If you're storing upholstered products such as mattresses and sofas, consider investing in covers, bags or sheeting for additional protection. Stor-N-More sells large heavy-duty bags for this purpose.
Vacuum-sealed bags work really well for draperies, bedding, and clothing.
Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos, and computers should be packed in their original boxes whenever possible. If using other boxes, choose ones that are as close in size to the original as possible, and fill all gaps with paper. Make sure you secure the player arm of a record player and turntable.
Disassemble furniture such as beds and tables before you store them. Wrap and cover the separate sections, clearly mark them and keep them together. Keep assembly components such as screws and bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly, and tape the bag to the appropriate piece of furniture. (Use tape that is safe for use on furniture, or tape the bag to an inconspicuous place on the piece.) Cover chair legs with bubble wrap or rags for extra protection.
Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture polish before storing it to give it some added protection.
Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.
Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing them to avoid rust formation that can occur when the tools are not used regularly.
When storing a vacuum cleaner, clean out the bag or canister first; bacteria, mold and vermin can accumulate otherwise.
When storing an oven as well as a refrigerator, enclose the exposed back area of the appliances to prevent vermin.
Consider having awkward or heavy pieces such as exercise equipment packed professionally. Talk to your storage facility manager or local pack-and-ship store about options.
As you go, keep an inventory of every item you’ve packed. Ideally, include an estimate of the replacement value of each item you store. Consider taking pictures of valuable items. These steps will help you make accurate insurance claims in case of unforeseen damage or loss.
Step 4: Unpack and Arrange Items Efficiently
Before you load up the truck to take your packed items to your self-storage unit, check with the storage facility manager to make sure there is adequate space for the truck to maneuver to your unit.
As you arrive at the facility and begin to unload, arranging your furniture, equipment, boxes, and other odds-and-ends efficiently in your storage unit will make a big difference in maximizing its convenience.
Here are a few tried-and-true suggestions for putting items into your unit: Plan ahead
While your storage unit should already be clean and swept out, consider putting down protective canvas sheeting, cardboard or wooden boards on the floor for cleanliness.
Keep a fold-up step stool in your space for accessing hard-to-reach areas.
Based on the climate in which you live or work, consider putting down moisture absorbers, deodorizers and/or vermin bait to protect your belongings.
Frequently-used items should be placed near the entrance for easy access. This holds true for file boxes and other business items, too.
To ensure security of valuable items such as computers or TVs, place them farthest from the door, with other items concealing them.
Unload the largest items and place them against the far wall, as well as along the sides of the unit. See if the storage facility has dollies or other machinery that you can use to unload and place these heavy items. Some self-storage companies will offer these free of charge.
For archived business documents that you won’t need to access frequently, place them against the far wall of the unit.
When arranging items, leave an aisle space for easy access to your items. You can either leave aisles between your stacks of boxes and furniture, or line up all your furniture and boxes against the outside walls of the unit in a “U” shape, leaving the inside of the U as open space.
For furniture and other large items
Break down furniture into smaller pieces, if possible. Take the legs off of tables, disassemble bed frames and lean them against the wall, etc.
Cover furniture with sheets or tarps to protect them against scratches, dust and other damage..
Store large pieces of furniture vertically to save space. Stand sofas on end when possible.
If you have room to store a sofa flat, then a loveseat can be placed upside down on top of the sofa, and a table stacked on top of that.
Chairs can be stacked seat to seat.
In most cases, you can stack dryers on top of washers.
