Packing Tips

Packing Tips

Here are some tips to help ensure the safe delivery and storage of your items.

Use packing accessories such as cartons, paper, tape, bubble-wrap and plastic covers to protect your belongings while in storage.
Fill cartons to capacity. Partially full or bulging cartons may tip or collapse.
Heavy items like books or tools should be packed in small cartons so they are easy to handle.
Place large heavy items, that you can stack upon, in your space at the rear of the unit.
Work forward and upwards with lighter, fragile items.
Place items you may need to access often towards the door of your unit.
Label boxes. Take home a list of the labeled boxes for easy reference.

Appliances
A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and arid, stored with its door slightly ajar. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances, and boxes can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators, and freezers. Make sure that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.

Books and Documents
Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, but use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing to fill out empty pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box with books, and do not overload.

Bedding, Clothing, Curtains, Drapes and Linens
Clothing, curtains, and drapes should be stored on hangers. If hanging cartons are not available, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers of cedar chests along with bedding and linens. Wardrobe-style cardboard cartons help to protect your clothes. Avoid storing anything that may attract pests.

Computers
All electrical items like your computer need special care. Original boxes are highly recommended for packing, however, bubble-wrap and good quality packing cartons will do the job. Remember to use some packing material or linen in the bottom and top of the cartons. This will provide extra protection to the content. Most modern computers have “self parking heads”. Consult your retailer or manufacturer’s manual if you are unsure about your computer’s specifications. Use masking tape to label the ports on the back of your computer. Backup data on your hard disk before storing and keep backup data somewhere other than the storage unit.

Dishes and Glassware
Place a layer of packing material inside the bottom and top of cartons containing breakables. Protect fragile items by wrapping them individually in packing paper (newsprint can be very messy and possibly stain). Nest cups and bowls, stand plates, sauces, platters, and casseroles on their edges. Fill any gaps in the cartons with packing material or linen. This will keep your fragile items well protected and prevent them from moving a round in the cartons while in storage. Label all cartons containing fragile items and avoid storing heavy items on the top of these cartons.

Furniture
Protect your furniture with drop sheets or blankets. Empty the contents of wardrobes, drawers, and cupboards to protect the shelving and structure of these items. Clothing and personal goods should be packed in strong secure cartons with mothballs or a similar product to protect and maintain their condition. Where possible, remove the legs from items of furniture (bed bases, tables, etc.) to avoid damage and save space.

Mowers and Other Machinery
You will reduce the risk of leakage, spillage and damage to other goods in your storage unit if you drain the fuel and oil from all machinery. Petroleum and oil left in machinery are also a fire hazard.

Mirrors, Windows and Paintings
These items should be protected by packing material like bubble-wrap or in a flat-pack carton. Store them standing on their edge in an upright position. (Do not lay flat.)

Stereos, Televisions, and Videos
Electrical equipment is very delicate and sensitive, and should be handled with care. The original boxes are ideal to repack with, however, wrapping items individually in bubble-wrap, packing them in cartons, and sealing the top, will offer protection for your electrical items. Remember to pack out any gaps in the cartons. Turntables and tone arms of record players should be secured to prevent damage will in storage. Pack records on their edge in cartons to prevent warping.

Battery Operated Toys and Appliances
To avoid damage, batteries should be removed from all battery operated toys and appliances. Batteries should be stored in a cool dry place.

Storage Unit Rental Agreement
For your protection, a storage facility provides a written agreement. Read it thoroughly and ask the storage consultant to answer your questions. Make note of your payment date to see if the agreement covers prorated rental periods.

If you change your address or phone number, be sure to notify the storage facility in writing.

Insure Your Goods In Storage
The goods you place in self storage spaces are the sole responsibility of you, their owner. Goods are not insured by the storage facility. Your storage consultant may be able to give you the names of insurers who provide low cost insurance coverage for your goods.

What Not To Store
Any goods that are illegal, flammable, explosive, hazardous, perishable or that are a risk to the storage unit or the property of any person should not be stored.