Long-term storage requires more planning andpreparation compared to storing short-term. You won’t be retrieving your storeditem for a long time coming, and you’d want to make sure it stays secure and ingood condition throughout. Whether you’re moving cities, travelling abroad, ordecluttering your home, a few important tips can help you avoid any nastysurprises throughout your long-term storage.
Carefully Consider What You Need to Store
Not everything is worth storing long-term.Think of other things you can do with your stuff like selling, donating, orgiving out to friends and family. You don’t want to end up paying to hoardstuff that’ll be of little or no value over the long run. Doing away withunnecessary stuff can help minimise the size of your storage space and keepyour storage unit better organised.
Clean all Items Before Storing Them
Cleaningall your items serves not only aesthetics and hygiene, but can also preserve thelifespan of your belongings. Dirt, soot, food remnants, and other debris candent your belongings permanently and leave them desecrated by pests, insects,mould, and mildew.
Whencleaning appliances and other sophisticated goods, make sure you follow themanufacturer’s cleaning instructions and use the special cleaning materialsrequired.
Use Proper Packing Materials
Thepacking materials you use can also affect the condition of your goods instorage. Some sturdy packing boxes come with decades-long durability ratingsand can protect your belongings from the elements steadfastly for years on end.Avoid plastic boxes and flimsy cardboard boxes – these are notorious forletting mould-supporting amounts of moisture into your stored belongings.
Don’t Neglect Proper Labeling and Inventorying
Labelling andinventorying makes it much easier and more convenient to use self-storage.Label all your boxes with a list of their content so you can easily see whereeach item is stored at a glance. Create an inventory list on the packing dayand update it every time you add or remove something from your unit.
Cover All Your Items Properly
Leave plastic bags slightly open if you have to usethem to promote airflow and prevent moisture from getting trapped inside them.But for sturdy cardboard boxes, keep them tightly sealed to prevent dirt anddust from settling inside. Also, cover all your furniture to protect them fromdust and debris. Breakables and frail items should be wrapped and packedseparately from other items to prevent damage.
Consider Storage Insurance
Ask your local Storage King store about Storage Insurance options.
Check up on Your Unit Frequently
Even if you’re awayfrom town, you should have your self-storage unit regularly inspected to ensureyour belongings remain in good shape. Inspecting your unit regularly also helpsyou spot problems early enough.
