Refrigerators, freezers and washers should be thoroughly dry. Tape all appliance doors shut when moving. Once placed in storage, be sure to wedge the doors open slightly. Secure all movable parts with paper. Wrap a paper pad around each item for protection.
Be sure to wipe all metal surfaces with a little machine oil to help prevent rust.
Keeping the weight of boxes less than 30 pounds makes it easier to move and arrange boxes while moving and storing. Be sure to list the contents on the side of the box which will make unpacking them much easier and makes them less likely to collapse when stacked.
Often times the original boxes for ornaments are the best.
Take your time when packing dishes and glasses. Wrap each item individually with packing tissue and cushion them in the carton with crumpled newspaper. Try to keep dish pack cartons under 30 pounds for easy handling and safe riding.
It is advisable to place a pallet, a piece of cardboard or a plastic sheet on the floor of your storage unit before placing furniture in the unit. Upholstered furniture should not touch the concrete floor directly. Once you are finished placing your furniture inside of your self-storage unit, place a dust cover over your items. Be sure to vacuum upholstered furniture to remove food crumbs to help prevent pests.
Gas tanks on these items should be as empty as possible to help prevent odors.
If possible, remove the legs from large tables. Extra leaves should be padded and tied together. The legs should also be padded and wrapped together.
Make sure to keep all bed rails together with rope or plastic tape. As you take beds apart, make sure to keep all the pieces together and mark them so you know which pieces go with which beds. Place mattresses inside mattress covers to keep them clean during moving and storage.
Boxes of books can get real heavy, real quick. Pack books in smaller cartons, holding the weight to under 30 pounds for easier lifting. Pack books flat to protect their spines.
Drawers are a good space to pack smaller and lighter items. You can wrap the items inside towels, sweaters, etc. to help pad them. Just be sure to not pack so much into them the furniture becomes to heavy or burdensome to move.
Clothing that ordinarily hangs should be packed in wardrobe boxes which we do sell at all of our stores. Plastic, stackable containers are good for most other clothing.
Temperature controlled storage is recommended for all electronics.
Large lamp bases should be wrapped with a padded packing material. Smaller lamps can be placed inside boxes and cushioned with packing material. Pack the lamp shades in individual boxes with plenty of paper for padding, do not use newsprint with the lamp shades as the ink will rub off onto them.
Wrap your mirrors in paper pads or bubble wrap. Always stand them on edge. Never store a mirror flat.
All metal tools should be cleaned and wiped down with a light coating of machine oil to help prevent rust. Be sure that all garden tools have been cleaned and have no dirt on them. Use a trash can to store items such as rakes, shovels and other tools.