E-Z Self Storage offers you the following tips.

Packing Tips

• 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 in the self-storage facility and will save you space.
• Fill boxes to capacity wherever possible to avoid breakages but avoid making them too heavy - remember you'll have to be able to lift them. You can use materials such as paper or towels or can buy special packing to fill spaces if necessary.
• Label all boxes clearly so you can identify the contents and keep an inventory. Label them on more than one side so you can see what's what quickly. Mark 'Fragile' on any boxes containing breakable items.
• 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. If you do pack heavy items in a large box, put in just a few and then fill the box up with lighter items.
• 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 a self-storage facility as they can cause water damage, mould and mildew.
• Wrap all fragile items and breakables such as dishes, glasses, ornaments etc separately. Paper will do but bubble wrap is a good investment. Pack them tightly into strong boxes, filling any gaps with paper or filler.
• If you're going to be storing clothes think about buying wardrobe or clothes boxes - you'll then be able to simply hang the clothes in them and they'll keep their shape. It's not wise to simply put your clothes in bin liners in a self-storage facility as moisture can get trapped inside when they're sealed and your clothes could be ruined.
• Separate lamp bases and lampshades and wrap them for protection.
• If you're storing a few items of furniture on top of each other a simple dust sheet or cover placed between items will minimize scratching and damage in a self-storage facility.
• 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 the facility to give it some added protection.
• 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 etc. Make sure you tie down the player arm of a record player and secure your turntable.
• If you're storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn mowers and cars etc in a facility, expect to be asked to drain the tanks before you put them in storage. Fuel is one of the few things that you CANNOT store in a self-storage facility.
• Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing to avoid rust formation.
• You can tie tools and long-handled items in bundles. Don't store a brush resting on the bristles.
• Don't store vacuum cleaners with the bag in - throw it away before you store them in the facility.
• Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.
• Think creatively and you'll make more space. Plan to use furniture drawers as an extra box (they are especially good for fragile items) and you can use the inside of wardrobes to store boxes.
• Seal all your boxes with packing tape before you put them in a self-storage facility - this will help keep dust out of the contents.

Organizing your self-storage unit

At this stage in your self-storage process, it's worthwhile taking some time to plan exactly how to pack your items into the unit. Unit sizes are determined by price so you can be save money here by assessing what you have to store and planning to pack it in efficiently - a smaller and well-packed unit will be cheaper than a larger one that is badly organized.

There are two key things to remember when organizing your self-storage unit. Firstly, you need to make sure that you can easily access the items you've stored in the facility when you want them. Secondly, you must take care when storing - these are your belongings and there are measures you can take, apart from careful packing, that will help protect them during their time in the facility.

• If you're storing heavy items or boxes check with the facility to see if they have trolleys or other machinery you can use.
• In all but the smallest units, try to create an aisle and leave enough room to be able to get round the back.
• Store your largest items first.
• If you're stacking your unit high with boxes, always make sure to put the heaviest boxes at the bottom to avoid damage.
• Stack boxes and similarly sized items together to save space.
• Try not to lean furniture against outside walls.
• If you're storing metal objects avoid resting them against items susceptible to damage.
• Try to assess what you'll need to access frequently and keep it at the front of your unit.
• Fill anything that's hollow - i.e. wardrobes, drawers, washing machines and fridges with small boxes and other items to maximize your available space.
• Make sure to stack boxes and containers so that you can see the labels you put on them.
• Don't store anything in the facility that you're not sure is sturdy vertically - if it seems wobbly store it horizontally.