subject: Store Items Like A Pro [print this page] Moving your items into a storage unit can be a great way to ensure that you have plenty of space in your home, as you will no longer be cluttering up your house with items that are better stored. You may find that using a storage unit can be the best way to keep your home clean and free of clutter, and it is important that you learn how to pack your storage items efficiently to use as little space as possible inside your storage unit.
The first thing to do is to think about what you are going to pack. Determine which items you are going to pack in boxes, and which items can be stored without being packed. Once you have determined what items will be stored, you will need to divide the various items into categories to ensure that like items are all packed into the same boxes.
Something to keep in mind as you are packing is that items that are very heavy should always go on the bottom, whether on the bottom of the box or the bottom of the stack. Make sure that the heavy boxes are sturdy and filled with items that will not break easily. Books provide the best foundation for your stack of boxes, and you will find that a few boxes of books placed on the floor will give you a good base for stacking the rest of your items on.
Once all of your boxes are packed, it's time to choose your storage unit. Be certain to consider carefully the amount of items that you are going to be storing, as you will need to add extra space to ensure that you can easily get at your items once they are all stored inside your self storage unit. Consider the amount of boxes you have, estimate the amount of space they will need, and add some extra space to that figure to determine the correct size of the unit you will need.
Packing is important, especially if you are planning to leave your items in your self storage unit for a long time. While study cardboard boxes are good for packing, you will find that using plastic packing crates can be the best. Not only will these packing crates last longer, they will be stronger, more difficult for water and humidity to damage, and will stack easier.
Make sure that any items you don't want damages are placed in plastic bags. Concrete and prefabricated storage units without climate control tend to be very humid, and you may find that your possessions are damaged after a few months of sitting in the dark, damp environment. If you wrap your important cloth, wool, and fabric items in a plastic bag or plastic wrap, you can keep them from getting damaged by the moisture in the air.
Newspaper is a popular wrapping for fragile and breakable items, but the downside of newspaper is that it tends to fall apart with the humidity. If you want the best wrapping material, plastic bubble wrap is the secret to success. Not only will the bubble wrap provide additional protection for the breakable items that you want to keep intact, but it cannot be damaged by moisture and will not decay or fall apart.
