Personal Storage Tips

Choosing a storage place: Use all the space available, including the height. Place a pallet on concrete floors. Leave a walkway in your space for easy access. Place frequently used items near the door. Label your boxes and take home a list of the labeled boxes for easy reference when you need to locate your goods. Heavy items like books or tools should be packed in small boxes so they are easy to lift. Protect your fragile goods with packing (i.e., bubble-pack or other) and place them near the top of your storage space.

Bedding, clothing, curtains, drapes and linens: Clothing, curtains, and drapes should be stored on hangers. If hanging cartons are not available, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers or cedar chests along with bedding and linens.

Dishes and glassware: All glass items should be individually wrapped. Wrapped glasses should be placed near the top of the cartons. Do not place heavy items on boxes containing glassware.

Appliances: A refrigerator or freezer should be dry and stored with the door slightly open. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances and boxes can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators, and freezers.

Bicycles and other metal items: To retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil.

Furniture: Place a pallet, corrugated cardboard mat, or plastic sheet on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Disassemble beds and tables and wrap table legs in paper. If a table will not disassemble, place padding on the floor and place the table on its top with the legs pointing up. Use dresser tops for stacking cartons and dresser drawers for small, delicate items. Keep upholstery off the floor. Place a light cotton (i.e., a bed sheet) dust cover on your furniture.

Business Storage Tips

Office furniture: Place a light dust cover over your furniture.

Metal equipment, tools and other metal items: All equipment needs to be clean. To retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil.

Files, records and other documents: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, but use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing to fill out empty pockets in the boxes. Do not overload. Books and documents: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Don't place boxes directly on concrete floors, but use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption.

Prohibited storage goods: Never store, perishables, liquids, explosives, flammable liquids and fuels, toxic materials, or other items that need a controlled environment.