Packing Tips
Furniture
Storing furniture on top of each other, use a simple dust sheet or cover placed between items will minimise scratching and damage.
You can save space if you dismantle furniture such as beds and tables before you store it. Make sure you keep hold of all the nuts and bolts, put them in a plastic bag and tape that to the item! Wrap and cover furniture sections and keep them together, clearly marked, for quick retrieval. Store large pieces of furniture vertically to save space in your space.
Chairs can be stacked seat to seat to save space. Cover chair legs with protective wrapping for extra protection.
Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture spray before storing it in your space to give it some added protection.
Dishes & Glassware
Wrap all fragile items and breakables such as dishes, glasses and ornaments separately. Paper will do and our office has special wrapping paper that is chemical free and bubble wrap is a good investment. Pack them tightly into strong boxes, filling any gaps with paper or filler. Try to avoid putting heavy items on top of fragile ones. Do not use Newspaper as the ink bleaches out of the pages onto glassware and is almost impossible to clean up later.
Appliances
Large appliances need care before placing in a unit – make sure you defrost fridges and freezers thoroughly before storing them otherwise you’ll be leaving yourself open to water damage and mould. Wipe the insides with vanilla extract to keep them smelling fresh. Tie doors up for the move, although you should leave them slightly ajar once in storage to stop condensation forming and help ward off bad odours. Drain washing machines before storing them and tie down hoses etc. dust off the back as dust can attract vermin. Appliances should be clean and dry.
Hifi, televisions & video Gear
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 making sure that you pack gaps with paper. Make sure you tie down the player arm of a record player and secure your turntable.
boxes
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 securely with at Maleny Self Storage and this will save you space. Boxes are available from our box office.
Box everything that you can – everything that is left unboxed is harder to move next time.
Fill boxes to the top wherever possible to avoid breakages and avoid making them too heavy – remember you’ll will have to lift them. You can use materials such as paper or towels or can buy special packing to fill spaces if necessary. Depending on the space you opt to rent, you might be stacking boxes on top of each other so make sure the lower boxes are sturdy enough to be stacked upon. Boxes that are only partly filled can tip over or collapse.
Label all boxes clearly so you can identify the contents and keep a list. Label them on more than one side so you can see what’s what. Mark ‘Fragile’ on any boxes containing breakable items. Stack them low so if they do fall over the fall is small.
Don’t be tempted to fill large boxes with heavy items such as books as they’ll quickly become impossible to carry and may break. You can buy small book cartons from the office that will do the job just fine. If you do pack heavy items in a large box put in just a few and then fill the box up with lighter items.
General Tips
Make an estimate of the replacement value of each item you store to help with accurate insurance policies and in case of unforeseen damage.
Our friendly staff can advise you on Insurance cover you will need from Maleny Self Storage – If it’s worth storing then you should insure your goods.
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 securely with at Maleny Self Storage and this will save you space. Boxes are available from our box office.
Label all boxes clearly so you can identify the contents and keep a list. Label them on more than one side so you can see what’s what. Mark ‘Fragile’ on any boxes containing breakable items. Stack them low so if they do fall over the fall is small.
For the best protection for mirrors and pictures in our spaces at Maleny Self Storage, 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’. Use a blanket if needed.
Don’t pack items into sealed plastic bags, as humidity can cause mildew.
Pack books flat to avoid damaging their spines.
Don’t store wet items in your space as they can cause water damage, mould and mildew.
