While a self-storage unit can be climate controlled and very safe for anything you need to store away, both long-term and for just a few months, you want to ensure that you prepare your items properly. A few simple steps before putting away appliances, furniture, boxes of clothes and other such items can ensure that they stay protected when in your unit. Note a few quick tips.
1. Clean all appliances
To keep mold, mildew, and other contaminants from forming while appliances are in storage, be sure you thoroughly clean them on the inside, and dry them as well. Prop open the doors of refrigerators and ovens so that they can get air inside and do not allow mold or mildew to grow. It might also be good to use a disinfectant on these materials before storing them so that nothing grows on their surfaces.
2. Wrap screens
Be sure you wrap the screens of televisions and computers with bubble wrap before storing them. Even if you're careful about how you stack items, if something were to fall and even gently scrape the screen of these, it can cause permanent damage.
3. Invest in plastic totes
Remember that paper absorbs moisture, and cardboard is a type of paper. Using cardboard boxes can mean allowing mold and mildew to form on anything inside the box, including clothes, books, and the like. If you're going to be storing your items for any length of time, and especially if it's summertime and humid outside, invest in plastic totes rather than using standard moving boxes.
4. Lay clothes flat as much as possible
If you hang clothes on hangers or fold them and then put them in boxes or totes, they may develop creases, stretched areas, and other damage that cannot be fixed once you take them out of storage. A better idea is to lay clothes flat as much as possible. Invest in long, flat totes for clothes and avoid using wardrobe boxes where you would need to actually hang items; the weight of the clothes will tug and pull and cause unsightly puckers, and even allow clothes to stretch out of shape.
5. Use acid-free tissue paper
When wrapping artwork that is not in a glass frame, use acid-free tissue paper. Paint and canvas can absorb the acid and coloring of standard tissue paper and in turn, become discolored and ruined. Look for tissue paper meant specifically for paintings and for artwork. You also want to use acid-free tissue paper for clothes that will be in long-term self storage, such as a wedding dress. The cloth material can also absorb coloring from tissue paper and show stains.
Share24 June 2015
After my parents passed away I inherited a lot of bulky furniture items that have been in my family for many generations. My current inner city flat is nowhere near big enough for it so I rented out a storage unit. Sometimes I head out to the storage lot just to look through it and remember them. Luckily the furniture has stayed in great condition and one day when I finally get a big family home, I'll be able to have it all on display. I spent a lot of time researching the best way to store vintage furniture long term, and it's all on my site. Enjoy!