where necessary. Wrap exposed legs (on tables and chairs) in bubble wrap or inkless newsprint. Wrap in furniture pads and tie securely. |
| Kitchenware - Wrap breakable items in bubble wrap or inkless newsprint. Put layers of bubble wrap between each plate or bowl. Fill the top bowl with crumpled
inkless newsprint. Make sure you put the heavier items on the bottom of the box. Wrap nonbreakable items in inkless newsprint before packing in a box. Use cell packs to separate delicate items. Make sure you pack all the
items you'll need for your first few days in you new home in one box, and label it prominently. You can only eat take-out for so long. |
| Mirrors and Framed Art - Tape an X of masking tape across mirrors and paintings framed with glass. Wrap each item in bubble wrap. You can use our shipping cartons
for these pieces. Make sure you label everything fragile. |
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| Storage Tips |
| Location - Are you going to need to access your storage building
frequently? If so, aim for someplace nearby. |
| Size - Consider how much space you really need. Self-storage facilities rent units in
all different sizes. It?s best to opt for a smaller storage unit and pack it to
the ceiling rather than pay for space you're not using. If even the smallest
storage units are too much, look into mini-storage facilities: self-storage
facilities that specialize in small loads. |
| Access - Be sure to ask facility representatives how and when you can access your unit.
Most self-storage and mini-storage facilities allow for free access 24 hours a
day, but some facilities have restrictions and others charge fees for access. |
| Climate Control - Also ask about climate controlled units. If you're storing anything valuable or
delicate like antique furniture or important documents it could be warped
by being stored in space that's too hot, too cold or too humid. For an extra
cost, most public storage facilities can set you up with a unit where
temperature and humidity are restricted. |
| Boxes - Try to use boxes that are a uniform size, they're easier to stack (remember;
keep the heavy ones on the bottom and the light ones on top). If you're storing a lot of packing boxes in your unit, try to fill them to the
top, even if it's just with padding and old, crumpled newspapers. Boxes that
are only half-filled tend to collapse if anything's placed on them. |
| Rust - If you?re putting any metal objects into storage like lawnmowers or file
cabinets it?s best to treat them with rust protector first, or at least wipe
them down with an oily rag. |
| Humidity - The humidity in your self-storage unit can cause your furniture to warp and
your appliances to mildew. Leaving a space between your stuff and the unit's
wall allows for air to circulate within the unit. Laying plastic sheeting on
the floor and stacking boxes on top of wooden pallets can prevent condensation
damage. So can using old linens or other fabrics, instead of plastic, to
protect your stuff from dust. |
| Refrigerator - If you're storing a refrigerator in your unit leave the door ajar. This will
prevent mold from growing inside. |
| Flammables - Under no circumstances should you keep anything flammable or combustible in
your storage building. This means no gasoline, oil, cleaning fluids or paint
thinner. If you're storing any machinery that runs on gas, drain the tank
before you store it. |
