Storage and Packing Tips
How to pack a storage unit so your things stay in good shape and you can find them again.
Before you pack
- Make a list of what is going into storage. It helps you choose a size with our unit size guide, and you will want the list later.
- Buy boxes in one or two sizes. Boxes that match stack straight and do not tip over.
- Get a disc or cylinder lock for the door.
Packing boxes
- Fill each box all the way so it does not crush, but keep it light enough to lift. Books go in small boxes.
- Label each box on the side, not the top, with the room and what is in it.
- Wrap dishes and glasses one at a time and stand plates on edge.
- Use plastic totes for clothes, bedding and papers.
Furniture
- Take beds, tables and shelves apart. Put the bolts in a bag and tape it to the piece.
- Cover couches and mattresses with cloth covers or mattress bags. Plastic wrapped tight against wood or leather holds moisture in, so leave it loose.
- Stand couches and mattresses on end if they are made for it. It saves a lot of floor space.
- Do not set furniture or boxes right on the concrete. Pallets or a few boards underneath let air move and keep things dry.
Appliances and equipment
- Clean and dry refrigerators, freezers and washers all the way, and prop the doors open so they do not mildew.
- Drain the fuel from mowers, trimmers and anything else with a gas tank. Fuel is not allowed in a unit. See what you cannot store.
- Wipe metal tools with a little oil so they do not rust.
Loading the unit
- Heavy items and appliances go in first, at the back and on the bottom.
- Leave a walkway down the middle so you can get to the back.
- Keep the things you will need soon near the door.
- Leave a small gap between your things and the walls so air can move.
- Back the truck up to the door of a drive-up unit and save yourself the carrying.
Michigan winters and summers
A drive-up unit follows the weather outside. Drain hoses, pressure washers and anything else that holds water before winter so it does not freeze and crack. Do not store paint, candles or canned drinks in a drive-up unit. Photographs, electronics, wood furniture and paperwork do better in a climate-controlled unit. In summer, moisture absorber tubs are cheap and help with anything made of cloth or paper. Check on your unit every month or two.
Protect what you store
Your homeowner's policy may not cover items in storage. We offer tenant protection plans.