How to Protect Items in Storage Units With Best Packing Hacks

Essential Steps on How to Protect Items in Storage Units

Aside from proper packaging, which will be the major part of your moving to-do list, you should ensure that all your possessions are well prepared before they are brought into the storage unit. This entails that all of your belongings are cleaned in-depth, dry, and packed using the right packing materials and boxes. Here is how to acquire high protection for your stuff that should be stored.

Acquire all Necessary Packing Materials

Packing supplies will be your best ally to help you insulate each item and ensure it won’t break or get scratched. The basic packing materials you need to wrap your belongings properly are:

• Plastic and cardboard boxes,
• Packing paper,
• Bubble wrap,
• Packaging foam,
• Packaging peanuts,
• Tape,
• Padded divider sets.

A general rule on boxing up is to use the right supplies and not skimp on using them since they are essential for your stuff protection.

Label the Boxes Adequately – Mark What Belongings Are Stored In Each Box

Labeling the boxes properly is of utmost importance to prevent your belongings from getting broken or damaged. Once all your boxes are labeled, you will be able to manipulate them better when your relocation day comes. Knowing what is stored in each box will help you pack a moving truck much easier and avoid one of the most common relocating mistakes associated with wrongly arranged boxes.  Also, labeling will help you to know exactly what things are stored in each box, so it will be much easier for you to unpack them once you relocate to your new home. So, one of the best packing tips we could share with you is to label your boxes.

Don’t Put Too Many Things in One Box

Putting too many things in cardboard boxes can easily cause damage to the boxes,  due to being overweight. Being rational when it comes to the weight of stored stuff into one box is the best way to attain the protection of your possessions.

Also, ensure to put heavier boxes at the bottom and lighter at the top because you don’t want to risk your lighter, fragile possessions. For example, putting your boxes with books at the bottom and then storing Christmas ornaments at the top of them would be the right arrangement.

Ensure All Your Stuff is Dry and Clean

The greatest danger that threatens your stuff is mold. For that reason, you should make sure all your stuff is cleaned in-depth and dry so they don’t become moldy. Explore all the relocating hacks on how to prepare your clothes and pack shoes for relocating, as well as all other things (like stuffed toys, curtains, rugs, and everything else that can be damaged due to humidity.)

How to Protect Framed Items When Moving?

Pieces of art, family photographs, and mirrors will be some of the most delicate items for boxing up, so you better take proper precautions. Packaging smaller pieces is easy, and it usually does not require any special protective treatment, so you can do it yourself. A lot of bubble wrap and paper will be enough to ensure they are fully protected.

The case is quite the opposite when it comes to larger items, such as paintings. Since the canvas can be easily damaged, consider leaving the packaging process to experienced long-distance movers who will use their special equipment to take care of your valuables and properly store them in the storage unit providing all necessary conditions. The same is with mirrors, whose packaging is almost always included in basic quotes, so the customers will be sure their mirrors are properly protected.

Assure Your Books Are Safe Too

For those with personal libraries, boxing up books can be quite a workout. However, for all bookworms, nothing will be more important than all their books getting undamaged to a new home address. Packaging books will be a time-consuming process, and there are a few useful pieces of advice that can help you assure they’ll be secure once packers store them in the unit.

Choose the Right Box Type and Size

The first step is to use smaller, sturdy boxes because books can be pretty heavy. Another critical thing people forget when they move is that the box shouldn’t be filled more than it is advised. It can lead to physical damage to books, so instead of overfilling your cardboard, always use crushed paper to fill up all the extra spaces. The next piece of advice would be to use plastic boxes instead of cardboard ones. If you do so, your delicate packages will be fully protected from any possibility of any spillage of liquid or wet floors. If you still prefer cardboard boxes, then make sure to reinforce their bottoms with sturdy tape and tape all the seams. Also, don’t forget to put some crushed paper inside the box, because this will also prevent any potential physical damage to books..

Sort the Books by Size

The next step is to sort your books by size. Hardbacks should be packed spine down, while paperbacks should be stacked vertically. And in case you have some special books, then wrap them separately using packaging paper before you put them into the cardboard with the rest of the books.

How to Protect Fragile Items in Moving?

If you want to avoid any unpleasant surprises after you unpack your stuff, ensure to undertake all essential preparations to properly wrap up your breakables, since this is the best way to prevent the breakage of your fragile items So, when it comes to boxing up your breakables, the very first rule is not to skimp on packaging materials. After you create an inventory list of all breakables you want to take with you and start packing glasses , ensure you’ve acquired all protective materials you need for boxing up all kitchen or decorative breakables. In case you have some decorative ceramic pieces, don’t forget to explore all the tips on how to pack plates,  and of course, don’t forget to put on a packaging list other breakables like vases, china, tea sets, or glassware.

The first preparatory step of boxing up your breakables is acquiring the basic protective materials you’ll need. The moment you have all the materials with you, you can initiate the boxing-up process. And here’s another relocating hack we’ll share with you – if you know that your boxes will be stored for a longer period in the storage unit, then avoid usage of free moving boxes, even though this can positively affect your relocating budget. Already-used cardboard is sometimes more prone to damages due to humidity, so if you plan to keep your belongings in the unit for some time, you better go for plastic boxes.

Prepare Your Furniture for the Storing Unit Too

In case you decide to take some furniture pieces to your new home address, ensure to choose the right protective material for keeping it safe. Plastic-based materials such as bubble wrap or foils are not recommended to use since they can suffocate the furniture and lead to a moldy state. One of the most complicated pieces of furniture to pack will definitely be sofas and mattresses, so make sure to acquire some sofa table protectors, foam bags, or relocation blankets in the right size. So, before you start with the packaging, explore all the tips for relocating furniture, and box it up like a pro.

Make Sure to Know What Cannot Be Stored in the Storage Unit

When you start to prepare your stuff to be stored in the specialized unit, ensure to acknowledge what items movers won’t move and what can not be stored there. There are, of course, living beings – pets and plants. Other banned things are:

• Food,
• Flammable materials,
• Liquids,
• Cleaning supplies,
• Cosmetic supplies like deodorants, hair sprays, nail polish, and nail polish removers,
• Weapons,
• All kinds of hazardous materials.

The mentioned things can not be put in specialized facilities since they can cause severe damages. In case some relocation companies tell you they can store these types of stuff, you should know that you’re probably dealing with a relocating scam, and you should pass on that company.

How You Can Ship Your Plants?

If you don’t want to leave your plants back at home, and want to find the most secure way to ship your greenish friends, then take a look at the video below and find out all the tips on how to transfer your plants.

Self-Storage vs. Specialized Facilities – What to Choose?

Although many people decide to organize their self-storing place since they have an additional place to store their possessions, like garages or basements, this is not always the best option to choose. The majority of your belongings need special conditions in terms of mold protection and temperature control, which you can not provide in self-storage areas. Things like books, clothes, shoes, and even some pieces of furniture can grow moldy if they are not stored in dry and clean places. For that reason, choosing specialized facilities to store your stuff intended for relocation is always a better solution.

The Potential Problems of Using Self-Storage Places

Since you will be self-storing your possessions in some of your free areas, such as the garage or basement, it is pretty certain you will not be able to attain all the conditions required to properly protect your possessions. Temperature and ventilation control, fire alarms, security against theft or water damages are some of the risks you should be aware of when you decide to put your stuff in self-storage areas. For that reason, going for specialized storage is the best way to be entirely sure your things are safe in every aspect and avoid moving stress.

What are the Benefits of Using Specialized Facilities and Long-Distance Moving Services?

One of the best services a long-distance moving company can provide is the usage of storage services that are usually free for one month, for all customers who use it combined with some other cross-country moving services. Those facilities are fully protected and secured by 24/7 video surveillance and guards, and, even more important, they provide all conditions related to temperature control, which automatically prevent the appearance of moisture and damages to goods caused by it.

Furthermore, professional movers have advanced techniques of packaging. So, if you need to move efficiently and your belongings to be fully protected and prepared for storing, then choose some packing services that will provide you with an entirely stress-free relocation experience. Besides, once your moving boxes are loaded into the truck, all of them will be labeled with electronic barcode stickers that will guarantee your ownership. The moment they are delivered to the unit, the automated system for recording the check-ins and check out of goods from the unit will mark them, so you can be completely sure that your stuff is safe from mixing with other possessions or theft.