If you have precious possessions you want to keep safe, choosing one of Clear Space’s secure, monitored units is an excellent decision. But whether you’re storing your items for the long or short term, it’s very important to pack them carefully using the right techniques and materials. This is the only way to make sure they’re in perfect condition when you retrieve them again.
In this post, we’ll look at a few simple things you can do to get your items ready for self-storage.
Plan and prepare
The first step is to make sure you have everything you need. Assemble all the items to be stored in one place, together with whatever packing supplies you need. Sturdy cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, strong tape and marker pens are a must, together with dust covers for any furniture pieces. All of these are available to purchase from our Box Shop.
Carefully clean and dust each item and ensure that it’s dry. This will prevent degradation and head off hazards such as mould. While you’re doing this, make an inventory. Write down every item you’re planning to put into storage and take a note of its weight and dimensions. If there are any fragile or vulnerable pieces, or anything damaged, note that down too. It’s a good idea to photograph each item and store the pictures in a dedicated folder. That way, it will be much easier to remember what you have in your store.
Start packing
Beginning with bigger and/or heavier items, wrap up each piece as appropriate with bubble wrap or clean white packing paper. Make sure any vulnerable points are well-protected and that there aren’t any loose ends or exposed edges. If you’re placing multiple items within a single box, make sure they are well padded so they can’t move around, and place sturdier and heavier pieces at the bottom. Seal each box well with tape, making sure all joins are well-supported, and label each one clearly in marker pen. It is usually best to mark the contents on the side of the box so you can easily identify them when boxes are stacked.
Once everything is neatly packed, work out roughly how much space you’re going to need to store it. Our online calculator is a good place to start if you need help, but you can also speak to a member of our team. Once you know how big your storage unit is, you can decide which boxes should go where. If you’ll be coming back to your unit to access specific items, plan to put those at the front where you can get to them easily.
Get moving
When moving your belongings from one place to another, it’s good to work on the principle that you will pick up and put down each item only once. This is especially useful for delicate or antique items that might be affected by vibration and impact as well as handling. If you know where each item is going to go in your storage unit, then you can pack it in your car or van for maximum efficiency, too.
At Clear Space, we’re here to make your life easier! If you’re looking for intuitive and flexible self-storage at an affordable price, just get in touch with our team to chat about your needs.