Storage isn’t always something you can avoid. Short-term storage, three to six months, is usually easy. Objects don’t have a lot of time to gather dust and sustain damage from the conditions. When you intend to store items for longer than six months it then becomes long-term storage. With long-term storage of belongings, it is more common for items to gather dust and sometimes sustain damage if not stored properly. In this article, we outline the best ways to prepare your belongings for long-term storage.
How to Prepare Your Belongings for Long-Term Storage
1. Remove Batteries from All Electronics
Batteries are one of the most dangerous things left within items that go into long-term storage. Old batteries can leak, which corrodes anything the acid touches. Some extreme cases have even seen electronics catch fire due to batteries that were left in the device before storage. Sometimes, batteries can even swell and explode.
If you want to keep your electronics in good condition, remove all batteries from electronic items you want to keep in long-term storage units.
2. Tape USB Ports and SD Slots Shut
Open USB ports and SD card slots pick up dust and damage over time. High moisture environments can even cause further damage, and trigger rust within the electronics.
Tape all open ports shut (e.g. on any mobile devices) to ensure that dust doesn’t get into these ports when the items are in storage. It might just be the step that saves you the memory card with all your precious photos.
3. Secure Items with Packing Pellets
Pack and store all large items in boxes with enough padding. When preparing items for storage it is a good idea to wrap fragile items in plastic bags and surround the items in boxes with packing pellets or bubble wrap. Packing pellets are inexpensive and available from most packing providers. Bubble wrap is the same. Add one level of security to your most sensitive items going into storage, and you might just save them from some serious damage.
4. Document Everything Going In for Storage
Document everything that you plan to store in a long-term storage space. It’s important if anything should go wrong, but that’s not the only reason to do it. Knowing what you put into storage will make it easier to unpack when it’s time to move your items out of the storage unit months or years down the road.
It’s easy to forget which box contained what objects over a few months’ time. Keep a list of everything, and number your boxes and plastic bins.
When it’s time to unpack, refer back to the list and it will feel like you just packed all this stuff yesterday. Without the list, it could take days (or weeks) to remember where you put an item.
5. Vacuum Seal Clothing and Fabrics
It is not uncommon for fabric and clothing to sustain damage when in long-term storage. The best way to make sure that your finest clothing remains in good condition is to vacuum seal these items into bags before they go into storage. Items that are vacuum sealed will be inaccessible by most bugs and sealed from moisture and dust.
Clark Storage – Best and Most Secured Storage Units in the Area
Our family business objective is to provide you with the best service and facilities in a secure location. As you get to know our facilities, you will note they were selected for your ease of access, location, and security. Please let us know how we can continue to improve your storage needs and fulfill your high expectations. We have storage units in Council Bluffs, Glenwood, and Pacific Junction. Contact us today. We are also offering a Move-In Referral Program, click here for more information.