Home >
Home And Family >
Home Improvement
Self storage units can be a great option for those times when you need to temporarily store some of your household items. This comes in handy for moving to a new home, remodeling your existing home, inheriting a family member's furniture, or simply clearing out your house to make more room for you and your family. Many times clothing, vehicles, boats, antiques, furniture, and other items may be kept in a storage unit for a reasonable price until they are needed again.
Furniture and drawers can easily be stored, as long as they are protected by blankets or towels to protect the finish from scratches. A dust cover will help keep dust and dirt off of your furniture, but is usually too thin to provide much protection from damage. Keep all upholstered pieces up off of the floor so they do not get dirty. You can stack chairs upside down on tables or other furniture to protect the seat cushions. Large, heavy pieces of furniture make a great foundation for stacking the rest of your belongings inside the rental unit. You can use the inside of drawers to store smaller items that may be lost in a large box. This also maximizes the available space in your storage unit.
Mattresses can be stored, but should always be wrapped in a sturdy plastic cover to keep out moisture and pests. Especially in cold climates, rodents and insects may burrow into mattresses to find warmth. Do not store mattresses on their side unless they are held firmly in a straight-up position. Letting the mattress flop around will distort its shape and could make it lumpy and uncomfortable.
Seasonal items like holiday decorations are a natural fit for your storage unit. Keep seldom used items out of your way and open up more room in your home's closets by taking Christmas or Halloween decorations down to the storage facility. To store Christmas lights, wrap them securely around a sturdy piece of cardboard before placing in your rental unit. This will keep the wires from becoming tangled and caught on your other items. Other infrequently used items that can be stored include wedding or baby shower decorations and some types of formalwear if properly protected.
Dishes, plates and glassware can be kept in storage while moving between homes or waiting to upsize to a larger house. Be careful when packing and storing fragile glassware. Use a layer of packing paper placed inside the bottom and top of each box to cushion the glassware from damage. Stack plates on their edges if possible as this will make them more rigid in case impact. All glass items should be individually wrapped, with glasses placed toward the top of the box. Nest all cups and bowls and stand plates on their edge. Make sure to adequately label all boxes containing glass or any other fragile materials.
Use unmarked boxes or containers to store all valuable items or electronic equipment. You do not want to tip off any potential thieves to their location. The longer a thief must dig through your boxes to find something of value, the more chance there is that he will give up or get caught. Stereos, cameras, computers, jewelry, or antiques should all be kept hidden in the storage unit. Place your unmarked boxes in the center or rear of your storage unit to make it even more difficult for a thief to find them.
Garden tools like rakes, shovels, hoes, rakes or garden hoses can be stored conveniently in empty trash cans. This keeps all of the tools together in one place and prevents them from falling over in the rental unit and causing a dangerous situation. Tie the tools in bundles for added security and ease of transport. Papers, books, and other important documents can be kept in storage, but should be adequately protected with plastic. Pack all books flat so the spines do not warp. Be careful not to pack too many books in one box as they can be heavy in large numbers.
Large appliances such as refrigerators or freezers will be fine in a storage unit, so long as they are dry when initially stored. You do not want moisture and mildew building up inside the appliance while it is in the unit. Leave the door slightly ajar to provide ventilation. Books, clothing, or other items can be stored inside the refrigerator to make sure of this space. The appliance itself provides a solid foundation to begin stacking boxes or other lightweight items.