If you’re planning on being away and need to store some of your belongings long-term, you may be wondering where to start. Long-term storage can sometimes be stressful, especially if you’re not sure where to begin. But by following these seven tips, storing your belongings long-term will be easy and stress-free:
Before you start packing, and before you rent out a storage unit, go through what you need to store. This will help you determine how much storage space, boxes, and other packing supplies you’ll need. If you only have a small amount of stuff, then rent a small storage unit, but if you plan to store a lot, a bigger unit may be better suited for your needs.
If you’re going to be storing your items for a long time, you’ll want to make sure they are properly packed so that no damage comes to them while they’re stored. Take your time packing your items, ensure fragile items have enough padding or bubble wrap, and stack your boxes with the heaviest ones near the bottom. This can help prevent unnecessary harm to your items.
While packing, make sure you’re not using old boxes that you’ve had lying around. These are likely to have wear and tear and won’t be as sturdy. Boxes are cheap, and investing in new boxes can ensure your items will have more protection from more durable cardboard.
Make sure you start packing with plenty of time to spare; otherwise, you may be packing in a rush and skip organizing your boxes. If you have lots to store, it will be easy to mix up boxes and not know what’s what if you don’t stick to an organization system. It can be as simple as labeling all your boxes and creating lists of what is in each box. This will help ensure that you have everything when you unpack all your boxes.
If you’ve run out of boxes, your first instinct may be to grab a plastic garbage pack and put random items in it. Keeping your items in plastic bags can actually do more harm than good. They can encourage mold and mildew growth, which is why you should avoid them when packing your items.
When you’re planning on storing your clothes, blankets, and any other type of fabric items, make sure to seal them in vacuum-sealed bags before packing them into boxes. This will prevent mold from growing on the fabrics and keep them fresh and clean for when you need them.
Depending on how long you’ll be away, consider asking a friend or family member to check in on your storage unit now and then. They can make sure no problems arise, mail you anything you need, and check that everything is safe.
The next time you plan to store your belongings long-term, be sure to consider these tips. Not only will they help you pack and keep your items safe, but having an organization system can save you lots of time when you need a specific item. For more information on long-term storage, be sure to contact Airtight Storage.
