Professional Packing Tips To Eliminate Self-Storage Item Damage

If you are using a self-storage unit for the first time, then there are some special things you can do while packing that can help preserve the items you are placing into your storage unit. To ensure that all of your items leave your self-storage unit in the same condition that they arrived, follow these professional packing tips:

Clean and Dry All Appliances Prior to Storage

Before moving any large appliances into your storage unit, take the extra time to clean them -- inside and out. Wipe down all exterior surfaces with a mixture of:

• 1 cup of chlorine bleach
• 1 gallon of water

You can put this solution in a squirt bottle for ease of use. Simply spray down your appliances and dry with a clean rag or towel. The bleach will remove any bacteria living on the appliances' surfaces and will reduce any smells they develop as the appliances sit in storage.

Additionally, you need to deep clean the interior surfaces of the following appliances as well:

• freezers
• refrigerators
• washing machines

To eliminate the possibility of moisture entering into your unit, you should wash and dry all appliances at least 48 hours before moving them into your unit. Additionally, you should prop open the doors while these items are in storage. This will prevent them from developing an offensive odor during storage. You can also add a box of baking soda into each appliance to help them stay fresh.

Use "End Roll" Newspaper

Newspapers are printed on newsprint paper that arrives at the printer in large rolls. As the newspapers are being printed at your local newspaper's print shop, the roll of paper is exchanged with a new roll well before it has run out of paper. This is done to ensure that the machine does not run out of paper in the middle of a print run. The ends of the unused newsprint paper are known as "end rolls."

By visiting the office of your local newspaper, you can purchase end rolls of newsprint for a very low price. This is the absolute best paper you can use to wrap items you are moving into storage. The paper fibers are as absorbent as newspaper, but since the paper has not been printed yet there is no ink to rub off onto your belongings.

Final Thoughts

Using these packing tips, you can prevent any of your items from becoming damaged during their time in storage. If you have additional questions about how to best store items in your mini storage unit, speak to the staff at your self-storage facility. They will be happy to help you!