// FROM ANDREW
Storage tips.
37 years of them.
Pack a unit right and your stuff comes out the way it went in. Here's what Andrew has learned watching folks move in and out for almost four decades.
// LOADING THE UNIT
Pack tight, pack smart.
- Rent the smallest space you actually need, then pack it tight.
- A box for everything, and everything in a box. Use uniform sizes and stack to shoulder height.
- Lay plastic on the floor and run it a few inches up the walls before loading in.
- Leave a small air gap between your goods and the unit walls.
- Light, small items go to the back. Big, heavy items go in last.
- Never set heavy or sharp items on top of upholstered furniture.
- Cover mattresses, sofas, and chairs with plastic covers.
- Tarp the whole load with a light plastic cover when you're done.
- Use a good quality lock — cheap locks rust.
- Insure your stored goods. Ask Andrew about affordable self-storage insurance.
- Keep a written list (and photos) of everything you've stored.
// PACKING GUIDE
A-to-Z packing tips.
Start a couple of days early
Careful packing prevents breakage and gives you time to weed out anything you don't actually want to store.
Have the right supplies
Sturdy corrugated cartons, packing paper, sealing tape, and a marker. That's most of the battle.
Appliances
Tape doors shut for the move, then wedge them open in storage. Secure moving parts with paper. Wrap in pads. Freezers, fridges, washers, and dryers make excellent packing cartons for bedding and clothing. Clean stoves before moving and give utility companies a few days' notice to disconnect.
Beds
Lash bed rails together with rope or tape. Mark every piece so you know which goes with which headboard. Cover mattresses to keep them clean.
Books
Books get heavy fast. Pack in small cartons under 30 lbs. Line with plastic (a garbage bag works) and fill empty space with paper.
Bureaus
Use bureau drawers as extra packing boxes. Sweaters, blankets, and towels make great padding for small fragile items inside.
Cartons
Keep every carton under 30 lbs. List the contents on the side with a marker. For load planning, multiply L × W × H of each carton.
Chairs
Wrap chair legs in packing paper. Leave slipcovers on upholstered chairs and add a plastic cover over the top.
Clothing
Hanging clothes belong in a wardrobe carton — they'll come out of storage ready to wear.
Dishes
Wrap each dish in packing tissue, then cushion the carton with crumpled paper. Keep dish boxes under 30 lbs.
Glasses
Wrap with tissue and pad with crumpled paper, just like dishes.
Lamps
Pack shades in their own boxes with plenty of paper. Lamp bases ride securely in bureau drawers, freezers, and washing machines — pad well with towels and blankets.
// WHAT TO STORE
Goes great in a unit.
- Furniture, mattresses, and household goods
- Seasonal items — holiday decor, lawn equipment, snow gear
- Business inventory, files, and equipment
- RVs, trailers, boats (outdoor spaces — just text Andrew)
- Tools and shop equipment (drain fuel first)
- Sealed boxes of clothing, books, kitchenware
// WHAT NOT TO STORE
Please leave these out.
- Gasoline, propane, or any flammable liquids
- Old paint, cleaning fluids, or solvents
- Food in open containers — anything that attracts pests
- Live plants or animals
- Anything illegal, stolen, or hazardous
- Running passenger vehicles (we're not a car-storage facility)
Questions on packing? Text Andrew.