Packing tips for moving items into storage

Placing items into storage is an excellent idea if you move into a smaller home and cannot accommodate all your belongings.

Storage facilities are also great for temporarily storing items whilst renovating your home. To reduce the stress of moving, place your belongings into a storage facility ahead of moving day: you can remove items from your old home and store them away until you have found a place for them in your new home.

From decluttering to dealing with hazardous items, the following tips will guide you through packing up belongings for storage.

Declutter

Avoid placing unnecessary items in storage by selling your unwanted items, taking them to a charity shop or gifting them to your friends and family. Decluttering will reduce your storage costs: more items require more space which typically increases storage price.

Inventory

Create an inventory of all the items you place in storage. This will help you keep track of where your belongings are and save you from frantically searching your home for them.

Label everything

Labelling storage boxes with information about their contents and which room they belong to will save you time when unpacking the boxes. Label each side of the box to ensure this information is visible, regardless of its placement in the storage unit.

Place heavier items at the bottom of boxes

If packed incorrectly, boxes are at risk of toppling over. Place heavy items at the bottom of boxes to stabilise them. Placing heavy items below lighter items will also prevent objects from being crushed.

Protect fragile items

To avoid breakages, wrap fragile items in bubble wrap and carefully pack them into boxes: stuff gaps between items with scrunched up newspaper or packing peanuts to stabilise them. Glass objects and plates should be placed vertically in boxes to prevent any breakages. It is also a good idea to mark the outside of boxes with fragile items inside, so you know to be extra careful when handling them.

Dismantle furniture

It is challenging to place large furniture items such as beds or cupboards into storage. If possible, dismantle furniture to make transportation more manageable and the items less space-consuming to store. Once dismantled, Wrap up delicate pieces in bubble wrap to protect them. Place any screws or bolts into a sealed bag and label the bag with their corresponding piece of furniture.

Ensure to label all furniture parts so you can easily put each piece of furniture back together.

Ensure items are clean

For hygiene purposes, it is advisable to clean items before placing them in storage. Removing dust and dirt from your belongings will also ensure they look pristine when collected.

Deal with hazardous Items

Units are not likely to store hazardous items. For example, items containing fuel, such as garden equipment, must be drained.

It is a good idea to check your chosen storage facilities regulations before storing any items.

Are you looking for a storage facility? Brycelands offers non-contractual deals on storage for maximum flexibility: store your items for as little as one month or as long as you like. Our affordable storage solutions are available for customers in Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties. In addition to storage, we also offer a range of packing services, collections and redelivery options.

Arrange a free quotation or find out more information about our services by contacting us on 01462 675 555.