Moving and Storage Preparations

• Hold a yard sale, give away items you will not be keeping, or have a charitable organization pick up your tax-deductible donations.
• Obtain cartons in advance. Remember that supermarket boxes sometimes tend to damage easily and odd sized boxes make stacking cartons difficult.
• Start packing early. Pack one room at a time and pack a little each day.
• Label boxes according to the rooms. Cartons containing fragile items should be clearly labeled as they are packed..
• All items should be clean and dry before packing away.
• Group together small or miscellaneous items and photograph. Tape picture to the carton so you will know the contents.
• Clean your home as you pack.

Appliances

Equipment should be cleaned and completely dry before storing. Pack small appliances in factory boxes if possible and cushion with wadded newspaper. Do not use shredded paper as it may cause damage if it gets into the machines.

Refrigerator, stove, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, and air conditioner should be packed last and loaded first on moving day. Remove fittings and accessories and pack in plastic bags. Fill interiors with linens, clothes, or stuffed toys. Moveable parts and doors should be taped or tied to secure.

Cover appliances with pads and tie with rope. Remember to move large appliances in an upright position. Be careful with external coils on the back of major appliances when moving. Do not put the hand truck strap on top of coils.

Blankets

Blankets, Comforters, and bed linens should be cleaned prior to storing. These items can be stored folded inside furniture drawers.

Beds

Disassemble and label parts for easy reassembly. Bundle bed rails together and secure with rope or tape.

Books

Pack books flat and alternate bindings to prevent possible damage to the spines. Avoid packing in the same carton with fragile items and do not overload. Keep cartons under 30 lbs.

Bicycles

See Metals

Bureaus

Fill drawers with small, fragile items such as clocks and pictures wrapped in loose clothing. To avoid damaging the finish, do not tape drawers shut. Cover with pads and secure with rope.

Clothing

Out-of-season clothing should be cleaned and stored on hangers in a wardrobe or hanging carton. Some clothing items can be stored folded inside furniture drawers.

Decorations

Retain original packaging for storage when possible. Special holiday ornaments or other delicate items should be wrapped individually with paper and positioned at the top of the packing carton. Do not stack heavy boxes or objects on top of boxes containing fragile items.

Draperies

Draperies should be cleaned and stored on hangers in a wardrobe or hanging carton. Curtains can be stored folded inside furniture drawers.

Furniture

Disassemble tables and other furnitures items to conserve storage space. Wrap with furniture pads to protect from soil and scratches. When possible, remove legs and wrap together with packing paper. Tape loose screws and other hardware which were removed to the corresponding piece of furniture.

Kitchenware Nest pots, pans, and colanders inside one another whenever possible. Cushion with newspaper between items.

Lamps, Lamp Shades Wrap in padding before storing in cartons. Shades should be packed separately from their base and wrapped in appropriate protective material. Avoid using newsprint or similar materials which could result in damage from ink/dye transfers.

Lawn Mowers

Drain gasoline and oil from all small engines.

Mattresses

Protect mattresses by leaving sheets on or use specially designed plastic covers.

Metals

To help prevent rust, rub metal items with a few drops of oil on a soft cloth before storing.

Mirrors

Store larger pieces in specially designed boxes. Smaller items can be wrapped in bubble wrap or other protective packing paper and stored in boxes with clothing or linens. All mirrors should be stored on edge and not flat.

Photographs

Do not store irreplaceable photos. Layer between pieces of cardboard to keep flat and to prevent damage.

Refrigerator & Freezer Empty and defrost refrigerator and freezer. Wipe and dry interiors and fill with linens, clothing, or stuffed toys.

Stove

See Appliances

Tools

Tools should be stored clean with metal parts wiped lightly with machine oil. Bundle long-handled tools together and secure.

Washer & Dryer

Drain water from washing machine. Wipe and dry appliance interiors. Remove fittings and accessories and pack in plastic bags. Fill interiors with linens, clothes, and stuffed toys. Stuff towels between the washing machine sides and tub to keep tub from rotating. Secure moveable parts and doors by taping or tying. (See appliances)

Windows, Window Screens

Store clean and standing on edge, not flat.

Leave a few inches of space between your items and the wall for better ventilation. We have pallets available most of the time for customers to use in their unit for ventilation underneath their goods.

Gather the things you are least likely to need during the time you are storing your belongings. Place these things in the room first.

Store heaviest items on the bottom and lighter items on the top. Place cartons so that you can read the label which lists their contents.

Place the things you are most likely to need closest to the door for easy access.

Securely latch and lock the door to your storage room when leaving!