How to Prepare Your Goods for Long Term Storage

 In Storage

Are you thinking of putting some goods away in storage? Then you’ll need to take some precautionary steps before storing your goods long term.

It is possible to preserve your belongings in storage, so they’ll be in good shape when it is time they come out.

But don’t think that simply boxing your goods in long-term storage will preserve or protect them! There are many steps you can take to ensure that your possessions will be as good as new when they come out of storage.

Use Sturdy New Cardboard Boxes

Here are some steps that will help your goods survive unharmed in long term storage:

1. Use Sturdy New Cardboard Boxes

Use boxes or airtight plastic bins to store the smaller items. Used boxes can contain moisture, bugs and mould, or have wear and tear that can cause them to collapse or tear. Replace any old or recycled box with a clean, new box before storage.

Never Use Plastic Bags2. Never Use Plastic Bags

Never wrap items in plastic bags or store goods such as clothes in plastic bags. Moisture can collect in these bags and cause items to rot. This is a major problem in Australia because many people live close to the ocean.

Check For Moisture3. Check For Moisture

Check all items for moisture, mould and dampness before storing them. This includes clothing, furniture, books, paper, kitchen utensils, tools and anything that can rot or rust. Dry or throw away anything that is damp, wet or mouldy.

Run all clothing and sheets through the dryer before placing them in storage to make 100% sure they are dry.

Check for Insects4. Check for Insects

Check everything for insects before storage. This includes clothing and furniture. If you think there’s a chance of bugs, spray insecticide before storage. If something is infested with bugs, consider throwing it out.

Sell or Throw Away5. Sell or Throw Away

Go through your goods and see if there’s anything you can get rid of.

It might be a good idea to hold a garage sale, or list your goods for sale on Gumtree, before packing for storage.

Food Quarantine6. Food Quarantine

Never put food, even canned or dried food, in long term storage.

Check all the goods you put into storage for food debris or residue.

Food can attract rodents, insects and other pests. It can also rot and create some nasty odours.

Protect Your Valuables7. Protect Your Valuables

Put valuables, such as jewellery and collectible coins, in a safety deposit box – or give them to a friend or relative that you trust for safe keeping.

Make Copies of Important Documents8. Make Copies of Important Documents

Make sure that you have a backup copy of business and financial records, such as bank statements and tax records, before you store them. A good way to do this is to scan those items and put the records in secure cloud storage. This way you can access them from anywhere.

Also, you can store important documents such as marriage licenses, titles, wills and deeds in a safety deposit box.

Don’t Play with Fire9. Don’t Play with Fire

If you put any petrol-powered device such as a lawn mower into long-term storage, make sure to drain the fuel from it first.

Never store flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel fuel or kerosene.

Throw or give these away before you move.

Avoid Storing Liquids10. Avoid Storing Liquids

Avoid storing bottles or containers full of liquid because they can leak and damage other items in storage.

If you need to store breakable bottles, put them in a tight plastic tub on the bottom. Make sure the bottles are carefully packed in something soft, like old newspaper or old clothing to prevent breakage.

Fragile Items, Furniture and Appliances11. Fragile Items, Furniture and Appliances

Make sure that all fragile items, such as glasses and china, are wrapped in newspapers, old clothing, old sheets or foam peanuts.

Vacuum all furniture first. Then cover the furniture with clean white sheets before you store them.

Clean all appliances carefully before storage. Make sure that all water has been drained from washing machines before you store them.

12. If You Need to Move Goods, Use a PODS container

If You Need to Move Goods, Use a PODS containerA POD is a portable container that a truck drops off at your home. You pack it yourself and make sure everything is safe and secure inside. Then a truck and driver will arrive to transport your goods to the new destination. It’s the easiest (and safest) way to transport goods in long-term storage.

Although there are many threats that can destroy your goods in long-term storage, you have the solutions in your hands. If you correctly use and apply the tips outlined in this article your goods will stay very well-preserved for many years to come.

Showing 4 comments
  • Alan
    Reply

    do you have vents in the pods

    • Lisa Gerding
      Reply

      Most of our PODS Containers are lined with ply wood (which breaths), some versions do have vents. If you can contact 1800 467 637 one of our moving specialists will give you a quote.

  • Preston
    Reply

    How much is a medium 10 by 10 storage and container storage?

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