Moving day is approaching quickly, and you need to toss your belongings in a storage unit now. Whether you are looking at short-term storage as you wait a couple of weeks for your new home to be ready, or long-term storage as you embark on an international work assignment, what you pack and how you pack it make a big difference in how well the items do in storage.

You know you need to find a clean facility with good security and preferably climate control. But what else? Organization is a big part of successfully storing items, too.

What Is the Best Way to Organize a Storage Unit?

Try to keep smaller things off the floor by placing them on racks; for larger items like furniture, place a plastic tarp on the floor and place the furniture on that. (And then you can place additional items on the furniture.) If you end up having to put boxes on the floor of the unit, place a tarp under those, too. The tarp protects the items from dust and from water or other liquids seeping in from outside or from other units.

Be sure you have enough space to move around the unit and can access most items without moving anything else. If you do have to block something with another box, ensure air can still circulate and that you can at least see the items in back easily.

Packing Furniture for a Storage Unit in Sioux City

Assuming the furniture is clean and dry (if it’s not, clean it now and make sure it’s completely dry before placing it in the storage unit), place dust covers and then furniture blankets over each piece. Do not let the ends of the covers or blankets drape onto the ground. Instead, tuck the ends under cushions or tape the ends to the undersides of each piece. Glass items, including picture frames, need to be wrapped in bubble wrap. Mattresses and box springs can go in special mattress bags that the storage facility likely sells.

Packing Appliances for a Storage Unit

Small appliances should go in their original boxes if you still have them. If not, wrap them in packing paper and a small cardboard box that is then taped shut and wrapped in plastic. Large appliances should have all loose parts removed, bundled, and secured. Use furniture blankets to cover the exterior of the appliance completely.

Packing Electronics for a Storage Unit

If you have any electronics going into storage, get a climate-controlled unit. Excessive temperatures or humidity will damage electronic items. If you have the original boxes, place the items in those; otherwise, put them in cardboard boxes, wrapped well with packing paper and bubble wrap if needed. Tape boxes closed completely and wrap the box in plastic. Remember to label cords so you know which goes where when you unpack.

Packing Clothing for a Storage Unit

All clothes must be dry before going into storage. Do not leave any openings whatsoever in the box when you place it in storage. Those handy openings in the side of the box that you can use as handles? Tape those over. Don’t use vacuum-packing bags because the clothing will come out very wrinkled after being compressed for so long. Do fold the clothes neatly.

If you need storage in Sioux City, contact Olympic Storage. You can choose from different unit sizes with 24/7 access. And best of all, the facility offers climate control to help keep your belongings in good shape.