STORAGE TIPS
- Wickenburg is an ideal, dry climate for storing.
- Plan your storage space. Place frequently used items near the door and leave a walkway to the rear of the space.
- Make up an inventory of your stored items and keep it in a safe place at home.
- Use uniform-size boxes for easy stacking. Be sure they are strong enough. It is best not to put too much in each box. Stack them shoulder high to maximize your total storage space.
- Stack lighter boxes on top of heavier boxes.
- Heat and Cool: Don't store items which cannot stand the heat, such as candles, plants, etc. However, the floor is the coolest part of the space. And our 10' ceilings allow the heat to rise and go to our ventilated attics. Our 10' ceilings & attic space keep units cooler than you think.
- Furniture: Place a pallet, cardboard mat, or plastic sheet on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end.
- Disassemble beds and tables and wrap the 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 should be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables that cannot be disassembled. Place a light dust cover over your furniture.
- Furniture and drawers can be utilized as storage places for knickknacks, china, silverware, small items, etc. Wrap them in tablecloths, towels or blankets to prevent breakage.
- Mattresses: It is best to wrap your mattresses in a plastic mattress cover. We sell them for all size beds. If you stand mattresses on their side, "prop" them up so they stand straight. Otherwise, they may tend to bend out of shape and become lumpy.
- Holiday Decorations: Save original cartons 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 & Shades: Wrap large lamp bases in padding. Wrap smaller lamps and place them in cartons. Pack delicate lampshades separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamps shades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items atop cartons containing lamps or lampshades.
- Bedding, Clothing, Curtains, Drapes & Linens: Clothing, curtains, and drapes should be stored on hangers and can be placed in wardrobe boxes or hung in the unit. If hanging facilities are not available, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers or cedar chests along with bedding and linens. We sell wardrobe style, cardboard cartons, which help protect your clothes. Food crumbs or stains should be removed before storage. Avoid storing anything that will attract rodents.
- Tools: Shovels, hoes, rakes and hoses can be stored together in empty trash cans. Stack extra cans inside one another. Or, the tools can be tied in bundles.
- Cover all your stored possessions with a light plastic sheet for dust.
- Mirrors, Pictures, Windows & Screens: These items should be stored on edge, not flat. Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in mirror boxes, marked "Fragile", and stacked on end. We sell all sizes of picture boxes.
- Pack stereos, cameras and other high value items in unmarked boxes toward the rear of the unit.
- Appliances: A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and stored with its door slightly ajar. Some items can be stored inside large appliances. Cartons can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators, and freezers. Make sure that stove and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.
- Books & Documents: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Books are heavy in bunches; pack in smaller cartons for easy lifting. Line all book cartons with plastic. (Trash bags make good liners.)
- Clothing can be left right on the hanger and then placed in a wardrobe box.
- Dishes and Glassware: Take time when packing dishes and glasses. Place a layer of packing paper inside the bottom and top of cartons. It is best to stack plates on edge. Stack these boxes on top. Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and top of the cartons containing glassware. Label all cartons. All glass items should be individually wrapped. Nest cups and bowls and stand plates, saucers and platters on edge. Wrapped glasses should be placed toward the top of the carton.
- Sofas and love seats can be stored on end to save floor space. Protect furniture and mattresses with plastic covers. Place wood or a plastic sheet on the floor. Cushions should be wrapped in plastic and placed on top.
- Store record albums on edge to prevent warping. They are quite heavy, so be sure you don't pack too many in one box.
- Valuables: Store valuables in unmarked containers at the center or rear of your self-storage unit.
- Cover stuffed furniture with sheets or plastic to protect against dust.
- Most of our units have very tall ceilings. So you can stack things upward if they are not too heavy. We are happy to loan you our 2-wheeled dolly and our stepladder.
- Store Smart! Tip #1 -- Inspect your storage unit and make a list of packing accessories you will need. Commonly used packing aids include such items as newsprint or wrapping paper, bubble-wrap, tape, rope, drop cloths, polyurethane sheeting, mattress and furniture covers, and cartons. We have all of these items for sale on the premises.
- Store Smart! Tip #2 -- Place a pallet on the floor. Do not lean items against walls. Leaving air space around the unit's perimeter will aid ventilation. Leave a walkway to the rear of the unit. Use all the space available, including its height. Disassemble items such as bed frames.
- Store Smart! Tip #3 -- Place frequently used items near the door.
- Store Smart! Tip #4 -- Fill containers to capacity. Partially full or bulging cartons may tip or collapse. Heavy items such as books or tools should be packed in small boxes. If a carton is too heavy, it will be hard to lift and should be divided between two or more cartons.
- Store Smart! Tip #5 -- Fragile items should be cushioned by packing and placed toward the top of the unit.
- Store Smart! Tip #6 -- List contents of boxes on all four sides and seal them with plastic tape.
- Store Smart! Tip #7 -- Label cartons and take home a list of the labeled cartons for easy reference when you need to locate your property.