9 Long-Term Storage Packing Tips
Protecting your belongings for long-term storage ensures they stay in the same great condition as the day you left them. If you're investing in long-term storage solutions, you should be aware of the potential issues your belongings may have to contend with, such as dust, humidity, and mold.
Keep reading to learn how to pack for long-term storage to protect your valuable belongings.
1. Assess Your Belongings
Before you start packing for long-term storage, you should make a list of all your items and determine how large of a storage unit you need. Additionally, you can group items together to ensure they have the proper packaging and wrapping to protect them.
2. Research Long Term Storage Options
Before you decide to rent a long-term storage unit, you should research all your options. For example, if you have art, books, or fragile items, you may want to find long-term storage solutions with climate control instead of leaving them to deteriorate in the high humidity of summer. Additionally, you should choose a storage unit location that's convenient for you so you won't have to worry about a long drive after work the next time you need to pull something out of long-term storage.
Need help figuring out the right size storage unit for your needs? Read our storage unit size guide.
3. Choose Between Climate-Controlled and Non-Climate Controlled Storage
As we've mentioned, climate-controlled units are ideal for some types of storage belongings, such as electronics, clothing, medical supplies, antiques, artwork, and books. In addition, since you're looking into long-term storage solutions, climate control might be a good option to ensure your items are protected from variations in temperature and humidity.
4. Clean Your Items
Always clean your belongings before storing them to remove dirt that can transfer to other items in long-term storage. Additionally, cleaning your belongings can help them last longer and stay safe from mold and mildew.
It's especially important to clean clothing and furniture before storage because small dust and dirt particles can attract insects and lead to permanent stains and discoloration. Whenever possible, try to dry clean your clothing before storage to prevent stains from setting in. Additionally, you should store clothing in plastic bins that can prevent them from damage. One item that you should make sure to protect is mattresses due to how expensive they can be, it’s important to keep them covered so that they do not get mold. If you’re looking for a mattress protector for your storage unit, our offices have mattress covers & other supplies for sale.
5. Protect Furniture
If you're planning to store furniture long term, we can't stress enough the importance of wrapping it in plastic to protect it from dirt and dust. A few ways to ensure your furniture looks and feels just as comfortable after long-term storage include the following:
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Clean and dry furniture before storage: Cleaning any dirt and crumbs from your furniture can help it last while it's being stored long-term. Additionally, if you plan to use upholstery cleaning, it's crucial you let it dry before storage to prevent mold and mildew.
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Disassemble furniture: Dissembling any furniture can help save space in your storage unit while preventing it from getting damaged when you add more items.
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Wrap furniture: Always wrap your furniture in plastic to protect it from dust and moisture while in long-term storage.
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Opt for climate control: Storing furniture in a climate-controlled unit is usually best because it can prevent mold and mildew growth that can happen in a humid environment.
6. Create a Labeling System
One of the best packing tips for long-term storage we can give you is to create a labeling system so you can keep track of your items. You can create a labeling system by writing down all the items you plan to store long-term and making notes about their position in the storage unit, or use an online spreadsheet for easy organization and accessibility. If you have boxes, you can color-code them and write the names of the items on the front of the box.
7. Store Heavy Items at the Bottom
Always store heavy items on the bottom when packing for long-term storage, especially if you're using shelves. Keeping heavy belongings on the bottom can prevent the shelves from tipping or collapsing to protect all your belongings being stored. Plan to keep your heaviest items on the bottom and the lightest items on top. The same concept applies if you don't use shelves. For example, if you plan on stacking a bunch of boxes, you should put the heaviest on the bottom to serve as the foundation for the others.
8. Use Shelves
Shelves can make your long-term storage unit more organized to help you find your belongings when you need them. They also allow you to maximize the space while keeping your valuable belongings off the ground. With shelves, you can increase your floor space for large pieces of furniture or give yourself more room to walk around.
9. Seal Boxes Tightly
Securing your boxes is one of the most important storage unit packing tips because it can ensure everything inside the boxes stays safe while you're carrying them. Tape your boxes several times to reinforce them, and never use damaged boxes that may break.
Preparing for Long-Term Storage
Learning how to pack for long-term storage is easy, but it can take time. The most important thing you can do is make a list of all the items you plan to store long-term and create a labeling system so you can easily find items in your unit.
Looking for long-term storage solutions? Rent a storage unit from Key Storage today by browsing our available units near you online. We're a family-owned business with a focus on our community and superior customer service to ensure your belongings are protected and secure.
