Your Helpful Guide to Self Storage

Specific self storage tips for some of the most commonly stored items:

Appliances: A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and stored with its door slightly ajar. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances. Boxes can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators, and freezers. Make sure that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.

Furniture: Place a pallet, corrugated cardboard mat, or plastic sheet on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Dissemble beds and tables and wrap table legs in paper. If a table will not dissemble, place padding on the floor and place the table on its top with the legs pointing up. Use dresser tops for stacking cartons and dresser drawers for linens or small, delicate items. Keep upholstery off the floor. Most lightweight chairs can be stacked “seat to seat” or placed upside down on tables which cannot be disassembled. Finally, place a light cotton (e.g. a bedsheet) dust cover on your furniture

Holiday Decorations: Save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments. Pad the ornaments with packing paper or newsprint. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing paper.

Lamps: Wrap large lamp bases in padding, wrap smaller lamps then place them in boxes. Pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamp shades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items on cartons containing lamps or lamp shades.

Tools: Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust. Long handled tools such as rakes, shovels and hoes should be clean, lightly oiled and tied in bundles.