Long Term Storage Tips
Packing your possessions for long term storage can seem daunting. Planning ahead can help relieve some of the stress and make the experience go much smoother. Below are tips that will help you save time, money and your belongings. The reasons you might need long term storage range from the move to a smaller home, you are transferred to another area for your job or military to having too much stuff and not enough closet or space in your home. Whatever your reason, you will need to know how to choose a facility that suits your needs. Here are a few things to consider. Begin packing as soon as you know you will need to store items. Begin by sorting through, organizing and separating everything. Make different groups for keeping, storing, donating and garbage. This will help you determine the size of space you will need. Organize your packing supplies. You will need sturdy boxes or plastic containers, packing tape markers, bubble wrap and a good lock. Plastic containers are best for long term storage since they will not deteriorate and are not prone to damage from moisture. Purchase what you need at discount stores, moving supply companies or the facility where you will be storing your items. For long term storage you will need a facility to keep your possessions. You will need to determine the size of space you need. A small unit is typically five feet by ten feet and holds the tightly packed contents of a one bedroom apartment where a garage size unit holds enough for a large house. Start packing in one room at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the task. Take apart anything you can to save on space. For example, remove the legs from small tables or disassemble bookshelves and entertainment centers. Remove wheels as well to save space. Be sure to a label every container with what it contains, the date and which room you took it from. For breakable items, wrap well in bubble wrap or newspaper and maker the box fragile. Styrofoam peanuts in your boxes should also be put in with your fragile and breakable items. Always place smaller boxes in larger boxes so you will have fewer trips to make. Affix nuts and bolts to the piece of furniture or item they belong to. That way, when you take the items out of long term storage you will not have to search for the correct ones. Another option is to place the nuts and bolts in labeled bags and keep them in a locked box, such as a small fishing tackle box or craft box, and store it in the facility as well. Heavy boxes should be marked with their weight to avoid being injured when moving it. Seal boxes with packing tape. Even plastic containers should be sealed to keep out moisture and dirt. Put some type of rodent repellant in the facility to keep unwanted pests out of your belongings. When packing clothing or linens, roll up in all cotton pillow case or fabric or acid free tissue paper and store in acid free cardboard containers. Lay them flat if possible, or roll them. Try not to fold them since the folded area will eventually develop stress tears. The boxes should be kept free of moisture, stored off the concrete floor whenever possible. Once you have everything packed start moving it to your unit. Use handcarts or two wheelers to move the containers, especially heavier boxes. This will save your back. Do not use plastic garbage bags for containers. Store glass and mirrors between cushions or mattresses if possible. Start with the heaviest items on the bottom and work your way to lighter boxes on top. Rarely used items need to be in the back and odd shaped things can be placed in the front area. Chairs can be stacked on top of each other. When packing your belongings for long term storage , organizing and planning ahead will go a long way in reducing the stress of the task. Source : Storage Owners Storage Network
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