Placing your goods in storage is a great way to de-clutter your home. It’ll open up plenty of closet, garage and shelf space too. Deciding to place items into storage means they’re important enough for you to keep, and that means placing them in the right boxes that will provide plenty of protection while in storage. But choosing the right box for storage can be overwhelming; here are some tips to make it easier.
Choose Used Boxes Carefully
Collecting used boxes from stores is a great way to cut down on the cost of boxes, but is that bargain worth it? Boxes found outside of grocery stores or restaurants have wear and tear, and are flimsier as they may have food stains, water damage or even bugs that have compromised the build of the boxes. Recycling older boxes that have already been crushed will also affect the sturdiness of the boxes, which will make stacking boxes on top of one another inside the storage unit almost impossible. You’re better off picking stronger boxes that have little to no damage done to the body.
It’s All About the Strength
Boxes that are of poor quality will tear under a heavy load making it a poor candidate to be stacked, as well as have a high potential of crumbling when exposed to moisture. You’ll have to take into account what you’re putting in the boxes, and for how long. The trade-off between poor boxes and strong boxes will play an important role in how well protected your items are while stored. Consider investing in boxes that have a bigger flute, because the bigger the flute the stronger the box is. For example, U-Haul’s boxes are made with C-flute material which is 25% thicker than the competitor’s box materials. Investing in boxes that can last in storage for multiple years is another great way to guarantee protection of your items while stored.
Invest in Specialty Boxes
A great way to cut down on boxes is to purchase them in bulk. Stores will sell kits, like kitchen kits and bedroom kits, that provide multiple boxes in a variation of sizes for one low price. Also, try using boxes that are made to fit specific items. Are you packing a large mirror that you fear will end up broken once you take it out of storage? What about that expensive flat screen t.v. you purchased during Black Friday? Believe it or not some boxes are catered to fit certain items for the purpose of protection.
It’s All About (Stacking) Durability
When you’re standing in front of your storage unit, this song will pop into your head. You’ll want to stack lighter boxes on top of heavier boxes and fit obscure items into the open spaces. The best way to do that is to invest in boxes that aren’t fragile and that will suppose weight without crushing. By purchasing boxes in different sizes (from small to extra large), you’ll have better control over how well your unit will be packed. Make sure to not over pack a box or a storage unit if you want to avoid things toppling over.
When storing items, you’ll want to eliminate the possibility of using weak boxes. When closing your storage unit, you’ll want to be reassured that the next time you open it you won’t see your valuables broken and shattered on the floor; to do so, pick strong and sturdy boxes for your unit!
Have you recently moved some valuables into a storage unit? How did you decide what boxes to use? Post your tips in the comments section below!
