If you have ever placed items in storage, you will appreciate the enormity of the task. This is especially true if you have a lot of items to organise. If you do not take a methodical approach, it can quickly become stressful. Boxes are going to be your best friend when putting items in storage. They are sturdy, and will help keep your items clean and dry. Additionally, having all of your items in boxes will help you keep your unit organised. Today we are going to outline how to pack boxes for storage.
The Importance Of Packing Correctly
People put their personal belongings and valuables into storage for a number of reasons. Whether it is to free up space at home or as part of the moving process, storage facilities are receiving more and more customers. Although there are a few ways to store items, the most convenient and cost-effective way is to use storage packing boxes. Of course, certain items will require a more specialist storage solution. For the most part, however, boxes will provide adequate protection for your belongings whilst they are being stored.
So, I just need to buy some boxes, put my storage items in them and throw them in my unit? Well, not exactly. It is important that when you are organising your storage packing boxes you do so correctly. Some people may opt to store items for months or even years. Your belongings are susceptible to damage if you do not pack your boxes correctly. The likelihood of damage increases as the timeframe lengthens.
Not only this but packing correctly will help keep your storage unit organised. If you need to visit the storage facility at some point and find an item, and your storage boxes are disorganised, this can become an extremely strenuous task.
How To Pack Boxes For Storage: A Quick Guide
By now we hope you can appreciate the importance of packing your boxes correctly. Continue below where we provide a step-by-step guide on how to pack boxes for storage.
Decide What You Are Storing
Before you can pack your boxes correctly, or even put items inside a box, you need to decide what you are storing. The more you put into storage, the bigger the unit will need to be. And this comes at a cost. You should assess your belongings carefully, and only store items that you are sure you will use again in the future. If it doesn’t have value to you and is unlikely to be used again, it may be best to dispose of it. This will save you money.
Buy Packing Supplies
If you have decided exactly what you want to store, you next need to pick up packing supplies. This is an important part of the process. Marker pens, for example, will help you organise boxes and label your belongings. Should you need to find an item in the future, you will be glad that you marked everything. Items like packing tape and bubble wrap will also help protect your items whilst they are in storage.
Choose Your Boxes
This continues on from the last point but deserves its own dedicated section. If you are opting to store your items in boxes, your choice of box is something to consider. Though relatively sturdy and cheap, the standard cardboard box is susceptible to water damage. Moreover, you may want delicate or valuable items to be better protected. In this case, you may find plastic boxes with a lid more suitable.
Create An Inventory List
In order to make your life easier, we encourage you to create a system in your storage unit. Marking your boxes and identifying their contents is a good start, but you may wish to go further. Creating an inventory list may sound excessive, but this will help you keep track of exactly what you have and, most importantly, where it is.
Consider Lining Your Boxes
This will be particularly important for delicate or valuable items such as Christmas decorations, ornaments, and art. Materials like newspaper, bubble wrap, and foam peanuts will offer an added layer of protection for your belongings. If you accidentally drop a box, for example, you will want to ensure the items within are covered.
Avoid Overfilling Your Boxes
This may seem obvious, but overfilling your boxes is a bad idea. In the case of cardboard boxes, putting too much inside increases the risk of the bottom splitting. If you have valuable or sentimental items in storage, it could be devastating to drop and break them.
The Best Way To Store Christmas Ornaments In Boxes
We are fast approaching that time of year where people take their Christmas decorations out of storage. Doing this and finding your decorations broken, damaged or disorganised can be a frustrating experience. This can be especially true for fiddly items like fairy lights. So, learning how to pack boxes for storage can be extremely valuable.
You can take some of our above tips into consideration when storing your Christmas decorations or ornaments. This way, you will avoid the above scenario.
Items such as Christmas ornaments tend to be fragile. They may also have sentimental value if they have been passed through your family. We encourage you to place any ornaments in labelled boxes and take time to properly seal them. Equally, you should dedicate some time to wrapping ornaments in bubble wrap and, if possible, newspaper. This will ensure they are protected from damage in transit, as well as potential age-related damage.
A Home For Your Storage Packing Boxes
The key to navigating the self-storage process smoothly is to be organised. If you take the time to pack boxes correctly and ensure everything is labelled, you will have a far easier time finding items in the future. If you require a storage unit and are based in Rotherham, the team here at Atrium Storage would be happy to help. To enquire about our storage solutions, fill out a contact form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.