Packing Advice

Packing list

• Cardboard or plastic storage boxes
• Sticky packaging tape
• Tape dispenser
• Retractable trimming knife
• Bubble wrap
• Cling film
• Newspaper
• Self-adhesive labels
• Marker pens
• String

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Advice on packing

1. Invest in good quality sturdy boxes and packing materials – box strength degrades with use. If you buy boxes of similar sizes it’ll be easier to stack them and will save you space.
2. Box everything that you can.
3. Fill boxes to capacity wherever possible to avoid breakages but don’t make them too heavy – remember you’ll have to lift them.
4. Don’t store damp or wet items as this can cause water damage, mould and mildew.
5. Large appliances need care before placing in storage. Make sure you defrost fridges and freezers thoroughly before storing. Tie doors up for the move, although you should leave them slightly ajar once in storage to stop mould forming and help ward off bad odours. Drain washing machines before storing them and tie down hoses, leads etc.
6. Consider buying wardrobe or clothes boxes – you can hang the clothes in them and they’ll keep their shape.
7. For the best protection for mirrors and pictures in a self-storage facility, wrap them in a protective covering such as bubble wrap and stack them on their ends. Mirrors and pictures should never be stored flat. Mark them as ‘Fragile’.
8. If you’re storing upholstered products such as mattresses and sofas, it might be a good idea to invest in covers, bags or sheeting to give them some additional protection. Stand sofas and mattresses on end wherever possible to save space and don’t stack too much on top of soft furnishings. Mattresses are best stored on the long end.
9. If you’re storing a few items of furniture on top of each other a simple dustsheet or cover placed between items will minimize scratching and damage.
10. Dismantle furniture such as beds and tables before you store it to save space. Wrap and cover furniture sections and keep them together, clearly marked, for quick retrieval. Put components such as screws and bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly and tape to the relevant piece of furniture. Store large pieces of furniture vertically to save space in the facility.
11. Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture spray before storing it to give it some added protection.
12. Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos and computers should be packed in their original boxes wherever possible. If this isn’t possible, pack them into boxes that are about the right size.
13. If you’re storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn mowers and cars etc., drain the tanks before you put them in storage.
14. Don’t store vacuum cleaners with the bag in – throw it away before you store.
15. Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.
16. If you do store loose photographs, place them between pieces of clean cardboard and tape them together to avoid curling.
17. Seal all your boxes with packing tape. This will help keep dust out of the contents.