Planning on jetting off for a holiday? Or perhaps you’re simply downsizing your home? Whatever the reason, long-term self storage is fast becoming the most popular choice for those who want to safely store their valuable possessions for a lengthy period of time.
Long-term storage is a great option to keep your belongings safe and mind at ease, although there are further precautionary steps you can take before storing your items long term. Today, we share some tips to ensure your belongings remain in the same condition as the day you first placed them in storage.
Use Sturdy Boxes
Using new cardboard boxes or airtight plastic bins is one of the best ways you can ensure smaller belongings stay intact and out of harm’s way from the likes of moisture, bugs, or mould.
Not only that, but older boxes are also susceptible to breaking and therefore pose a risk to further damage to your items. Before you start packing them, be sure to check your boxes and replace any old, damaged boxes with clean new ones.
Fragile Items
Be sure that all fragile items, such as china or glassware, are wrapped up individually in bubble wrap, newspapers, old bed sheets or packing foam. Carefully fill each box, placing the heaviest items at the bottom and fill in all empty spaces; empty space allows movement which increases the likelihood of breakage to occur.
Finally, make sure you label all boxes that contain your delicate items. This should be displayed on every side of the box, with additional arrows indicating which side up the box must be placed.
Check For Moisture
While it’s important to avoid moisture coming in from an outside source, you must be equally as cautious of moisture coming from within.
Before packing, it’s essential to thoroughly check all items for any sign of moisture, mould or dampness before packing them away. Clothes, books, tools – basically anything that has the potential to rot or rust must be checked. Even the slightest sign of dampness has the potential to cause irreparable damage in the long-run.
Check For Pests
As you’re checking for moisture, also keep a watchful eye out for any insects present – especially amongst clothes and furniture. If you see any bugs present or have reason to believe there are bugs present, make sure you spray the items with insecticide before storage.
They may only be small, but long-term storage can be a haven for bugs to breed and spread throughout all your belongings. If something is infested with insects, we consider throwing it out.
Contact Moor Room
Self-storage is a great option to keep your valuables safe for a long period of time. Be sure to check out the Moor Store today for all packing essentials to keep your belongings safe in storage.
If you’re still feeling unsure about what to do before your big move, our team has the knowledge and experience to put your mind at ease. Feel free to call one of our five convenient locations or message us online today!
