Storage Tips
Appliances
Refrigerators and/or freezers should be thoroughly dry and stored with doors slightly ajar. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances and boxes can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators and freezers. Make sure that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.
Bicycles and other metal items
To minimize rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil.
Books and documents
Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, but use plastic tarps, pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing to fill out empty pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box with books and do not overload.
Bedding, clothing, curtains, drapes and linens
Clothing, curtains and drapes should be stored on hangers. Wardrobe boxes may be purchased in our office. If the items are too large for a box or cannot be hung, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers, cedar chests or wardrobe style cardboard cartons along with bedding and linens. Keep out of season clothes accessible, as you may have your belongings in storage longer than anticipated. Food crumbs or stains should be removed before storing. Avoid storing anything that may attract pests.
Dishes and glassware
Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and at the top of boxes containing glassware. Ideally these items should be stored in a specifically designed dish pack box (available in the office). All glass items should be individually wrapped: nest cups and bowls, and stand plates, saucers and platters on edge. Wrapped glasses should be placed near the top of cartons. Again, fill all pockets with packing materials. Label all boxes containing glassware, and do not place heavy items on boxes containing glassware.
Furniture
Place a pallet, corrugated cardboard mat, or plastic tarp 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 linens or small, delicate items. Keep upholstery off the floor. Most lightweight chairs can be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables that cannot be disassembled. Finally, place a light cotton (e.g., a bed sheet) dust cover on your furniture.
Holiday decorations
Save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing paper or newsprint. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing paper.
Lamps
Wrap large lamps and place them in boxes and pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamp shades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items on cartons containing lamp shades.