Common items you might want to put into storage!
There are loads of different reasons why people use self storage. Whether you’re selling up or moving home, clearing space for new gear, or want to keep your prized possessions safe while you travel or study abroad, Aabsolute self storage can provide you with a cost effective and secure solution.
So here’s a list of 10 things that are commonly placed into self storage and the best way to get them packed and ready!
Furniture Storage
Furniture can quickly accumulate in the home or office over time. If you’re anything like me, you probably like clean lines and an uncluttered existence. That doesn’t mean you need to get rid of perfectly good furniture though. By placing them into storage you can keep a stock for an office expansion, save spare sofas and armchairs for your kid’s first place when they leave the nest, or pack the winter bedding away for the summer (you can get more info on that here!).
The best way to prepare larger furniture items is to disassemble it and apply wax to wooden surfaces to protect the finish. Corners and edges should be protected with cardboard then cushioned with bubble wrap or blankets. Clean any upholstery to prevent the growth of mold and mildew while in storage. Glass surfaces should be crossed with masking tape to reduce the risk of cracking or breaking and cardboard fixed either side of the panes. Try to always store sofas and armchairs the right way up.
Electronics
We all have so many gadgets and devices in our homes these days, almost all of us upgrade and update our digital lives on an annual basis. But just because we are updating doesn’t mean we want to throw away perfectly good televisions, games consoles, stereos, computers or cabling.
If possible, the best way to store your electronic goods is to put them back into their original packaging with their associated cables and accessories. This will ensure that they are in the best possible condition when you are ready to bring them back out of storage to use them again. Don’t hang on to boxes? In that case, individually wrap each item with bubble wrap and a place them in a box with their associated cables and accessories, and include a note that lists the parts in the box and what they’re for! Be sure to pack the boxes fully and stuff empty space with packing materials to keep the boxes rigid and sturdy, especially if you plan on stacking them!
Kitchen and Laundry Appliances
Kitchen appliances can be expensive to replace, so getting rid of perfectly good ovens, stoves, fridges, freezers, washing machines and dryers can be pretty wasteful. If you have kids that will soon be moving out to university or into their first pad then it could prove cost effective and super useful to have appliances in storage and ready to go when they are needed.
Unlike the electrical goods we mentioned previously, kitchen appliances tend to be made from metal, so they are susceptible to rust. Make sure they are thoroughly cleaned AND dried before being packed and placed in storage; that means draining water from any tanks, hoses or tubing. Protect edges with cardboard or blankets and wrap with a breathable cover.
Newspapers and Magazines
Anyone who has a subscription to technical publications and newspapers know that a good collection can be an absolute treasure trove of knowledge and information. That subscription, however, means a seemingly endless accumulation of journals that take up serious amounts of space. I, for one, like an annual clear out, dispatching issues accrued in previous years to storage for safe keeping.
Some newspapers and magazines may deteriorate, even in storage, so it’s important to bag and board important articles or issues, and place them in opaque acid free containers that restrict light. Humidity and moisture is not your friend, so you maybe even want to consider climate controlled storage.
Files, Documents and Archives
It is a legal requirement for businesses to hold on to certain documentation for a certain length of time (see our article on file and documentation storage), but it can consume a huge amount of space. For small businesses, office space can be at a premium, so it can be handy to outsource document storage to a secure self storage business like Aabsolute.
Place the documents in dry airtight containers to preserve your paperwork and prevent mildew and moisture damage. Keep the boxes off the floor and store on shelving units. It’s also useful to organise and properly label your file boxes so that you can find paperwork easily if required. If you have particularly sensitive or confidential materials you may wish to consider additional security measures like safes or password protected locks.
