Tips

Place all smaller items in uniformly sized boxes. Completely fill each box with heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top.  Uniformly sized boxes stack easier and conserve storage space.

Books - Pack books flat, not standing on end.  This will protect the spines which will bend and warp over time if stood upright.  Books are very heavy, so pack them in small boxes.  DON'T PUT BOOKS IN BOXES WITH OTHER, MORE FRAGILE, ITEMS.

Mattresses - Place mattresses in plastic covers to protect them from dust and moisture.

Leather Items - Treat leather items (couches, clothes, coats, etc.) with a leather conditioner prior to storing them. Keep furniture items off the floor by placing them on pallets.

Blankets, Draperies, & Clothing - Have blankets, draperies, and clothing cleaned prior to storing, then place them on hangers in wardrobe boxes.

Mirrors & Pictures - Store mirrors and pictures inside similarly sized knocked down boxes. This will protect them from scratches and dust.

Furniture - Place blankets over furniture to protect from scratches and dust.

Photographs - Photographs tend to curl over time.  To keep them flat, place between pieces of cardboard and tape them together. DO NOT STORE IRREPLACEABLE PHOTOGRAPHS.

Photographs and negatives take up very little space. Try to keep these items with you or choose a climate-controlled unit.

Breakable Items - Wrap breakable items inside bubble wrap and store with linens.

Dishes & Glassware - Store in specially made boxes called Dishpacks.

Pillows & Toys - Store small items like this in large plastic bags.

Label boxed items. You'll know what is in each box without opening it.

Appliances - Clean and dry all appliances prior to storage. DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING INSIDE OF APPLIANCES TO BE STORED. Store all appliances upright with doors ajar to allow ventilation.

DO NOT STORES THESE ITEMS - furs, jewelry, irreplaceable items, any living thing, used tires, firearms, explosives, flammables of any kind (gas, diesel, oil, paint, etc.), drugs or drug paraphernalia, stolen items, any type of hazardous items, perishable items, hazardous waste.

Suggestions on Organizing Your Storage Unit

Leave a small airspace between your stored items and the walls of your storage unit for ventilation.

Store items that will not be needed to the rear of the unit.

Store items that you will need toward the front of the unit.

Store heavy items on the bottom.

Store lightweight items on top.

Store smaller, more valuable, items to the rear of the unit.

Store larger items toward the front of the unit.

Pack your storage unit as tightly as possible. Tighter packing helps to protect stored items from dust and reduces the space needed to store your property.

Use a high quality padlock to secure your storage unit.