Picture this: you’ve rented out a storage unit and you’re ready to start moving your belongings in. You need to know how to properly pack and organise everything you’re storing to ensure nothing gets damaged.
Read on to find out how you can protect your furniture, maximise space and keep your beloved items from getting lost in your unit.
Step 1 – create an inventory list
Keep track of everything you put into storage by creating an inventory list. This is great to do before you start organising your unit. Keep a spreadsheet of what’s being moved by:
- Taking photos of serial numbers and model numbers where applicable
- Noting down the monetary value of any expensive items
- Noting how you packed the item (e.g. is it in a box, container or on a shelf in the storage unit)
Make sure to update your inventory list every time you add or remove something from your storage unit.
You might even want to draw up a basic map for where you store some of your key items and boxes, so when the time comes to get something out of self storage, you’ll know its exact location.
Step 2 – clean your storage items
If you don’t want your storage unit emitting unpleasant odours down the track, be sure to clean your things before you store them. If you’re storing appliances like fridges, freezers or washing machines, make sure all the water has been drained properly and the appliance is dry. Give furniture a good vacuum or wipe-down and place a cover on them to protect from dust.
Step 3 – pack your boxes right
Anything small should be boxed up so your belongings aren’t exposed to the elements or subject to damage. Aim to use similar sized boxes, doing so will maximise your space, as they’ll be much easier to stack on top of one another.
If you’re packing anything fragile, make sure you wrap them individually with bubble wrap, newspaper or towels. Try to pack your box as tightly as possible to avoid items moving around in the box and breaking inside.
If you’re storing clothes it’s better to use plastic containers. This will protect clothes from dust, mildew and moisture. However, avoid packing anything in plastic bags as this can attract mildew.
What about furniture?
If you can, disassemble your furniture. This will make it easier to store and give you more room to work with in your storage unit.
Place any mattresses straight up and if possible, store them in between another heavy piece of furniture to avoid them bending out of shape. Of course, don’t forget to put a protective cover over it.
For wardrobes and anything with a hollow space, if you can’t disassemble them, make sure to move them into your storage unit empty and stack with boxes if possible, to maximise space.
With your fridges and freezers, keep the doors slightly ajar (wedging cardboard in between is handy) to allow some airflow and prevent musty odours or mould from developing.
Step 4 – label your boxes
As you’re packing, label your boxes on each side (so you can see what’s in it from any glance), and mark it on your inventory list so you know exactly where everything is.
Lastly, seal all your boxes up with packing tape to protect everything inside.
Step 5 – move your belongings into self storage
Remember that inventory list you prepared earlier? If you made a map you can refer to this to move your things in, otherwise think about what you’ll need to access most frequently and store those items at the front of your unit. When loading everything in, always stack the heaviest boxes on the bottom.
Depending on the size of your unit and how much you need to move, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to pack, move and store your belongings in a weekend, especially with these handy tips!
Have any questions about renting a storage unit?
The experienced team at Go 2 Storage are ready to help! Whether you’re after expert storage advice or want to book a self storage unit, get in touch with us today.