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Looking to keep your boxes safely in storage? This is a must read for you!

Posted by TigerPak on 5/25/2021
Looking to keep your boxes safely in storage? This is a must read for you!

Storage units are excellent places for you to keep belongings when you no longer have room for them in your home. You would want to protect them from any kind of damage or breakage when you place your items in a storage unit.

To achieve this, you must pack your items properly and organize them in the proper manner. Below are the 11 tips that help you avoid any unnecessary damage and keep your boxes safe in storage:

 

  1. Use Pallets

Never keep your items on the ground in a storage unit. Instead, use n pallets (preferably made of wood) to raise your items off the floor. This helps in keeping air flowing through the whole storage unit and prevents moisture buildup. It can also keep your items safe during flood or water damage. 

  1. Choose Boxes Over Bags

There is no doubt that plastic bags are economical and convenient. But it is always wiser to use boxes to store your items in the storage. The most common type of packing box used is corrugated cardboard. These boxes are best for fragile items such as vases, glassware, and dishes. Some of the advantages of using corrugated cardboard boxes are listed below. 

  • They offer maximum protection
  • They are sustainable 
  • They offer flexibility 
  • They are reusable and recyclable 
  • They are low-cost and low-weight
  1. Wrap Your Items

It’s important to wrap your items, especially fragile ones, individually using tissues, newspaper, or bubble wrap before placing them in corrugated cardboard boxes. Alternatively, you can use clothes to wrap smaller fragile items. 

In addition to this, line the bottoms of the corrugated cardboard boxes using lots of bubble wrap, crumpled paper, or other soft fabric items such as clothes, towels, etc., to provide adequate cushioning between items. By doing so, you can prevent your items from shaking around while transporting and avoid unwanted chips, cracks, and other damages. 

  1. Use Uniform Boxes 

Merely using packing boxes over plastic bags will not help stack them neatly together. For instance, if you use a combination of boxes to pack your items – some electronics boxes, some fruit boxes, some moving boxes, etc., it can be quite tricky when it comes to stacking.

Therefore, it is better to purchase boxes from the same brand. This way, you can stack boxes neatly even if they are of different sizes since they all would have a basic base shape. And when your boxes are correctly stacked, you need not worry about them falling and causing damage to your items. 

  1. Pack Your Boxes Evenly And Lightly

Filling a box as much as possible would help you save space, but doing so may damage your valuable and favorite items. Therefore, plan carefully and pack them correctly. 

For instance, do not pack your books with glass or other fragile items just because there is some space in the box. The unevenness in the size and other aspects may lead to the box falling over when stacked, causing the items to break or damage. 

  1. Pack Strategically 

Packing your items strategically plays a key role in keeping your items safe in storage. Some tips for packing strategically are as follows:

  • Place glasses and cups with their rims facing down
  • Line mirrors and paintings with cardboard
  • Place plates, bowls, and saucers on their sides to prevent breakages
  • Leave refrigerator and freezer door slightly open to prevent mold growth 
  • Disassemble parts of electronic items (whichever possible) and pack them in the right direction. For instance, pack microwave oven horizontally and not vertically 
  • Nest smaller dishes in larger ones, provided they both are properly wrapped
  1. Seal The Boxes 

Make sure you seal all the boxes properly to prevent dust from entering the boxes. You can use different types of tapes to seal the boxes. Some of them include: 

  • Carton-Sealing Tape
  • Strapping Tape
  • Masking tape 
  1. Try To Use Shelving

If your storage unit has sturdy shelving units or something similar, then it is advisable to use them, especially if you are storing fragile items. That is because the structure of the shelving helps you to protect your items from falling and also allows you to view everything clearly without having to move boxes.

  1. Label Your Boxes

It is always advisable to label your boxes. This will make your life easier when you want to unpack an item at any point in time. Labeling will also help you in the box stacking process. For instance, a label will help you determine boxes that include fragile items, so you don’t stack heavy boxes on the top of boxes with fragile items. 

  1. Stack Boxes Based On Fragility

You would want to keep your items in excellent condition while maximizing space in a storage unit. To prevent boxes from crushing one another and items from breaking, stack them based on their weight and fragility of items. Keep the heavier boxes with durable items at the bottom. Then move up as boxes get lighter and items more fragile. 

  1. Store Boxes Based On Accessibility

Plan properly while putting items into a storage unit. Begin by filling your storage unit from the walls and then moving in. Store items that you think you would regularly need in the front of the unit and things that you would hardly need in the back. 

Also, always leave a path for yourself or two so that no item is completely out of reach. This will help you take out necessary items without damaging your items.


Final Words 

The above-listed tips can help you keep your items safe in storage. In addition to these tips, you can consider purchasing storage unit insurance to protect you against any damage while your items are stored. 

If you are looking for more expert advice, click here