Tips
to help you prepare your items for
storage
When packing items for storage, be sure to balance the need to condense your items into the smallest possible space with the need to periodically access your belongings. You should also take care to pack items in such a way to best maintain their condition during storage.
Planning for storage
Make an inventory of the items you will be storing. This will allow you to estimate the size of the storage space you will need as well as help you determine the size truck you will need to move your items. Our unit size estimator can help you with this.
If you will be accessing your items while they are in storage, allow room in your unit for aisles work space.
 | Group like items by type (books, clothing) or location (bedroom, kitchen, garage) |
| Number your boxes and write the number by the item on your master inventory list. Make a copy of this list to post inside your unit and keep the original at home or in a safety deposit box. |
| Pack in such a way that heavy items are at the bottom of your unit and lighter items on top. |
| Make sure you have adequate supplies of tape, boxes, bubble wrap, and protective covers. We carry these supplies at our facility. |
| If possible, remove the legs from tables to conserve space. |
| Use uniform box sizes for easy stacking. |
| Line boxes for documents or books with plastic to avoid moisture absorption. |
| Be careful when packing books as the boxes can be very heavy. |
| Clearly label boxes with fragile items as "FRAGILE". |
| Label boxes with contents and/or location. |
| Avoid newspaper....the ink will rub off on the contents. We have ink-free paper available. |
| Put chairs, sofa, mattresses, etc., in protective covers. |
| Wipe down tools, bikes, and other metal items with machine oil to discourage rust. |
| Pack books flat to avoid crushing their spines or bending them. Also, place boxes of books on a pallet to help avoid their contact with moisture. |
| Drain all fluids from motorcycles, lawn mowers, etc. (Place plastic under such items in case of leaks.) |
| Drawers, microwaves, and refrigerators can be used to store small items and conserve space. Make sure all of your appliances are clean and dry to avoid mold and mildew. |
| Large trash cans make excellent holders for rakes, shovels, hoes, etc. |
| People and/or animals |
| Gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable materials |
| Explosives of any type |
| Acids, chlorines, or any other toxic material |
| Perishable food items, especially those that would attract bugs or rodents. This includes grains, flour, rice, cereals, biscuit and cake mixes, and dried beans |
| One-of-a-kind documents or photographs (if you must store these, use a climate controlled unit) |