23 Priceless Tips on Preparing Items for Storage:

Storage is a great option in many cases – when you have excessive things at home, if you are moving away temporarily, downsizing a home, etc. But before you get to organize your storage unit, you should know how to prepare your belongings for storing and how to pack them. Here we will give you 23 valuable tips on packing for storage that you will need in order to prepare and protect your household goods the best way possible. What are the best ideas that you could use for packing items for storage?

1. Get the packing materials for storage that you will need – packing paper, moving blankets, moving pads, strong cardboard boxes of various sizes and tools to dismantle appliances and furniture if needed. This should be your first task on your list when preparing for packing items for storage.
2. Using stackable boxes will help you more easily arrange them. For heavier items it is good to use smaller boxes which can hold up the weight in and which are easier to transfer. For lighter things like curtains you can use larger boxes. In your storage place heavier and stronger items first like refrigerator, dishwater and tools, lighter and unbreakable things like clothes on top.
3. Use special dishpack boxes for dishes and breakable items for better protection. Wrap every plate individually in at least one layer of packing paper and place it on an edge.
4. Glassware should also be packed individually. Wrap each glass, dish, cup, etc. in packing paper of bubble wrap.
5. When packing glassware and china always use a lot of cushioning at the bottom of the box and above the items. Be careful not to place heavy items on your fragile things even if everything is well packed and well protected. Best would be if you could stack the fragile things you have at the top of the storage unit.
6. It would be easier to move and store furniture and electronics if it is disassembled. That includes breaking down the bed frames. You can check out our guide on moving a queen bed if you need more information.
7. Mattresses should go into mattress bags or old mattress covers, if you keep any.
8. Use drawers, shelves and the like inside furniture to arrange more things. You can place on the bottom of wardrobes light things like pillows, clothes and soft toys. That way you can pack more things using the same space twice.
9. You can place small, fragile items in drawers as well, wrapped in towels. Larger fragile items could use crates.
10. A chest of drawers is also appropriate for small and light items like pictures, clothes, souvenirs, etc.
11. Use the tops of drawers, dressers, cupboards, etc. to store other items. Try to fill up the space as much as you can – after all, you are paying for it, so try to get the right size storage unit for your belongings. No need to pay for the empty space left inside.
12. If you wish to save on packing materials, you can use your own towels and blankets.
13. For furniture you can use blankets, moving pads and shrink wrap.
    

    In your storage, place the heaviest items at the bottom and the fragile ones - on top.
14. Appliances like a fridge or freezer should be stored clean and dry. Always leave the door slightly open to let air circulate and prevent mold. For other appliances the doors should be closed.
15. If you will be storing chairs as well, place them on one another, with the chair on top being positioned with its seat down so that it faces the seat of the other chair. Of course, use the small space in between the chair legs to put things as well.
16. It would be best if you could separate the legs of the table to save space. Wrap each leg in towels separately.
17. If you will be storing couches, place them on their ends to save from space.
18. For mirrors use crates or cardboard boxes in order to protect them. Smaller mirrors could be wrapped in pieces of cardboard – there is no need to use crates and if you do, they would be too expensive. Larger mirrors could go into crates though.
19. Wrap lamp shades with packing paper and place them inside each other.
20. For photo frames, use their original box or find a similar sized box to place them in.
21. Keep bolts and other hardware in a plastic bag and tape it to the item it belongs to – the bottom of the table, place it inside a shelf of the wardrobe, etc. This is one of the most useful tips for packing a storage unit which we can advice you.
22. Fill up every box entirely in order to prevent it from collapsing.
23. Label every box with its content and which room it belongs to on its top and on each of its sides. You can keep with you a list with the boxes and their content so that you know what you’ve locked up in storage.