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There are a number of reasons why you might need to store some of your personal possessions for a long period of time. Whether you’re going away for work, or changing your living situation, there are a handful of considerations to make. Simply dropping your belongings into a storage unit isn’t the ideal scenario. You need to spend plenty of time preparing your belongings for their extended stay. A reliable removal company can transport your items to your chosen unit, but you need to know how to pack, clean and store your items so that they remain in good condition whilst you’re away. Let’s explore how you can prepare your belongings for an extended stay in storage; they’re simple to follow, convenient and affordable too!
Be Thorough With Cleaning and Preparation
Before you start organising and packing up your belongings, you need to make sure everything is in a clean and tidy state to begin with. Giving everything a thorough clean now will prevent stains, dirt, debris and odors from setting in whilst in storage. Wash your fabrics, wipe furniture and ensure everything is fully dry before you start packing it away.
If you’re storing larger items such as furniture, it’s a good idea to disassemble them now so that you have more space. Label your screws, nails and keep hold of assembly instructions for a later date. Take a picture of them if you’re worried about losing them! As long as all of your furniture is clean and ready to be packed up, it will remain in good condition whilst in storage.
Gather Your Packing Supplies
Using new packing supplies is very important, as you want to make sure they’re sturdy, safe and free from damage. Although you might be tempted to rummage in your loft for old boxes, you want to use high quality boxes that are going to keep your items fully covered and protected. Some of the key packing items you will need include:
-Sturdy cardboard boxes
-Strong tape
-Packing paper
-Bubble wrap
-Foam protection
With all of these necessary packing items at hand, you’ll have everything you need to get started with storing your items.
Why Choose Cardboard Boxes?
You may be wondering why cardboard boxes are generally the best option when it comes to long term storage. This is because they are breathable and allow your belongings to sit in an airy environment. Reaching for a plastic bin bag might seem like a quick and easy storage solution, but this might cause damage to your belongings. Plastic can trap air and moisture which tends to encourage mold and mildew to grow. If you’re looking to keep your items fresh and in good condition, opt for packing supplies that allow good air circulation.
Be Organised Today and Future You Will Be Thankful!
Your number one goal might be to get your packing over and done with quickly, but your future self won’t thank you for being disorganised in your approach. Make sure you leave plenty of time to spare when it comes to packing as it will ensure that all of your boxes are as orderly as possible.
Labelling each of your boxes as you go, and putting similar items into each box will help to keep the process organised. This means that all of your belongings will be easy to identify when you’re unpacking your belongings in the future.
If you have any particularly fragile items inside your boxes, make sure you label them as such so that your removals company, or family knows to handle these items with care. Meticulously labelled boxes with a short description on the outside will be easier to locate at a later date. It may be that you need to access one particular item before you unpack the entire group of boxes; with an organised labelling system this is easy to do achieve.
Top Tips for Cardboard Box Packing
When placing your items into the relevant cardboard boxes, you should always place the heavier items at the bottom so that it creates a stable base. Place the most fragile items at the top and fill in any gaps with foam or packing material to make sure they don’t move around whilst in transit.
Use bubble wrap to cover up breakable items such as vases, crockery, glassware and picture frames and carefully pile them on top of each other without packing them in too tight. If you’re packing clothing or fabrics, vacuum seal them after laundering to keep them fresh whilst in storage.
When it comes to stacking your boxes, make sure that the heaviest boxes are placed at the bottom of the pile, and the boxes containing the more fragile contents should be at the top of the pile.
Research Reputable Storage Units
Now that you have packed up your items strategically, it’s important to use a reputable storage unit for your belongings. Finding a place that is climate controlled, easily accessible and tight on security will give you peace of mind that your stuff is in the best place possible.
You may need to visit local storage units to ensure you’ve got enough space for all of your boxes and other packing supplies. Luckily, there are many flexible options available to people looking for long-term rentals, so you’ll be able to find something that suits your needs and budget.
Use Professional Removals
When moving your belongings from one place to another, you want to feel confident that everything is in safe hands. Looking into tailored pre-move surveys can not only help you to gauge how much storage space you’ll need for your belongings, but it can also allow you to perfectly plan your relocation. You may even want to allow the professionals to step in and carefully pack and handle your belongings for you. Knowing how to prepare your belongings, choose the right storage space and transport them safely to the new location will ensure that all of your possessions are as safe as possible.
Long-Term Storage: Final Takeaways
When you take all of these steps into consideration, you will have everything you need to store your belongings in a safe place for a long period of time. Cleaning your items beforehand, using the correct packing supplies and working alongside a trusted removals company will help you to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
By following these methods you can have peace of mind that all of your personal possessions are kept safe, organised and in good condition whilst you aren’t around. When the time comes for you to collect your items, you’ll have a methodical system that is easy to decipher, unpack and move back into your property again!
