Start by assessing what goods you will need to pack. Determine what boxes and moving supplies (packing paper, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, mattress and furniture covers, etc.) you will need. You will find a large selection of boxes and moving supplies at low prices for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.
Make a complete list of all goods you will be storing including brand names and serial numbers. Keep this list in a safe place away from your unit.
Make sure to label each box with its contents to provide for easy identification of the goods they contain. Labeling all four sides of each box makes identifying them much easier once inside your unit.
When you disassemble electronics such as computers and stereo equipment that have numerous cables, place small colored stickers on the cable and the same color sticker on the electronic where the cable goes. Whenever possible use the original packaging for electronic items.
Boxes should be packed securely to prevent collapsing. Use newsprint or packing peanuts to fill idle space. You will find a large selection of boxes for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.
When packing boxes make sure to check the box “Gross Weight Limit” to determine the maximum allowable weight the box can hold. The “Gross Weight Limit” is typically located on the bottom of each box.
Make sure all glass items are individually wrapped. When packing dishes and glasses, make sure plenty of packing material is used to secure safely. You will find a large selection of packing materials for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.
Do not use printed newsprint to pack your goods as ink from the newsprint may smudge and ruin your goods.
Clothes which are hung in closets should be stored on hangers in boxes. You will find wardrobe boxes with metal hanger bars for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.
Appliances such as refrigerators and freezers should be cleaned inside and left to dry prior to storing to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Ready To Store
Check with your local homeowners/renters insurance agent prior to storing to verify if you have adequate protection coverage to cover your goods while in storage. Hardy’s Self Storage requires your goods be protected while in storage and offers tenant protection plans in a variety of coverage options; see the facility at which you are storing for more information.
Prior to unloading bulky and heavy items into your unit check with the facility at which you are storing to see if any dollies or moving carts are available for your use.
Put wooden pallets on the floor of your unit. This will allow air to circulate through your goods. Check with the facility at which you are storing to see if pallets can be provided for your convenience.
Put your larger goods that you don’t need to access into the unit first. Try to keep all goods you will need to access more frequently towards the front of the unit.
When possible, try to leave a small aisle within your unit to allow access to your goods located in the rear.
When stacking boxes, make sure to put the heavier boxes on the bottom of each stack with the lightest boxes near the top of each stack.
Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in cardboard and marked “FRAGILE”. These fragile items should be stacked on their ends and not have other boxes stacked on top of them.
Cover your goods with a drop cloth. This will keep any dust that settles off of your goods. You will find a large selection of mattress and furniture covers for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.
When storing furniture, remember that empty drawers can be used as places to store smaller goods. Any small fragile items can be wrapped in tablecloths to prevent breakage.
When storing tables and other furniture, check to see if legs are removable. This will save you more space for other goods.
To conserve space, stand goods such as couches, love seats and mattresses on end. Cushions should be wrapped in plastic and placed on top of couches or love seats. We strongly encourage you to store these types of goods in a plastic cover. You will find a large selection of mattress and furniture covers for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.
Do not store any heavy goods or sharp items on top of upholstered furniture to avoid damage to the integrity of that item.
When standing mattresses on their end make sure to prop them up straight in order to prevent them from bending out of shape and becoming lumpy.
When storing appliances, remember that the empty space inside of them can be used to store smaller goods.
When storing machine equipment, make sure all fluids are drained to prevent corrosion and danger.
Metal tools should be tied in bundles together, and any metal surfaces should be wiped down with machine oil to retard rust.
Empty trash cans are an ideal place to store metal tools and any trash cans not used should be stacked inside one another whenever possible to utilize space.
Try to stack chairs on top of one another seat-to-seat. This will conserve space and prevent dust collection on chair seats.
Do not store any goods that are combustible, flammable, or perishable for your safety and that of others.
Always use a secure padlock on your unit. You will find a large selection padlocks for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.
Start by assessing what goods you will need to pack. Determine what boxes and moving supplies (packing paper, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, mattress and furniture covers, etc.) you will need. You will find a large selection of boxes and moving supplies at low prices for purchase at your nearest Hardy’s Self Storage facility.