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Packing & Storage Tips

List of General Packing Tips

 

  • The better you pack your personal items, the better condition they will be in when you unpack them.
     

  • Get a big enough storage unit so you can leave a walkway to get to things in the back when you need them. You don't want to have to move half your things out in order to get to something in the back.
     

  • If you choose cardboard boxes for storage, use clean, new ones to pack your possessions. Old cardboard can be a breeding ground for insects that you don't want to be mixed in with your possessions, and damp cardboard can mildew.
     

  • We highly recommend plastic bins for storage. They allow you to see what is inside, and, if packed and stacked well, they won't collapse or mildew. At GoldKey Storage, we provide new boxes in all the right sizes to meet your moving and storage needs.
     

  • Use empty drawers in any furniture you may be storing to pack away knick-knacks and other small items.
     

  • It really helps to label boxes so you know what is in them later.
     

  • DO NOT pack heavy items together in one large box. It will likely be too heavy to lift.

 

 

Pack your Storage Space Carefully

 

Packing and stacking carefully and efficiently will minimize the amount of space you'll need and prevent damage. Place frequently used items near the door and valuables in the rear of the unit.

 

Pack heavy items in small boxes to make them easier to carry and place them on the bottom of stacks to prevent any damage to your belongings. Try to leave room to get to the back of the unit in case you need items stored there.

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Packing Tips for Specific Items

 

Books and Documents
Pack books flat to protect their spines. Use packing materials, old shirts, clean towels, or newspapers to fill out voids in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box as books and don't overload.

 

Appliances
We recommend cleaning food residue off stoves and other appliances before storing them. Refrigerators and freezers should be thoroughly dry and stored with doors slightly ajar. Some things can also be stored inside and on top of large appliances.

 

Bicycles and other metal items
Wipe metal parts with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust.

 

Bedding, clothing, curtains, drapes, and linens
Clothes, curtains, and drapes are best stored on hangers. If the items cannot be hung, they should be carefully folded and stored in cedar chests, dresser drawers, or cardboard cartons along with bedding and linens.

Packing Boxes In The Kitchen

Dishes and glassware
Place a layer of padding inside the bottom and at the top of boxes containing dishes and glassware. Ideally, these items should be stored in a specifically designed dish pack box.

 

All glass items should be individually wrapped and placed near the top of cartons. Nest cups and bowls and stand plates, saucers, and platters on edge.

 

Fill all pockets with packing materials. Label boxes containing dishes and glassware, and do not place heavy items on top of them.

 

Furniture
Some furniture legs can easily be removed from many tables so they take up less space. Wrap table legs in paper or old towels to protect them. Stand sofas and mattresses on end, but keep upholstery off the floor.

 

Most lightweight chairs can be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables that cannot be disassembled. Finally, place a light cotton dust cover (e.g., a bed sheet) over your furniture — or dust covers can be purchased in our store.

 

Holiday decorations
If possible, save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing paper or newsprint. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing them in a carton to keep them from getting tangled.

 

Lamps
Wrap large lamps and place them in boxes and pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newspapers to wrap lamp shades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains.

 

Mirrors, windows, and screens
Store these items on edge, not flat.

 

Tools
Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust. Long-handled tools such as rakes, shovels, and hoes should be clean, lightly oiled, and tied in bundles.

 

Insure Your Possessions in Storage
The items you place in storage are your sole responsibility. Check with your insurance carrier to see if your homeowner's or renter's insurance covers items in storage. They are not insured by GoldKey Storage, although we do offer storage insurance through a third-party company for a nominal cost. Remember, if it's worth storing, it's worth insuring.

 

Prohibited Storage Goods
Common sense and state laws determine what may be stored. You alone control access to your storage space. Therefore, never store live animals, perishables, liquids, explosives, flammable liquids and fuels, toxic materials, or other items that need a controlled environment. We require you to drain the fuel from gasoline engines before storing them in one of our units.

 

Organize your Storage

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to find something in a disorganized room. Here at GoldKey, we don't want your storage experience to be stressful. So we put together a couple of storage packing steps to help you find your things easier.

 

Use the space we give you

Whether it’s a 5x5 unit or a 10x20, all of our units have a minimum eight-foot ceiling. 

 

Stacking your boxes is key. There are a few ways to go about this; you can start with the heaviest items on the bottom; or you can categorize them by stacking all the heavy items together, the medium weight/sized items together & the lightest on top.

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If most of your boxes and other items are small, plastic shelving such as this will let you take advantage of more vertical space.

 

Aisles are key

Opening up your unit and having to dig your way to the item you want is not a pleasant experience. 
We recommend keeping at least a two-foot-wide aisle in your unit so you have easy accessibility. On each side of the aisle, stack your items no more than four feet deep. 

 

Conserve your space

Put your couches on end & collapse your table. Put loose things inside your dresser drawers. 

 

Label your boxes

It is inevitable, you tell yourself, "I will remember" but days pass, even weeks, and the inventory of that box fades away from your memory.

 

Labeling is a must.  You may now be thinking to yourself,  "that just takes too long, I just want to get this move over with." Trust us, you will get that time back when it comes to searching for the item you need after packing it away. 

 

Here at GoldKey, we have all of the packing supplies you will need when it comes to labeling, boxing, and storing. It’s a one-stop shop. We can also offer photo and labeling assistance at move-in.

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