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Lazy Man’s Guide
to Fast and Easy Packing
OK,
you’ve sized up your space requirements, read up on three
simple steps that can save you hundreds of dollars in storage
expenses and now it’s time to pack. Grab a
highlighter and let’s get on to some fast and more efficient
ways to tame this monster.
1.
Appliances and Large Furniture
First,
if you plan on storing wood furniture for long time and are
subject to extremes in humidity and temperature, consider
climate control. Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it gives up
moisture in a dry atmosphere and takes on moisture in a damp
one. A good coat of wax or furniture oil is the very best
thing you can do for your furniture before exiling it into
storage.
HOT TIP :
use furniture and large
appliances as extra storage space for linens, clothing and
blankets etc. Just make sure that that washing machine or
dryer is thoroughly dry. You don’t want mold and mildew
greeting you next time in. Leave doors cracked. Store
sofas as they would normally sit, and you can always use them
for storing lighter items such as fluffy pillows. Leaving a
space between the walls of the storage unit and furniture to
avoid moisture damage from condensation.
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2. Arts,
Crystal, Fine China
Accept
it. You’re going to forget… what is what and…
what is where… in your mountain of boxes, so pack it
carefully and mark it plainly with "Fragile" in
large letters, and on more than one side. If you have
to, restack so that lighter items end up on top and don’t
get crushed.
Picture boxes ($4-5) can be used for artwork. Paper pads work
just as well. The trick is to store artwork upright and off
the ground to protect against mold.
There
are special boxes with dividers for china and crystal. Don’t
cheap out here. Use them.
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3.
Books, Photos, Documents
Here’s
a way to save your back and keep your friends. Pack
books in small boxes.
Also: pack books flat. Packing them upright can damage the
spines.
HOT TIP:
Consider lining book boxes with plastic or placing boxes
on pallets in case of water leakage. One damaged box
can make what was a handsome law library worthless.
Plastic storage baggies (Zip Locks) are ideal for valuable
documents. Photographs curl up over time, so place them flat
between sheets of cardboard and tape shut.
HOT TIP:
For priceless photos, keep negatives in a safe deposit box
(they don’t take up that much space), or scan the photos
and burn them onto a CD.
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4.
Clothing and Linens
For
as little as $11 you can store your clothes in a wardrobe
box. Plastic ones with metal frames cost more, but not a
lot more. Whichever you choose, use plastic hangers and toss
in some mothballs or cedar chips for sweaters and wools.
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5.
Computers and Electronics
Store electronics in separate boxes and use plenty of
padding. Back up all computer files and either keep the disk
with you or put it in a safe deposit box.
HOT TIP:
Remove toner cartridges and fax film from copiers and fax
machines. If you have a high volume business copier,
call your leasing company or manufacturer and ask if you
are required to notify them prior to moving the machine.
You could be invalidating your warranty.
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6.
Vehicles, Boats and RVs
Put
antifreeze in the cooling system or drain water lines
to prevent freezing.
Tires must be inflated and gas tank must be completely full or completely empty. All glass must be in tact. Current tags and insurance are a must for all motorized vehicles.
HOT TIP:
Is there an outlet available so that you can hook up a
trickle charger for dead batteries?
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7. More
Hot Tips…
Map out how you will place everything within the unit so
that you can access
all of your items. See… storage
tips… for an illustration.
The StorageWorks has all the packing supplies you need.
Check out what we have in
stock.
For climate-sensitive valuables, look into… Who
Needs Climate Control?
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