Want your move to be stress-free?
Pack Early
Instead of waiting, begin packing at least a couple of days before you move to reduce stress during the moving process. In addition, careful packing pays off by preventing breakage and loss of small and fragile items. Best of all, moving time is a great opportunity to weed out old, unwanted, or unneeded possessions because they only take up valuable storage unit space.
Correct Packing Materials
You’ll want plenty of sturdy corrugated cartons, packing paper, sealing tape, and a magic marker-type pen. Then, if you follow these simple packing tips, they will save you trouble, help avoid damage to your goods, and make maximum use of the space in your storage unit.
Appliances
Tape all appliance doors shut when moving. However, wedge doors open in storage. Also, secure all moveable parts with paper or wedges. Next, wrap a paper pad around each item for protection. Additionally, freezers, refrigerators, washers, and dryers make excellent packing cartons for bedding, towels, and clothing. Finally, always clean your stove before moving and give utility companies a few days’ notice to disconnect appliances.
Beds
Lash bed rails together with rope or plastic tape. Then, as you take beds apart, mark all pieces so you know which goes with which headboard. Finally, place covers on mattresses to keep them clean during moving and storage.
Books
Books get heavy quickly, so pack them in small cartons and keep the weight under 30 pounds for easy lifting. Also, line the cartons with plastic (garbage bags work great as liners) and fill empty spaces with packing paper.
Bureaus
Make your bureau drawers earn their passage as extra packing boxes. For example, fill them with a few small and fragile items and use sweaters, blankets, and towels as excellent padding.
Cartons
Above all, go easy on your back by keeping the weight of all packing cartons under 30 pounds. Then, use a marking pen to list the contents of each carton on the side. Finally, for load sizing, multiply the length × width × height of each carton if the measurements are not already on it.
Chairs
Protect all chair legs by wrapping them in packing paper. Additionally, leave the slipcovers on upholstered chairs and cover them with plastic chair covers.
Clothing
Clothing that ordinarily hangs in a closet should be packed in a wardrobe carton. That way, your garments stay neat and wrinkle-free during the move.
Dishes & Glasses
Take your time when packing dishes. Wrap each one individually with packing tissue and cushion them in the carton with crumpled packing paper. Also, keep dish pack cartons under 30 pounds for easy handling and safe riding. Similarly, pack glasses carefully by wrapping them with tissue and padding them with crumpled packing paper just like the dishes.
Lamps
Pack lamp shades in individual boxes with plenty of paper for padding. On the other hand, lamp bases ride securely in bureau drawers, freezers, and washing machines. Be sure to pad them well with towels and blankets for safety.
WARNING: DO NOT Store Combustibles or Perishables!
Finally, old paint, cleaning fluids, gasoline, and similar hazardous items should never be stored or packed. Make sure all fuel is drained or burned out of gasoline-powered equipment. Also, throw away anything that could cause a fire. Furthermore, do not store food in open containers or any items that could attract rodents or pests. After all, why risk your possessions for just a few cents’ worth of leftovers?
Additional Tips for Loading Your Storage Space
- Rent the smallest amount of space you need and pack the space until full. View Storage Unit Sizes and Pricing.
- A box for everything and everything in a box, is the best protection of your goods. Use uniform sizes of boxes and stack them shoulder high to maximize your total storage unit space.
- Prepare your self storage unit by placing plastic on the floor under your goods. Be sure the plastic laps up over the walls a few inches on every side.
- Leave a small air space between the goods stored and the storage unit walls.
- Store lightweight small items around the back of the self storage unit. Move large, heavy items into storage unit last.
- Do not place heavy or sharp objects on top of upholstered furniture.
- Protect your mattresses, sofas, and chairs with plastic covers.
- Cover the entire load with a light plastic cover.
- Use a good quality lock on your storage unit door. Cheap locks rust. We sell locks.
- Insure your goods while in storage. Ask the manager about self storage insurance at reasonable rates.
- Last but not least, keep a list of all items in storage as well as pictures, and description.