Storage Tips for Specific Business and Household Items:
Electrical Appliances
Defrost your fridge and freezer well before you move it to avoid water damage. Fridges, freezers and other white goods should be clean and dry before storing, with a deodoriser inside for freshness and the door left slightly ajar. When storing your fridge ensure that you leave the door wedged open as this will allow air flow and prevent mildew build up.
Stoves and other cooking equipment should be cleaned thoroughly before storing. Avoid placing other items inside white goods. Some goods can be stacked on top of fridges, freezers and stoves.
Electrical tools and other handyman equipment should always be cleaned before storing and where possible be stored in a sturdy tool box for protection.
Battery Operated Goods
Removal of the batteries is essential to ensure toys and equipment are not damaged in the unfortunate event of battery leakage. Damage caused by leaking batteries is quite often non-repairable.
Books/Documents
As boxes of books can generally heavy, they should be stacked flat, and not on their spines, Preferably in small book cartons so they can be more easily handled. Remember to sprinkle some napthalene flakes among your books for long term storage.
Computers
If you still have the original packaging it is recommended that you reuse them. If not available then bubble wrap and good quality cartons will suffice. Use packing materials to line the top and bottom and to pack the gaps to protect and prevent any movement of your valuable & fragile equipment.
Crockery and Glassware
Use a layer of packing at the top and bottom of cartons. Individually wrap items in packing paper. Nest plates and cups and stand plates, saucers, platters and casseroles on their edges. Fill all gaps in the carton with scrunched paper or other material to prevent movement. Clearly label all cartons containing breakables and don’t store any heavy items on top of them.
Furniture
Empty wardrobes, drawers and cupboards to protect shelving and framework. Disassemble beds and tables if possible and wrap the legs. Store tables and other fragile items on padding, upside down on top of other solid sturdy items.
Vacuum upholstery clean before storing. Avoid using plastic covers for furniture and mattresses to minimise the problem of mould caused by humidity although during transport a plastic cover is ideal, particularly on items that could be damaged in the event of a sudden downpour. Lightweight chairs can be stacked seat to seat or on top of upturned tables.
Metal Items
Wrap silverware in non-acid tissue paper or store in plastic bags to reduce tarnishing. Wipe chrome and cast iron items with a cloth impregnated with a little machine oil to retard rust.
Mowers and Machinery
Drain fuel and oil to reduce the risk of damage to other goods and avoid a possible fire hazard. Place a piece of cardboard or old carpet under the piece of machinery.
Mirrors, Windows, Screens and Paintings
As these items are probably the most breakable and hard to pack, it is recommended to protect these items with a suitable packing material such as bubble wrap and tape them well. When transporting them on removal, it is best to store them on their edges to avoid any heavy items being placed on top of them while they are flat and causing pressure and breakage to the item.
TV, Video & Music Equipment
The original boxes with their styrofoam inserts are undoubtedly the best, but alternatively items can be individually wrapped in bubble wrap and packed into good quality cartons and boxes. All gaps and spaces should be packed and filled with additional packing to prevent movement within the cartons and then be securely sealed with packaging tape.
For those who still have one, most turntables have a clip to secure the tone arm as well as securing screws for the suspended platform so ensure these are utilised. Store records and CD’s in their cases and on their edge to avoid a heavy load being applied to them and subsequently crushing them.
Storage Unit Stacking Tips
When storing your goods in your self storage unit there are some simple tips that will help you in accessing items in the future, and maintaining the condition of the stored goods whilst in storage:
- Start with objects you know you definitely will not need and are heaviest.
- Place the heaviest, least used items to the bottom and rear of the storage unit.
- Place large, solid items into your storage space first so that you can then stack on top.
- Try to stack smaller boxes and other smaller items on top of large stable items.
- Stand long items on their side if possible and try to use the height of the unit to its full potential.
- If you are storing wardrobes, entertainment units, or similar type items, then use the space inside of these to stack breakable items, smaller boxes and bags so that you use less space.
- Use one side wall of the space to stack boxes only and stack these as high as possible.
- When storing a fridge or freezer, leave the doors open.
- Try to stack any items that you may want to access at the front of the storage unit.
- Use mothballs to protect any material items including clothing and linen.
- Try not to store food items that are not canned or bottled.
- Do not store perishables, flammable or illegal items.
- If you do store lawn mowers or motorbikes empty the petrol and oil first.
- Anything you are likely to want to get access to often, or access during the time that you have the items stored, should be placed either at, or near the front of the storage unit.
NOTE – Flammable products such as Gas, Fuels, Oils and toxic chemicals are prohibited.