Suggestions for storing in various sized units

5 x 10

A couch and a chair, chest of drawers or dresser, mattress set, plus small items and boxes. Outdoor furniture, lawn mowers, garden tools, etc. Bicycles and or motorcycles.

10 x 10

Furniture from a one bedroom apartment without appliances, also small items and boxes.

10 x 20

Furniture from a 2 bedroom house with appliances, miscellaneous items and cartons. Also may be used to store a car  or truck and other small items.

10 x 30

Furniture from a three bedroom house with miscellaneous items and cartons. Will hold contents of a 40’ moving van. Also may be used to store a car or truck and other small items.

Selecting a storage space: 

Self storage is a convenient, safe and inexpensive way to store your belongings. Ask the storage consultant to help you choose a space that fits your needs because rental of a storage space is determined by the total size of the items to be stored. An efficiently packed small space will cost less than a larger space. If you frequently use the space, a larger space, well organized, may be more convenient.

Storage space rental agreement: 

For your protection, a storage facility provides a written agreement. Read it thoroughly and ask the storage consultant to answer your questions. Make note of your payment date to see if the agreement covers prorated rental periods. A rental agreement is a binding contract stating the duties and obligations of you and the storage operator. If you change your address or phone number, be sure to notify the storage facility in writing.

Insure your stored property: 

Self storage customers rent space and store their property at their sole risk. Your goods are not insured by the storage facility. If you do not have insurance, ask your facility consultant if they have insurance information. Some facilities have agreements with insurance companies so you can purchase insurance right at the facility.

Prohibited storage goods:

Common sense and state laws determine what may be stored. You alone control access to your storage unit space: therefore, never store live animals, perishables, liquids, explosives, flammable liquids and fuels, toxic materials or other items that need a controlled environment. Remember to drain the fuel from gasoline engines before storage.

Specific Storage Tips

Appliances:

Specific Storage Tips

Bicycles, Tool and Other Metal Items:

To retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil. Long handled tools such as rakes, shovels and hoes should be clean, lightly oiled and tied in bundles.

Books and Documents:

Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors but use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing materials (bubble wrap, newspaper) to fill out empty pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box with books and do not overload them.

Bedding, Clothing, Curtains, Drapes and Linens:

Clothing, curtains and drapes should be stored on hangers. If hanging cartons are not available, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers or cedar chests with bedding and linens. Food crumbs or stains should be removed before storage and 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. 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 empty pockets with packing. Label all boxes containing glassware and do not place heavy items on boxes containing glassware.

Furniture:

Place a pallet, corrugated cardboard mat or plastic sheet 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 which cannot be disassembled. Finally, place a light cotton (e.g. a bed sheet) dust cover on your furniture. Some facilities sell covers for your convenience.

Holiday Decorations:

Save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing material or newspaper. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing material.

Lamps:

Wrap large lamp bases in padding, wrap smaller lamps and place them in boxes and pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newspaper to wrap lampshades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items on cartons containing lamps or lamp shades.

Mirrors, Windows and Screens:

These items should be stored upright, not flat.

CDs, Tapes, Records and Phonographs:

CDs, tapes and records should be stored on edge to prevent warping. When moving a record player, the tone arm and turntable should be secured to prevent damage.