There’s no denying that long-term storage needs a lot of investment. You might need to store your stuff for the long term for many reasons. It’s also possible that you might store all those items for months or even years.
When you’re in such a situation, it would be a good idea to be prepared. This is why we’ve listed some tips for you to prepare your stuff for the long-term storage. So, let’s go through them here:
Make a complete assessment of the items
Before all your things go into the long-term storage, you must take some time to assess them. This assessment involves everything you want to store. It might also need some anticipation of the stuff you might be storing in the future. After you’ve determined your storage needs, the next step is to get started. You’ll need to see how much space you’ll need for storing the items.
Upon examining all your belongings, you’ll find some stuff that you can sell or donate. You’ll even come across certain items that you just need to throw away. While you assess all the stuff, you’ll realize that some of them need special environment for storage. It might involve humidity and temperature control or cushioning. Knowing such things is absolutely necessary before you move all the stuff into storage units.
Select an appropriate storage space
The next step would be to choose a location for storing all these things. For some, their property is the best place to store the stuff for a longer duration. They usually go for self storage. Regardless of where you’re living, self storage can be an excellent for saving some space. You can open up to greater possibilities on your property by moving your stuff into self storage.
Besides, the providers of self-storage offer affordable pricing plans, non-limiting contracts, and flexible financing. Some of them also have special deals for those who opt for long-term storage units. The best part of a storage unit is that your belongings are taken care of. Moving your items into a long-term storage would give you complete peace of mind. Moreover, you know that your stuff will always be accessible.
Most of the providers would be happy to answer all your queries. They’ll give you a good idea of the size of a storage unit that you might require. A good thumb rule is to choose a storage unit that has some extra space. This will help you accommodate some additional stuff you might need to store in the future.
Choose climate-controlled unit for certain items
Generally, there are two categories of storage units that you’ll get to choose. One is climate-controlled and the other is non-climate-controlled. Most of the storage units fall into the non-climate-controlled category. Such units don’t have any arrangements for humidity control or internal heating. They’re more like the outdoor utility sheds.
Each of these units will have four walls, a door, and a roof. Of course, they’re great for storing most of the stuff, but you’ll have some that might need climate control. This is especially true in case of places where humidity and temperature are constantly fluctuating. You’ll also need climate-controlled units for storage in regions with extreme temperatures and humidity.
It’s better to think of climate-controlled storage units as rooms in a modern home or apartment. They’ll have systems that keep the indoor temperature and humidity at the appropriate levels. Consumer electronics, clothes, collectibles, and medical supplies are some of the items that must be stored in climate-controlled units.
Clean the appliances
You need to make sure that the appliances that you’re moving into the storage are clean. Use a specialized solution for cleaning and scrub down the appliances. You can also use a small amount of bleach or baking soda. This will be effective in removing any residue that can lead to mildew or mold. To encourage airflow, leave the doors of your appliances slightly open before placing them in the storage.
Clean the furniture
To prevent mildew or mold on your furniture, it is extremely necessary to remove the dust and dirt on it. You can simply wipe down the furniture items, vacuum them, and apply some polish. The addition of a layer of polish would act as a seal on the wood. It’ll significantly slow down the formation of mold on your furniture items.
Cover the floor of your storage unit
The floor of your storage unit must be covered with a canvas tarp or sheet before placing your items. This would keep the stacks of boxes and all those large items from touching the floor’s dampness. It will also facilitate the flow of air in the storage unit.
Cover your furniture with white sheets of cotton
You can create a dust barrier between your furniture and other stuff by covering the items with white sheets. Using the sheets made entirely of cotton is highly recommended as they’re gentle. You must also ensure that the sheets are white. Colored sheets might bleed on your furniture items after some time.
Use sturdy boxes for packing the items
Don’t go for a flimsy cardboard for packing the items. If you’re moving them into storage units for a longer duration, use sturdy packing boxes. They’re usually made of heavy-duty, durable cardboard. You can also consider using plastic bins, but make sure that they have a small opening.
Having an opening or two in these bins encourages air flow. If you use bins of the same size, you can stack them properly and ensure maximum space.
Avoid using plastic bags
It’s somewhat tempting to wrap certain items in plastic bags, but you must resist this temptation. The reason is that plastic can trap water and leave no room for air.
Label your boxes and have a unit map
It’s highly possible that you might forget where you’ve put your stuff after a few months or years. You can save yourself from doing all the guesswork and wasting time by labeling your boxes. Making a small map and placing it at the front will help you locate the items quickly. One thing worth noting is to write everything legibly.
Consider having a storage unit insurance
You might want to have a storage unit insurance for all your stuff. This is especially helpful when you’re investing in the storage unit for many years. You can opt for monthly, bi-annual, or annual payments for such insurance policies.