5 Quick & Easy Self-Storage Tactics
You can’t put it off any longer: it’s finally time to stop tripping over that irritating clutter of cardboard boxes in your living room and move your packed-up possessions into storage. Procrastinating the process is easy enough to do when dropping a couple (or a couple dozen) cardboard boxes into a secure self-storage unit seems so simple – just a case of shifting something from Point A to Point B. But in reality, unpacking all of the boxes you stored days, weeks, or months before can be a messy, stressful, and infuriatingly disorganized undertaking if packing and moving is done too quickly and thoughtlessly.
Read on for five tips and tricks to avoid moving frustration and make (un)packing a quick, painless process!
- Don’t overpack large containers.
Cramming a few big boxes can seem like a busy packer’s best option, requiring fewer boxes and trips to the storage locker. But that giant box you so proudly stuffed can easily turn into an unwieldy burden that requires two or more people to move at a time – and the box might even break under the weight! Sometimes less isn’t easier; try spreading heavy items such as books or metal appliances over several smaller boxes, and don’t overfill! A comfortably-filled box will be support weight when stacked, but won’t overwhelm a mover.
- Seal and label boxes.
There’s nothing worse than cutting through tape and finding a disorganized clutter of objects to be sorted. Save yourself hours of frustration by sorting and labeling boxes by the room its contents belong in, or by the type of objects it holds. It’s good practice to put these labels on all sides of the box, and to keep an inventory list for each container. Remember to secure all open edges with a strong packing tape.
- Don’t use plastic coverings.
Plastic isn’t as safe as it’s cracked up to be; even when sealed, items in plastic wraps and containers risk attracting mildew. Instead, use cloth wraps or sealed cardboard boxes, and never pack damp or wet items into storage.
- Carefully wrap and note fragile items.
Moving is often a clumsy, difficult process, and it’s easy to drop an unwieldy or heavy box during transit. Keep your fragile items safe by carefully cushioning ceramic, glass, or other fragile materials in cloth, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts. Make sure that boxes holding high-risk contents are visibly labeled as fragile.
- Arrange boxes thoughtfully.
Store thoughtfully! Raise boxes onto pallets in order to avoid dealing with pesky mice and insects, and store lighter boxes accessibly on top of heavier ones. Always leave yourself room to move by arranging boxes around walking aisles, and maximize your storage space by placing boxes inside empty furniture such as dressers or desks. Remember that furniture often dissembles into easily moved and stored pieces which can be later reassembled.
