How to perfectly pack your items for storage

When it comes to moving your things to storage, you should be wary of how you pack them. Here are some tips on how to perfectly pack your items for storage.

Determine which items will be put for storage

If you are thinking about storing some of your household items for storage, it doesn’t mean you have to store all of them right now because you might need to use some of them in the near future. If you are running out of storage space at home, only pack the items you haven’t used for a long time now because the more items you plan to stow away, the bigger the amount you need to allocate for a storage unit. Inspect each item and make sure it is not valuable, sentimental or frequently used.

Getting your items ready

When moving any large quantity of items, it’s always best to be prepared. If you’re moving clothing items or other fabrics, make sure they’re all freshly washed and dried before you pack them away because they’re going to be sat in the storage unit for a while.

Gather up some packing supplies

If you are planning to store a lot of your stuff, you will need a lot of packing supplies. You will need several boxes of varying sizes, packing tape, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, marker pens, furniture covers, newspapers and so much more.

Make sure to stock up on boxes that are durable and of good quality. As much as possible, do not use boxes that have been used several times before or have been split. Do not use plastic to cover your stuff because it may attract mildew or may rip.

Create a list

List all the items that are going into your storage unit – like a handy inventory. Label boxes and write lists of what items are in each box, this will make them easier to find later and will keep everything organised. Your list must include items for short-term or long-term storage.

Creating a detailed list of your possessions will help you a lot, especially if you forget which items are located in which boxes within the chaos of moving houses. Create a physical and digital copy of your list and keep them hidden in safe places.

Just in case your items will be damaged by a natural disaster, you can use your list to file an insurance claim.

Put similar items in one box and label it properly

As much as possible, organise similar items together in one box. In this way, you will easily find the items you will be looking for. For instance, it would be better to pack kitchen items in one box or place all your books in one box.

Use your marker pens to label the boxes and don’t forget to update your list.

Store your delicate items with extra care

For items like ornaments, fine china or glass, you need to add more extra precaution when packing them away. Each item must be wrapped in bubble wrap. Fill all gaps inside the storage box with newspaper or packing peanuts then seal the box properly with packing tape. Don’t forget to mark the box with a big fragile sign.

Items like books and clothing, although not fragile, may suffer damage if not stored properly. Place the books flat on top of each other. As much as possible, store your clothes in a hanging wardrobe box.

Do not pack hazardous items for storage

Public storage has certain restrictions that you have to follow. For instance, you are not allowed to store perishable items like food or plants, wet items, scented items, corrosive or explosive items like bleach or alcohol, as well as items of high or sentimental value.

Do not cram your boxes

You might be tempted to save money by cutting costs on packing supplies and cramming as many items on your boxes. This is not a safe and economical thing to do. Overloading your storage boxes will put unnecessary strain on them, putting your valuables susceptible to possible damage. Aside from that, overloaded boxes are very difficult to carry.

If your storage box is already bulging, it is a clear sign that you need to take two or more items out of it. You want your storage boxes to be flat on all sides so you can easily stack them in your storage unit.

The gaps inside your storage boxes must be filled to avoid your items from moving during transportation. You can use newspapers, clothes, curtains or packing peanuts to fill the gaps. Always remember to pack light items like clothes, pillows, curtains and linen in big boxes while items that are heavier should be packed in smaller boxes. Seal all your boxes securely with packing tape.

Disassemble furniture

Many furniture items can be disassembled easily, such as bed frames and tables, and this can enable you to make the most of your storage space. Be sure to keep the parts together, including screws and bolts, so that when it’s time to reassemble you won’t have to worry about any missing parts.

Clean all your items before storing them

When we say all your items, we literally mean ‘all’ of your items. Aside from your office tools, equipment, kitchen utensils and clothes, you should also clean your appliances such as the microwave, toaster, refrigerator or washing machine. Any dirt, debris or dampness on these items will likely turn into mould or mildew and create an awful smell in your storage unit.

If you have any questions about storage, please call the office on 01608 730 500. We have a range of storage solutions in our purpose-built and secure warehouses near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.