If you’re reading this, one of a few things could be true. Chances are that you’re either moving, downsizing, or about to make way for a major renovation in your home/apartment. After choosing the right storage unit for your needs, now it’s time to pack things up and move them into your storage unit.
But household appliances can be quite delicate and if not properly handled/stored they could sustain damage or develop potentially catastrophic issues.
You wouldn’t want to have your whole house go down because of an old fridge that stopped working because you didn’t know how to properly store it in a self-storage unit, would you?
Thankfully, here are some tips on the best ways to prepare and store home appliances in a storage unit properly.
1. Rent the Right Storage Unit Size
Before you start moving things in, you want to make sure you choose the right storage unit. Since your appliances will be in there, you want to make sure it’s the right size so they won’t all be crammed into the same area.
For example, if you have a high-end new kitchen appliance like a dishwasher, a large-capacity unit might be a perfect choice – because the items in the unit will be much more accessible compared to a small compact unit.
However, if you have several appliances that are only small in size, you might want to opt for a smaller compact unit, like the units found in most self-storage facilities. The best thing is that hunting for storage space has become quite easy these days.
With a tool like Self Storage Finders, you can locate storage spaces in San Antonio or any other area you might be interested in Texas. The results should give you several options to choose from in terms of the self-storage unit type you need, size, location, and pricing.
2. Clean the Appliances
It’s important to clean appliances prior to taking them into the storage facility. This is especially important with large items, like a large-capacity appliance that could have a lot of space for damage.
Especially for large must-have kitchen appliances like fridges, cookers, ovens, dishwashers, and dry cleaners, the key is to give it a good scrubbing to get rid of any dirt or grime and leave it looking brand new.
3. Remove All Detachable Parts
Some appliances like fridges, ovens and washing machines may have removable parts like shelves, drawers, lids, and so forth.
If this is the case, you’ll want to remove the shelves and make sure they’re properly stored with the rest of the appliances in the storage unit.
This helps prevent damage, misplacement, or even injury when moving the appliances. If detachable, cords of different appliances should also be wrapped together using a rubber band or tape.
4. Wrap and Cover Them with A Protective Cover
Using a protective cover will help prevent damage to the appliances while being moved during transport. Make sure to wrap the appliance in thick bubble wrap and use tape to ensure the cover is secure.
5. Pack Appliances in Boxes Individually
This may be easier said than done, but you want to ensure that all of the appliances are properly packed before being placed in the storage unit.
They shouldn’t be packed all together in one big box since that could cause damage to some items. A single box for each appliance will make the moving process much more manageable.
6. Clean and Prepare the Storage Area
You should definitely make sure the storage area is clean and has nothing living inside, like garbage or clutter. This will help ensure the best storage conditions.
While at it, you may also want to think about insulating the floor and making plans for proper air circulation.
If you plan on storing very large appliances, you might want to consider putting them on a pallet or a wooden base.
7. Create A Photo Log
You’ll also want to document the items and how they’ve been packed in the storage unit. This can help you make future arrangements for your appliances should you decide to rent a storage unit that’s suitable for larger appliances.
Conclusion
Appliances are some of the most important (and sometimes most expensive) possessions in many homes. As you can see, there are many considerations to make before putting them in a storage unit.
Improper preparation can cause grave damage to these crucial possessions, not to mention that their repair or replacement costs could put a big dent in your wallet. With the pointers above in mind, however, you can confidently and safely store household appliances in a storage unit without much worry or stress.
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