Packing and Storage Tips

Planning your storage space can save you time and money. Here are some helpful tips to help store your items safely and efficiently in order to maximize the utility of your storage space.

Tips for Planning your Storage Space

It is against the law to store materials that are HAZARDOUS or COMBUSTIBLE, such as gas, solvents, paint, etc. If you are storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn mowers and cars etc, we ask that you drain the fuel and oil.
Make a list of items that you think you will need to access most often, group these things together, and store them close to the front of your storage unit. In addition, make an inventory of your stored items and keep it in a safe place.
Completely fill your boxes.
Place bulky or heavy items in the unit first to provide a good stacking base.
Pictures and Mirrors should be wrapped in mirror crates and marked "Fragile" and stacked on end.
Fill anything hollow such as wardrobes, drawers, washing machines, and refrigerators with small boxes and other small items to maximize your available space.
Larger Appliances make excellent packing cases for linen and clothing.
Remove the legs from tables if possible to save space.
Sofas, Couches, Sleepers, and Loveseats should be covered with a waterproof cover and stored on end. Remove cushions, cover in plastic and store on top.
When storing mattresses on end make sure they are firmly braced to stand up straight to prevent them from bending out of shape.
Some items should be temperature regulated, such as; antiques, artwork, leather furniture and pianos; our climate controlled storage units are perfect for these items.
We rent or sell shelving for your storage unit to help you organize and make it easier for your to access items.

Tips on Packing Boxes

Use good quality storage boxes.
Pack heavy items into small size boxes so that they are easy to lift.
Try to keep your boxes of uniform sizes, so they many be stacked easier.
Pack books flat, not standing on end (which may cause damage to the spines). Books are heavy so don’t pack too many in one box or with any fragile items.
Label and number your boxes for easy reference when you need to access your goods.
Pack clothing in specially designed wardrobe boxes to help them maintain their shape.

Tips on Wrapping and Covering Items

Protect any fragile items with bubble wrap. Dishes and Glassware should be individually wrapped in packing paper and placed in a dish pack box. Be sure to place all fragile items on the top.
Protect mattresses with specially designed plastic covers.
Mirrors and pictures should be wrapped, marked fragile, and stacked on their end.
Before storing Leather couches or jackets treat with a leather conditioner and protect them with plastic covers.
Photos- old photos tend to curl over time. To keep them flat, place them between two pieces of cardboard and tape them together. Do not store irreplaceable photos. Negatives take up little space. You may want to consider keeping them with you.
Upholstered furniture items need a cover to protect from dust and moisture.

Premiere Self-Storage stocks a wide variety of packing supplies to help make storage of your items easy and cost efficient; we are your one-stop shop! Please visit our Packing Supplies page to see a full list of the packing items we have available.

To help you determine what size storage unit you need please visit our Storage Facilities page.