{"id":4401,"date":"2012-10-17T13:00:35","date_gmt":"2012-10-17T20:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/?p=4401"},"modified":"2024-08-01T14:46:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T21:46:58","slug":"7-tips-for-long-term-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/17\/7-tips-for-long-term-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Tips for Long-Term Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_42347\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-42347\" class=\"wp-image-42347 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/27.png\" alt=\"U-Haul Self Storage\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/27.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/27-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/27-768x384.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-42347\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Preparing for Long-Term Self Storage takes planning<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If\u00a0you&#8217;ve\u00a0decided to rent a long-term storage facility, then you want to make sure you pack well. So, what are the most important things to remember when you pack up your items? Read our list below to find out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Furniture covers and protectors:<\/strong> Even though your furniture is in an enclosed facility, you still want to protect it from dust. This will also be beneficial during the move in and out of the facility and will be one less step you need to complete. Look for light plastic covers for large pieces of furniture as well as <a title=\"Mattress Bags\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Covers-bags\/Mattress-Bags?mid=108&amp;utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mattress covers,<\/a> and <a title=\"Sofa Covers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Covers-bags\/Sofa-Cover?id=1565&amp;utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sofa covers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Furniture pads:<\/strong> Strategic packing of your facility is important. It is OK to stack items on top of each other, but it\u2019s important to protect the furniture surfaces by using <a title=\"Furniture Pads\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Protective-stuff\/Furniture-Pad?id=2670&amp;utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">furniture pads<\/a> to cushion between items. When it comes to furniture pads, it is always better to have too many than too few. Purchase them from a company like <a title=\"Moving Supplies\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/?utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U-Haul<\/a> that has a lenient return policy and simply return the leftover.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4412\" style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Moving-lifting-tools\/Moving-Labels?id=2824&amp;utm_campaign=UhaulSM&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=MovingSupplies\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4412\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4412 \" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/Labels.jpg\" alt=\"labels for long-term storage\" width=\"250\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4412\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Color-coded label stickers. The best invention since sliced bread?<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Labels, labels and more labels:<\/strong>\u00a0This is an especially important consideration because of the fact that by the time you retrieve your items from storage you may forget entirely what you packed and where. Purchase <a title=\"Color-coded labels\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Moving-lifting-tools\/Moving-Labels?id=2824&amp;utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">color-coded labels<\/a> for easier identification. Add a short description under the label with the specifics of what is included inside.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pack things securely:<\/strong> It\u2019s always important to pack your furniture securely whether you are transporting or storing. Start by disassembling your furniture that can be disassembled. Next, pad the hollows of furniture from the inside using sheets and towels in storage, or furniture pads. This will make it easier to load and unload the storage facility and will keep your furniture protected. Click here for more <a title=\"storage tips\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/Articles\/Tips\/27\/Storage-tips?utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=storage&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">self-storage tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Take inventory:<\/strong> As you are packing and loading items into the self-storage facility, keep a list of what\u2019s inside. This list will provide a reference that you can keep with you for later; just in case you question if you packed something or not. Organize your list by room so that it\u2019s easier to recall and check later.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Store Smaller items in boxes or containers:<\/strong> This will protect them from dust and help keep them organized.\u00a0 <a title=\"Moving Boxes\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/?utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boxes<\/a> and <a title=\"Moving Containers\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Storage-solutions\/Storage-Containers?mid=205&amp;utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">containers<\/a> that are uniform in size will be easier to stack. Larger items such as furniture and exercise equipment may not need to be boxed, but it might be a good idea to protect them by wrapping them with furniture pads or fabric.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4427\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Protective-stuff\/Cushion-Foam?id=2336&amp;utm_campaign=UhaulSM&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=MovingSupplies\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4427\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4427 \" src=\"https:\/\/movinginsider.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/cushionedfoam.jpg\" alt=\"Use foam to protect valuables in long-term storage\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4427\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Use foam to protect valuable during long-term storage.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Protect Breakables:<\/strong> Even though most items never move while they are in storage, breakables should be packaged well enough to protect from damage on the move into and out of your storage unit. For family heirlooms, collectibles, and other items that can\u2019t be replaced, consider packing in <a title=\"Cushion Foam for Packing\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/MovingSupplies\/Protective-stuff\/Cushion-Foam-w-Dispensing-Box?id=2334&amp;utm_campaign=uhaulsm&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=movingsupplies&amp;utm_content=20121017-7tipsforlong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cushion foam<\/a> or other packaging that protects the items from water and other elements.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pack Strategically:<\/strong> If you want to have access to some items on a regular basis, pay attention to the order in which you load your items into your storage unit. Pack the items you think you\u2019re least likely to use in the back, and the items you may need sooner in the front. If you\u2019re not sure exactly when you might use items, consider renting a slightly larger unit and packing items stacked up on the walls with an aisle through the center. This extra cost may save you time unpacking and repacking your storage unit in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If\u00a0you&#8217;ve\u00a0decided to rent a long-term storage facility, then you want to make sure you pack well. So, what are the most important things to remember when you pack up your items? Read our list below to find out. Furniture covers and protectors: Even though your furniture is in an enclosed facility, you still want to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":4440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,198],"tags":[339,112,134,2169,165,174],"class_list":["post-4401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-moving-2","category-planning","tag-long-term-storage","tag-moving","tag-packing","tag-planning","tag-storage","tag-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4401"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58119,"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4401\/revisions\/58119"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uhaul.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}