2011 October

There are some self-storage companies throughout the Twin Cities area that offer packing as an additional service. However, this is typically offered at an additional expense leaving most to pack their belongings themselves. Properly packing a self-storage unit is an art form as you will need to put some thought into it before you begin. After all, one of the primary advantages of using a self-storage facility is the fact that you can continue to access your items on an as needed basis.

When packing a storage unit, it is important to pack your items in a manner that they can be located at a later date quickly and without having to unload unloading everything. This can be achieved by making an inventory of what you’ve packed, marking each box, and creating a description of where each item that you have stored is located within your storage space. The small amount of extra time required upfront to make an inventory and description of your stored belongings will save you several hours potentially when it comes to finding a particular item in your storage unit at a later date. At Edina Mini-Storage we sell several different moving supplies, boxes, markers, and labels to ensure that your belongings are properly packaged and labeled prior to being placed in a storage unit. A few other packing and storage recommendations to consider include:

• Creating an estimate of each item you will be storing to help with obtaining an accurate insurance policy. Also, in the case of unforeseen damage to your belongings having an estimate created of the replacement value of each item will ease in the insurance claim process.
• Investing in good quality sturdy boxes and packing materials. Keep in mind that boxes degrade with use. Buying boxes of similar sizes will make stacking your items securely in a storage unit easier. At Edina Mini-Storage we sell quality U-Haul brand boxes ranging in size from a small 1.5 Cu. Ft. box up to a 6.0 Cu. Ft. extra large box.
• You should box everything that you can, as anything left – everything that is left unboxed is more difficult to stack and has the potential of getting dusty and/or dirty. At Edina Mini-Storage we sell mattress bags, sofa covers, chair covers, and dust covers to keep your furniture items looking new.
• Boxes should be packed to capacity wherever possible to prevent breakages. At Edina Mini-Storage we sell bubble wrap, dish cell kits, and glass cell kits to keep your fragile items safe. Newspaper and towels can also help with keeping items secured within your boxes. Do not make your boxes so heavy that they cannot be lifted. You will want to store heavy item in small boxes. Large and/or bulky that are lightweight should be packaged in large or extra large boxes.
• Boxes packed on the bottom of your storage unit should be packaged in a manner that they can withstand the strain from boxes stacked on top of them. Boxes that are only partly filled may tip over or collapse, as only full and sturdy boxes should be placed on the bottom level of stacked boxes. It is also best to place as many large boxes on the bottom level of a storage unit when stacking boxes and save the top level for smaller boxes.
• Each box that you will be storing should be clearly labeled so you can identify the contents at a later date and keep an inventory. Also, labeling your boxes on more than one side can help with identifying a particular item more quickly. Mark ‘Fragile’ on any boxes containing breakable items to ensure that these items are stored properly.
• Don’t be tempted to fill large boxes with heavy items such as books as they’ll quickly become impossible to carry and may break. At Edina Mini-Storage we sell small boxes that are specifically designed for boxes or heavy type items. If you do pack heavy items into a large box it is best to only put a few heavy items into the box and fill the remainder with lighter items.
• Packing items into sealed plastic bags is not recommended, as humidity can cause mildew.
• It is best to pack books flat to prevent damage being done to the spine of each of your books.
• Storing wet items in a self-storage facility is never a good idea, as they can cause water damage, mold and/or mildew.
• Special care should be taken when storing large appliances in a self-storage facility. For example, fridges and freezers should be defrosted thoroughly prior to being stored. Otherwise, you’ll be leaving yourself open to water damage. The doors on fridges and freezers should be tied up while moving, but should be left slightly ajar once in storage to stop condensation from forming and help ward off bad odors. Washing machines should be drained prior to be stored and all hoses should be tied down or secured. Appliances should be clean and dry prior to being stored and wiping the insides over with baking soda can be helpful.
• All fragile and breakable items such as dishes, glasses, and ornaments should be wrapped separately. Paper will do but bubble wrap is a good investment. Pack them tightly into strong boxes, filling any gaps with paper or filler. Try to avoid putting heavy items on top of fragile ones in a self-storage facility.

• If you’re going to be storing clothes think about buying wardrobe or clothes boxes – you’ll then be able to simply hang the clothes in them and they’ll keep their shape. It’s not wise to simply put your clothes in bin liners in a self-storage facility as moisture can get trapped inside when they’re sealed and your clothes could be ruined.

• For the best protection for mirrors and pictures in a self-storage facility, wrap them in a protective covering such as bubble wrap and stack them on their ends. Mirrors and pictures should never be stored flat. Mark them as ‘Fragile’.

• Separate lamp bases and lampshades and wrap them for protection.

• If you’re storing upholstered products such as mattresses and sofas in a self-storage facility it might be a good idea to invest in covers, bags or sheeting to give them some additional protection. Stand sofas and mattresses on end wherever possible to save space and don’t stack too much on top of soft furnishings. Mattresses are best stored on the long end and should be ideally raised above floor level or laid on protective sheeting.

• If you’re storing a few items of furniture on top of each other a simple dust sheet or cover placed between items will minimize scratching and damage in a self-storage facility.

• You’ll save space if you can dismantle furniture such as beds and tables before you store it in a self-storage facility – make sure you keep hold of all the bits so you can get it all back together again! Wrap and cover furniture sections and keep them together, clearly marked, for quick retrieval. You can put components such as screws and bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly and tape to the relevant piece of furniture. Store large pieces of furniture vertically to save space in the facility.

• Chairs can be stacked seat to seat to save space. Cover chair legs with protective wrapping for extra protection.

• Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture spray before storing it in the facility to give it some added protection.

• Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos and computers should be packed in their original boxes wherever possible. If this isn’t possible, pack them into boxes that are about the right size making sure that you pack gaps with paper etc. Make sure you tie down the player arm of a record player and secure your turntable.

• If you’re storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn mowers and cars etc in a facility, expect to be asked to drain the tanks before you put them in storage. Fuel is one of the few things that you CANNOT store in a self-storage facility.

• Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing to avoid rust formation.

• You can tie tools and long-handled items in bundles. Don’t store a brush resting on the bristles.

• Don’t store vacuum cleaners with the bag in – throw it away before you store them in the facility.

• Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.

• Think hard about whether you really want to store photographs in a self-storage facility. If you do store loose photographs, place them between pieces of clean cardboard and tape them together to avoid curling. Photographs will suffer temperature damage and, if the facility you have chosen is not climate controlled, you might want to keep them out of storage to avoid losing them.

• Think creatively and you’ll make more space. Plan to use furniture drawers as an extra box (they are especially good for fragile items) and you can use the inside of wardrobes to store boxes. Kitchen appliances such as stoves and fridges can also be used in this way.

• Seal all your boxes with packing tape before you put them in a self-storage facility – this will help keep dust out of the contents.

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