Packing Tips

Packing your belongings into the minimum space possible is an art. We at Store4sure have been doing it for many years and have listed the following hints to help you get the best use of your space.

Although most storage spaces are over 8’ 0” in height it can be difficult or dangerous to stack items to the maximum permitted height without damaging yourself or your belongings without the help from a second pair of hands.

Large bulky items of furniture such as wardrobes, Beds, Mattresses and flat pack furniture etc can be placed against the side and back walls of your storage room before heavier items such as washing machines and fridges etc are placed in front to prevent them from falling over. (If you are considering using a containerized storage company to store your furniture, leaning items against the sides is not permitted and you should look closely at the small print damage/ventilation disclaimer of these companies).

Fridges, Cookers, Freezers and Washing Machines etc should be disconnected well before transporting them and should be thoroughly cleaned and drained of any water before storing them. Make sure that Fridge & Freezer doors are left slightly open whilst in storage otherwise they will begin to smell and mould will grow inside which will damage them.

Large items of flat pack furniture should if at all possible be dismantled and all fittings and screws placed into a seal top bag and taped to the item to prevent losing them. If you don’t have the original assembly instructions it may be advisable to make a simple line diagram to remind you how it should go back together. Remember that some items of flat pack furniture are very heavy but are also easily damaged so be careful not to wrap too many sections together or they may become too heavy and cause an injury when lifted or moved. Smaller sections of a dismantled unit could be placed inside a wardrobe or chest of drawers before other items are placed in front of them.

For items that you intend to box, make sure you only use boxes that stack neatly together and can be sealed to prevent collapse or deterioration of the contents. Remember, if the box is too full and is not able to be sealed then it won’t stack safely. Clearly label all boxes to identify the contents to prevent unnecessary hunting for lost or misplaced items at a later stage. For items of glassware it is advised that each item is wrapped separately with tissue paper or bubble wrap and placed in a strong box that can withstand any rough handling or knocks. Do not use too large a box, as these become very heavy and the contents may get damaged whilst trying to position them. Smaller items such as books, video tapes and CD’s etc can also weigh very heavy so be careful not to pack too many into one box. Smaller boxes are always better for storage and handling as you can often fit them around other larger items or inside wardrobes and thus save space.

Softer items like towels, sheets, blankets or quilts etc should be placed inside a good quality plastic bag or bin liner. Vacuum bags with the air removed are particularly useful for this purpose as they help to keep the items clean and damp free and will save space. Remember that some of these items may be required to cover pieces of furniture that you don’t wish to get scratched, so keep them accessible until the very end as they can easily be placed on top of the other items if they are not needed.

Bulky items such as bicycles, lawnmowers and children’s toys etc should if possible be wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent damage to other items that are in storage.

A General Rule for safe storage. If it can be boxed - It should be boxed.

Paper work will deteriorate very quickly if not stored correctly. Try to use proper archive boxes or files when storing sensitive material. Label all boxes with contents and dates of items enclosed. Moisture absorbing crystal sachets will help prevent damp or condensation from damaging important papers.

If large quantities of boxes are stored, stack them with oldest files at the bottom or to the back of the stack.