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STORAGE TIPS

Storage Unit Tips: Putting Your Stuff in Portable Storage

Posted on April 07, 2017

Portable Storage Tips

Follow our handy guideline when safely securing your belongings in a storage unit or mobile storage container.

Whether you're moving to a new home or city, redecorating, or downsizing, your possessions may end up needing a temporary home. This is when utilizing a storage unit or mobile storage container can be the easiest step to take during your situation. From heavy, over-stuffed furniture to prized knickknacks and souvenirs, follow our handy guide to make sure your possessions are secured safely. 

 

Step 1: The Prep Work

Before putting your items into storage, you may want to consider doing a little prep work first. 

  • Wipe down all your appliances to remove any food particles and dust. This will help keep curious critters out of your unit. 
  • Pre-treat metal surfaces. Rub metal surfaces that have the potential to rust with a few drops of machine oil.
  • Do a couple loads of laundry. All linens and clothing should be washed before being placed into a storage unit. The pests won't be impressed and will lose interest in your stuff. 
  • Vacuum the furniture. If you've got children that like to snack while sitting on the couch, give your furniture a quick vacuuming to remove leftover crumbs. 
  • Disassemble the furniture. This little tidbit will not only save your back, but it'll also prevent your furniture from enduring undue damage during the move. 

 

Step 2: Fill it up

Now that your items are ready to be stuffed away, it's time to fill up that storage locker or container. Start with the heavy items first and place them in the back of the unit. You may want to leave spaces between them so that you can access them once the unit has been stocked up. 

Appliances - When storing appliances, be sure to leave the doors slightly open. This will keep air circulating through them and reduce the likelihood of them getting musty. When it's time to put them to use, they'll be ready to go. 

Furniture - If you think that stacking your furniture is a great idea and will save you space, you're partially right. It will save space, but that method also has the potential to damage your furniture. Instead, place your furniture on pallets for easy access and moving. When it's time to move them out, simply use one of the supplied pallet jacks and push them to wherever they need to go. 

Boxes - Once all the big items are stowed away, it's time to load in the rest of the stuff. These items will likely consist of boxes and plastic totes. When packing these items in, try to limit how high you stack them on top of each other, and don't forget to include an aisle between the stacks. If you need to retrieve something in the future, you'll be so thankful you had the foresight to make everything accessible. 

For a more detailed list of common household items and how to properly store them, take a look at our previous post: Storage Unit Checklist: Securely Store Your Belongings.

 

If your situation has changed and it's time to look for storage options, come and speak to the storage solution experts at Space Centre Storage. From MIBOX® mobile storage containers to big and small storage lockers, we can help you find the perfect storage solution for your needs.

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