Storage Tips

Storage hints and tips

HINTS AND TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SELF STORAGE

1. PLAN YOUR STORAGE AREA OUT TO ALLOW EFFECTIVE USE OF THE SPACE AND EASY ACCESS TO ANY ITEMS YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO NEED.

2. KEEP AN INVENTORY OF YOUR STORED ITEMS AND A PLAN OF WHAT IS STORED AND WHERE. STORE LARGE ITEMS FIRST, AND IF POSSIBLE LEAVE A SMALL GANGWAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE TO ALLOW BETTER ACCESS TO MORE OF YOUR GOODS AT ANY ONE TIME.

3. USE GOOD QUALITY CRATES, BOXES & PACKING MATERIALS. CARDBOARD BOX STRENGTH CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME CAUSING HEAVILY STACKED BOXES TO TIP. FOR THIS REASON WE HIGHLY RECOMEND THE USE OF STURDY PURPOSE MADE PLASTIC BOXES WITH SEALED LIDS. USE SIMILAR SIZE BOXES WHERE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL ENABLE EASIER STACKING AND THUS MAKE BETTER USE OF THE HEIGHT IN YOUR STORAGE AREA.

4. BOX, PACK AND WRAP EVERYTHING YOU CAN, AND WHERE POSSIBLE FILL BOXES TO CAPACITY TO AVOID BREAKAGES. PACKING MATERIAL SUCH AS BUBBLE WRAP IS IDEAL FOR PLACING AROUND ITEMS IN BOXES TO AVOID UNECESSARY DAMAGE.

5. CLEARLY LABEL BOXES OF CONTENTS AND MAKE SURE THE LABEL CAN BE SEEN ONCE THE BOXES ARE STACKED IN STORAGE. THIS SIMPLE TIP CAN SAVE CONSIDERABLE TIME AND FRUSTRATION WHEN TRYING TO FIND ITEMS AT A LATER DATE.

6. MIRRORS, PICTURES AND FRAGILE ITEMS OF THIS NATURE SHOULD BE INDIVIDUALLY COVERED WITH BUBBLE WRAP OR SIMILAR AND STORED ON END. IT IS BEST NOT TO STORE THESE FLAT AS BREAKAGE AND DAMAGE CAN OCCUR MORE EASILY.

7. UPHOLSTERED PRODUCTS SUCH AS SOFAS AND MATTRESSES SHOULD BE WRAPPED AND THEN COVERED WITH APPROPRIATE STORAGE DUST SHEETING FOR ADDITIONAL PROTECTION. IT IS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO SHEET IN BETWEEN STORED BULKY ITEMS TOO, AS THIS WILL ALSO STOP SURFACE SCRATCHING AND DAMAGE.

8. STORAGE SPACE WILL BE SAVED IF LARGE ITEMS CAN BE DIS-MANTLED. ANY PIECES SHOULD BE PACKED, COVERED AND STORED TOGETHER. MAKE SURE ALL SCREWS AND FIXINGS ARE RETAINED FOR REASSEMBLY LATER.

9. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STORE CHAIRS SEAT TO SEAT TO SAVE SPACE. CHAIR LEGS SHOULD WRAPPED TO AVOID KNOCKS AND BANGS THAT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE.

10. WOODEN FURNITURE SHOULD BE TREATED WITH A GOOD QUALITY POLISH BEFORE BEING STORED AND COVERED FOR ADDITIONAL PROTECTION.

11. LEATHER GOODS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH A LEATHER CONDITIONER BEFORE BEING WRAPPED AND COVERED.

12. ANY ITEMS THAT YOU INTEND TO STORE WITH FUEL TANKS MUST BE FIRST DRAINED OF ANY PETROL/DIESEL ETC.

13. ALL ELECTRICAL ITEMS SUCH AS TELEVISIONS, COMPUTERS ETC SHOULD BE STORED IN THEIR ORIGINAL SHIPPING CARTON. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE THEN A SIMILAR SIZED BOX OR CONTAINER SHOULD BE USED WITH AMPLE BUBBLE WRAP TO AVOID BREAKAGE.

14. USE WARDROBE BOXES TO STORE CLOTHING. THIS ENSURES GOOD PROTECTION AND PREVENTS CREASING.

15. NEVER STORE WET ITEMS AS THIS WILL CAUSE WATER DAMAGE, MOULD AND MILDEW IN THE STORAGE FACILITY.

16. DOMESTIC APPLIANCES SUCH AS FRIDGES, FREEZERS, WASHING MACHINES AND DISHWASHERS ETC SHOULD BE EMPTIED OF ALL CONTENTS, DEFROSTED, COMPLETELY DRAINED AND DRIED BEFORE PUTTING INTO STORAGE. ONCE IN STORAGE IT IS ADVISED THAT THE DOORS SHOULD BE LEFT SLIGHTLY AJAR TO AVOID THE BUILD UP OF UNPLEASENT ODOURS INSIDE THEM.

17. NO FOOD SHOULD BE STORED UNLESS IT IS IN FACTORY SEALED TINS AND CANS ONLY.