Question 1

General tips

Accepted Answer

Use packaging materials such as cartons, porta-robes, paper, tape and bubble wrap to protect and maintain your goods while in storage.
Fill cartons to capacity as partially full cartons may collapse.
Do not overfill cartons, as bulging cartons may tip and will be harder to stack.
Heavy items such as books or tools should be packed in smaller cartons to make them easier to handle.
Books should be packed flat, not on their spine.
Label each carton as you pack, so that you can find items easily while in storage. This also makes unpacking easier.

Question 2

Appliances

Accepted Answer

White goods should be thoroughly dry and clean before storing.
Fridge and freezer doors should be secured slightly ajar to maintain freshness. A deodoriser placed inside the appliance is also a good idea.
Do not place items inside fridges or freezers as the shelves and linings can be easily marked and damaged.
Do not store food in fridges and freezers.

Question 3

Furniture

Accepted Answer

The use of drop sheets or similar covers will help protect your furniture.
Empty wardrobes, cupboards and drawers to protect the shelving and structure of these items of furniture.
Clothing and personal goods should be packed in strong secure cartons with mothballs, naphthalene, lavender or similar repellent product to help protect your goods.
Where possible, remove legs from tables, beds etc to save space and avoid damage.

Question 4

Crockery & Glassware

Accepted Answer

Pack items of crockery into smaller cartons to avoid having cartons which are too heavy to handle.
Place a layer of packing, such as paper or ribbed cardboard at the bottom and top of cartons containing breakables.
Wrap fragile items individually in packing paper – avoid the use of newspaper, as it can be very messy.
Nest cups and bowls; stand plates, saucers, platters and casseroles on their edge.
Fill any gaps in the cartons with packing such as scrunched up paper or linen.
Label all cartons containing fragile items and avoid storing heavy items on top of them.

Question 5

Mirrors, Glass & Paintings

Accepted Answer

Protect these items with packing material such as bubble wrap or in a flat pack carton.
Store these items upright, standing on their edge; do not lay them flat.

Question 6

Metal Items

Accepted Answer

Wrap silver in non-acidic tissue paper to help reduce tarnishing.
Wipe chrome or cast iron with a small amount of machine oil; this will help retard rust.

Question 7

TVs, Consoles, Amps, etc

Accepted Answer

This equipment is very delicate and should be handled with care.
Wherever possible, use original boxes. If you do not have the original box, wrap items individually in bubble wrap before you pack them in cartons.
Fill in any gaps in the cartons with paper or linen.
Secure turntables and tone arms of record players to prevent damage in transit.
Pack records on their edge in cartons to prevent warping; pack CDs on their edge in individual cases to prevent scratches.
Plasma televisions should be protected with bubble wrap or a similar protective item and stored upright.

Question 8

Battery Operated Items

Accepted Answer

Question 9

Computers

Accepted Answer

As with electrical items, computers need special care.
Wherever possible, use original boxes. If you do not have the original box, wrap items in bubble wrap and pack them in good quality cartons.
Use some packing in the bottom and top of cartons to provide extra protection and fill in any gaps.
Use masking tape to label ports.
Make a back up of your hard drive and store the back-up somewhere other than your storage shed.

Question 10

Mowers & Other Machinery

Accepted Answer

Drain fuel and oil from machinery; this will reduce the risk of leakage, spillage and damage to other items in your storage space.
Petrol and oil left in your machinery are also a fire hazard.

Hints & Tips

Tips & Tricks for Self Storage