Storage FAQ & Packing Tips

Did you know that if you lay a mattress on its side, over time it can sag and become damaged? Knowing how to store your things the right way is pretty important to ensure they stay in the best shape possible. Sure, you could just toss the mattress and forget about it, but we can assure it will take a lot more money to fix or replace ruined stuff than the time it takes to prep it and organize it right.

Items You May Need:

  • Markers
  • Labels
  • Blankets
  • Plastic wrap
  • Sandwich/zip lock bags
  • Bubble or foam wrap
  • Wood pallets
  • Duct tape
  • Hangers
  • Plastic totes
  • Cedar chips or silicone packets

Steps:

  1. Disassemble furniture as much as possible and wrap the legs of tables and beds in a blanket or foam wrap.
  2. Place screws, bolts or any hardware into a plastic bag and label the bag.
  3. Wrap mattresses in a plastic mattress bag.
  4. Wrap blankets or sheets around couches and wrap foam around any wood legs.
  5. Condition any leather items, like furniture or clothing, with a leather conditioner.
  6. Pack books on their back, not on their spine, in small boxes.
  7. Wash your dishes and wrap them in bubble or foam wrap. Pack them in boxes designed for dishware (dishpacks).
  8. Scrub the inside and outside of appliances and let them dry.
  9. Place duct tape in an ‘X’ on your mirror, wrap the corners in foam or bubble wrap, and place them inside a flat cardboard box.
  10. Disassemble your TV from the stand. Wrap a thick blanket around your television, or use foam cutouts that it came with.
  11. Wash all linens and place them inside totes with cedar chips or silicone packets.
  12. For clothing that needs to remain hung, wash them, cover them in plastic wrap, and hang them on wardrobe hangers.

Quick Tips for Storing:

  • Use a High Quality lock.
  • Place furniture and mattresses on wooden pallets (in units with concrete floors) to protect from flooding. Put plastic wrap on top of fabric-covered furniture, and blankets on top of wood furniture.
  • Don’t put the mattress on top of anything that can make it bend, or place heavy items on top of the mattress.
  • Place book boxes on the bottom of stacks, as they are the heaviest items.
  • Don’t stack heavy items on top of dishware.
  • When storing appliances, leave the doors open to prevent moisture build-up.
  • Store mirrors on their side.
  • Place your TV on top of heavier items in the back of the unit.
  • Items that are used less should go in the back of the unit.
  • Items that are more expensive should go in the back of the unit.
  • Leave a few aisles so you can easily access everything, and also leave a little bit of space between the wall and your things to allow for air to prevent moisture build-up.

Other Storage Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

DO NOT STORE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS!

Any living thing, used tires, firearms, explosives, flammables of any kind (gas, diesel, oil, paint, etc.), drugs or drug paraphernalia, stolen items, any type of hazardous items, furs, jewelry and other expensive items, perishable items of any kind, hazardous waste materials of any kind, items that produce odors or any item that will in any way impose upon other tenants.