Advice on how to prepare your items for storage
Whether you are clearing out a space to make more room or you are looking to keep certain possessions stored away in a safe manner, it is important that you know how to properly prepare your items for storage. This means that you will get more space out of your storage area as items will be packed efficiently and you will also be able to pack them in such a way that prevents them from being damaged. The last thing you want to happen it to store your valuable possessions only for them to be corroded by factors like dampness or dirt.
Here are a few tips that will help you to better prepare your items for storage.
Acquire the relevant packing materials. Your first port of call is to get everything you need for packing in the one place. You may need certain tools to dismantle items and you need packing materials, moving pads and strong boxes. It is a good idea to use boxes that are stackable so you can get the bulky items stored efficiently while stacking other smaller boxes on top.
Protect fragile items 
It is advised that you pack any fragile items like glassware individually. You should also use bubble wrap or wrapping paper and special dish pack boxes.
There should be a minimum of one layer of packing and items like plates ideally should be placed on their edge. All sides of the box should be cushioned to minimise the chance of an impact causing items to break or crack.
Get creative 
In order to maximise your space, sometimes you need to think outside of the box. If you are storing furniture like the chest of drawers, you can use these drawers as extra storage space. It will help to protect the items from external factors and gives you more space for store other items.
Don’t forget to clean your items 
While it may seem counterproductive to some people, it is a beneficial for you to clean your items before placing them into storage. It is likely that they will be kept in storage for a significant amount of time and any stains or dirt could leave permanent blemishes or problems if left untouched.
First, use a cloth to wide off any excess dust and then use an appropriate cleaning product depending on the material of the item (glass, wood etc.). Before placing into storage the item should be dried naturally to prevent any drops of moisture from lingering.
Focus on cloth over plastic 
While using plastic covering has become more popular in recent years, if at all possible you should try to use cloth alternatives.
When storing pieces of furniture, the fabric or wood can become suffocated by the plastics and can lead to strange smells or condensation forming that could damage the item.
Instead, you can use blankets, sheets or covers to prevent dust from congregating while still giving air the chance to circulate.
Using a quality facility 
It is important that you are storing your items in a place that is conducive for the job at hand. Often people package their items well but place them in a location that wreaks havoc in the long run. You can check the quality facilities here or search for reviews/recommendations on Self-Storage Association
Utilise silica packets
A small but useful trick when storing items like books and papers is to throw silica packets into the box that you are storing them in. This will help prevent any mould spots from appearing and ruining the paper.
Don’t jam everything together
While you want to maximise the amount of space you have for storage, it is also important that you do not pack items too tightly together.
You want to have a plan and leave pockets of space in between items. This allows air to permeate easily around the items and will also help to prevent potential damage when you are removing other items from storage. Many people like to use pallets to keep items off the ground and allow air to circulate beneath them.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a bit of work required when it comes to preparing your items for storage. This extra bit of effort will pay off in the long run as the chances of you having to deal with damaged items in the future is greatly minimised.
