When moving and storing your items or goods in a storage unit, it is essential to take preventive measures and protect them from common damages. Here are a few helpful tips for that you can try to keep your goods in the best condition.
1. Books
While it seems like an easy task to put books into a box, packing them with other items would cause some damages and scratches. Ideally, you should always place them in flat positions to protect the spines and keep in small boxes to minimise the weight when moving.
2. Clothes
Keep in mind to wash and iron your clothes before packing and storing them in a storage unit. Also, place some mothballs inside the box to prevent bugs from penetrating. Clothes can be either packed or folded in boxes, or hung in robes to avoid creasing.
3. Fragile items
Those fragile items such as glasses, plates, bowls, saucers, or cups, should always be wrapped separately in butcher papers or bubble wraps to protect them from cracking or breaking. Make sure to cover on the sides as well. Boxes with fragile objects should be marked clearly as ‘Fragile’ and placed on the top of the stacks.
4. Mirrors and paintings
You should never lay paintings and mirrors flat. Even though this might provide them with some protection, the vehicle’s jarring movements would make other heavy items to fall off on the surface and damage these objects during moving or storage. Instead, it’s better to wrap them in a picture carton or blanket and let them stand on the ends against the walls.
5. Whitegoods
All whitegoods such as washing machines, fridges, or microwaves should be protected while being transported and stored. For example, you need to drain the fridge’s hoses, secure its drum, and place plastic covers over the end of the hoses to avoid leakage. Your fridge should be dried and defrosted, then stored with the slightly opened door. Also, place a deodoriser in the unit to maintain the freshness level. Keep in mind to move your refrigerator in the upright position because laying it flat on the sides would damage the system.
6. Padding
In addition to wrapping object separately to protect them inside the boxes, you can place some padding between each box for added security, both in transportation and self storage. Towels, cardboard, and blankets are all helpful in preventing compression damage and rubbing over time.
7. Plastic covers
Soft furniture such as mattresses and lounge suites should be covered with plastic wraps to protect them from dust and other elements during the storage period. Also, these parts can keep them from scratching due to other sharp items when moving or stacking.
8. Label everything
The last method to protect your items is to mark each box clearly with the contents inside. Not only will this make it simpler for you to find an item when unpacking, but it can also prevent fragile objects from being kept incorrectly.
