You would think that packing a storage unit is easier than packing a suitcase. With that much space, it must be easy to just stuff everything!
It is not easy. In fact, you need to pack smartly to fit all your things. Stuffing everything without a plan is a disaster waiting to happen.
So, learn these five storage unit packing tips before you store things.
Choose The Right Unit
This is the first thing you need to make sure.
Any packing tips, however useful, won’t work if you don’t choose the right unit size. Melbourne portable storage units have four sizes, which are;
- 6ft units = can fit two bedrooms worth of things = 10 cubic metres capacity
- 8ft units = can fit 2.5 bedrooms worth of things = 11.5 cubic metres capacity
- 10ft units = can fit 3 bedrooms worth of things = 16-19 cubic metres capacity
- 20ft units = can fit a whole house worth of things = 32-38 cubic metres capacity
Choose the right size for your needs. Not too big, not too small. You cannot tightly stack your things if you choose a bigger unit. Without a compact formation, your things will bump and damage each other.
A 2-bedroom apartment only needs small portable units for storage, like 6ft and 8ft units. The 10ft and 20ft units would suit bigger projects better.
5 Storage Unit Packing Tips
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Clean Everything Thoroughly
It is important that all your things are clean. Water droplets will create dampness. Dampness attracts mould and will damage your things.
Food remains can go bad. This will also develop into mould. Mould, once there, will spread to all your stuff.
So, clean your things thoroughly and wipe them dry.
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Categorise and Label
Categorise your things based on their usage and type.
Put kitchen stuff together in one pile. Do the same for other areas, like the bedroom and living room. Then, put fragile items like glassware and gadgets to the side.
After that, pack your non-fragile items inside boxes. Label them based on where they came from, like ‘kitchen’, ‘bedroom’, and ‘living room’.
Pack the fragile items with protective materials before arranging them into boxes. Simply label ‘fragile’ on the boxes once you’re done. That label helps remind you to handle those particular boxes gently.
Plus, it will make it easier to decide which box should be stacked on the bottom or top. More on this in tip 5.
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Wrap Fragile Things in Protective Materials
After you sort your things, you need to prepare your fragile items for storage. Hence, you need to prepare protective materials like;
- Bubble wrap
- Furniture blankets
- Tie-downs
- Packing papers
Then, wrap your fragile items tightly with them. Stuff packing paper inside glass and mugs. Wrap them with bubble wrap once the packing paper is in.
For TVs and monitors, wrap them in bubble wrap to avoid scratches and cracks. Then, add a furniture blanket to absorb the shock if bumping happens.
Boxes for fragile items need to be bubble wrapped too. It prevents your glassware from shattering if the boxes fall.
After that, tie everything down to the unit’s walls. Less chance for them to bump into each other when they are securely tied.
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Don’t Pack These Things In
Storage companies prohibit you from storing things that are flammable and organic. The five forbidden things are;
- Gas and aerosols can
- Paint and paint thinner
- Oils and fuels
- Weapons, ammunition, and explosives
- Plants, soil, and compost
This is to keep your stuff clean and usable. Plants, soil, and compost will attract mould. The other things can combust at any moment.
Leave these things out of your unit for your own good.
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Stack with a Plan
Load bigger items like sofas, armchairs, tables, and bookcases first. Tie them securely to the unit’s walls. Then, they will be the ‘base’ of the unit, cushioning more fragile items.
Boxes of fragile items should be stacked in or around the bigger furniture. Start with the least fragile items. Then, stack more fragile items on the top.
Tie TVs and monitors to the unit’s walls to prevent them from moving. It is best to keep them in the upright position while you tie them.
With these strategies in place, your things will fit inside the unit tightly and securely.
Conclusion
Choosing the right unit storage unit size is important. Your things will move around if you have too much space.
Then, make sure you clean everything before sorting them. Cleaning things will prevent mould and damage. Then, sort and label them based on their types and usage.
Once you set the fragile items aside, wrap them tightly with protective materials. Label them as ‘fragile’.
Make sure not to load any gas, oil, paint, weapons, and organics as well. They can cause serious damage to your things.
Lastly, pack with a plan. Stack bigger items first, then put fragile items around them.
