Creating a paradise away from the city

A self-storage unit is a great place to store excess belongings when you're moving or between premises. But if you're going to be keeping things in storage for a long period, you'll want to take some basic precautions to protect them:

Keep the air circulating

Maintaining good air flow throughout the storage unit is vital to protecting your stored items -- especially vulnerable ones like books -- from mould damage. If possible, place your boxes on shipping pallets or shelving units so that they're raised above the floor with air circulating beneath them. Similarly, leave some space between your boxes and the walls to let air flow, as well as between stacks of boxes. 

Perform preventive maintenance

If you're storing metal items, from lawnmowers to bicycles or toolkits, make sure to give them a fresh coat of oil before storing them. The oil will help prevent rust and grime building up. Similarly, polish wooden furniture just before you store it to help protect it while it's in storage. 

Pack it tight

To keep clothing and linens fresh, seal them in a vacuum bag. Keeping fabrics out of the air will help protect the fabric from dust, moisture and pests. As an added bonus, vacuum packing will help your items fit into a smaller space. However, if you're not vacuum-sealing your fabric items, don't put them in plastic bags; instead, store them in breathable storage containers that won't encourage moisture buildup. 

Use simple pest control

Insects and other pests can be a menace to stored property, which is why storage centres take steps to protect against them. Still, it doesn't hurt to take a few additional precautions. Insect traps can help provide some additional peace of mind. One simple method of deterring insects is to place laundry dryer sheets in the corners of the unit and near access points. 

Cover it up 

Cover furniture, mattresses and other vulnerable items. If you don't have appropriate mattress bags or furniture covers, you may even be able to buy or hire them from your storage centre. These are useful during storage, but also during moving to keep upholstery from being damaged or stained. If you're worried about room, store sofas or mattresses vertically. 

Following these simple tips can help keep your stored items clean and undamaged. When the time comes to retrieve them, you'll be able to move them to their new home as fresh as they were when they went in.