6 Top Self Storage Items & How to Pack them

There are many different reasons why people opt to use London self storage facilities. It could be in preparation for a house move, storing belongings whilst working abroad or just keeping seasonal items and equipment organised and out of harm’s way. Regardless of the reason, *Citystore Self Storage, Luton tell me that there is a range of common items that end up in their facility:

Furniture

If you are moving to a smaller space, selling your property, de-cluttering or making room for more family, a storage unit is an obvious solution for the excess furniture. Use our packing tips to make sure it is kept in tip top condition whilst in storage:
  1. Place furniture on plastic sheeting or wooden pallets to protect it from moisture and mould.
  2. If possible disassemble large items of furniture to give you more space in your unit.
  3. To protect wooden furniture apply a layer of wax prior to storing.
  4. Apply a layer of polish or oil to metal furniture to prevent rusting or damage to the finish.
  5. To prevent scratching and denting wrap valuable pieces in bubble wrap, newspaper or blankets.
  6. Store sofas and chairs the right way up and place furniture covers over them to protect the fabric.
  7. Place table tops face down to protect them from scratches and to be able to pack your unit tighter.

Electronics

Just because you are relocating or require more room where you are you might not be ready to part with your electronics that are still in good working order. Pack them into storage for a later date and keep them in good condition by:
  1. Packing electronics into their original boxes with all the accessories.
  2. Check operator manuals to see if there are any specific storage instructions, this could be the case with computers, televisions and some office machinery.
  3. Avoid mixing up electronic parts in boxes, it might mean that you are unable to decipher what’s what when unpacking leaving items unusable.
  4. Individually wrap each item that you are placing in a box for added protection.
  5. Pack empty spaces in the boxes with newspaper or bubble wrap to keep the box sturdy and prevent your electronics from rattling around, which may cause damage.

Appliances

Self storage is also a safe and secure place to park household appliances that you may not be using at the moment, or that just don’t have a good home right now. Follow these packing tips and they will be as good as new when you need them again:
  1. Place them into storage clean to avoid any rot, rust or pests whilst they are packed away.
  2. Alway keep appliances upright with their doors slightly open to allow air to pass through to avoid musty, damp odours.
  3. Place any appliance attachments inside the machine, making sure they are clean and dry.
  4. Wrap any removed glass panels in bubble wrap or corrugated cardboard to protect them from breakages.

Documentation

Many companies are required to keep archived data for varying lengths of time, which takes up valuable office space. Likewise, individuals like to store important documents or memorabilia in a secure, accessible unit to create space at home. Follow these storage tips to keep them in tip top condition:
  1. Place your document boxes and files either on shelving or in cabinets to keep them off of the floor and prevent mildew.
  2. Mildew can also be avoided with the use of airtight containers and will ensure your documents are perfectly preserved.
  3. Ensure that you have an archiving system to enable easy access to your documents when necessary.
  4. Keep narrow walkways between shelving or cabinets to ensure their is easy access to files.
  5. Ensure that you have the correct levels of security in place for the nature of your documentation.

Antiques and Valuables

If people are on the move, or they don’t consider their homes and offices to be secure enough for their valuable items secure storage could be the solution. A rare collector’s item, an antique, a family heirloom or a piece of rare art could all be described as valuable items that need that extra bit of security instead of keeping them at home. Use these tips to save them from damage whilst in storage:
  1. Wrap wall art in tissue and raise off the floor to keep it well ventilated. Plastic wrapping will trap moisture and cause damage.
  2. Cushion paintings by placing cardboard between them and placing wax paper on the surface of the paintings.
  3. Wrap sculptures and other art items with blankets and sheets and place in boxes with lots of padding.
  4. Be careful placing canvases against the wall for long periods of time as they may become twisted or distorted.
  5. Antique furniture should be wrapped in bubble wrap, blanket and sheets to prevent scratching.
  6. Ensure that all insurance valuations and policies are in place  before leaving your valuable items in storage.

Seasonal Items

Christmas comes but once a year and many of us spend a great deal of time and money creating the perfect festive fairytale. Self storage is an intelligent choice forstoring all your precious seasonal items and decorations so they can be used year after year. Take care of them with these storage tips:
  1. Pack small items in boxes from around the home, shoe boxes are a favourite, ensuring they are well padded.
  2. Don’t throw away your used gift wrap, shred it and use it as packing material.
  3. Use egg boxes to store the very small, breakable items.
  4. Place the most fragile and delicate items on the top of the boxes.
  5. Wrap your lights around pieces of cardboard to avoid tangling and damage to the bulbs.
  6. Label your lights and garlands by length of number of lights so that you don’t have to measure or count the lights each time they are unpacked.

Do you have any of these items that you are considering putting into storage?

*CityStore Self-Storage are a specialist in their field. They provide accessible storage rooms for home or business that are both safe and secure.

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