A self-storage unit is a great way to keep cherished items without turning your home into a warehouse. We all have items that mean so much to us we can’t bear to part with them or items that we want to hang onto for the kids first apartment or dorm. But unless you are fond of climbing over them or really don’t want to use your garage for parking your car, they need to go someplace and a self-storage unit can be that place.
Once you know what you want to store and have selected a unit (there is a wonderful tool on Store Right’s home page to help you estimate the best for your needs), you’ll need to do a little prep work and planning to keep everything safe and protected.
First, clean the items to be stored with an appropriate cleaner. Stains will not be easier to clean after sitting for months or even years! Make sure to allow the pieces to dry thoroughly before storing because moisture can stain or damage your items.
Plan your space. Storage units can hold a lot and it is tempting to pack them to the rafters, but you need to allow for air circulation. This will help with condensation and to avoid odors. If you need to get at an item in your unit, you’ll be glad you have a little wiggle room in there.
Plastic is not necessarily your friend! While it may seem logical to cover everything in plastic to keep dust and moisture out, you may also be keeping condensation in and that equals keeping moisture in. Fragile items like framed pictures will be protected by bubble wrap, but Grandma’s antique sofa wrapped in a big plastic trap is not such a good idea. Use sheets, blankets, drop cloths or moving blankets to protect from dirt and dust.
With a little prep work and a little planning, your items will be safe and secure until you are ready for them again.
