When it comes to storage, some people are in it for the long haul, and use their unit as a more permanent storage solution. We’ve had customers store with RedSpot for over 5 years!
If you are looking at a long term storage solution, it’s important to note, some items may require different care when being stored for a long period of time. To help you do it right, we’ve gathered some of the most important long term storage tips.
1) Assess Your Belongings
One of the first things you should do, even before you put stuff into storage, is thoroughly assess your stuff you need to put into storage. This way, you can make s decision on your storage requirements.
To get started, make a list of the things you want to store. If you find yourself in need of a hand while working out how much space you’re going to need, try our free space calculator, to see what sized storage unit you’ll need. While you are assessing your items, you may come across stuff you no longer want. You could sell, donate or just get rid of them, allowing you to save yourself a bit of space.
2) Make Sure All Your Items Are Clean And Dry
This is potentially the most important thing of all. Before you place your belongings into a storage unit, you want to make sure they are clean and dry. Items that are left with food remnants, dirt, mud or are still wet can be a big attractor for pests, as well as mould and damp. Which nobody wants, especially if you are leaving your belongings for a couple of years. If you are cleaning items with water, make sure to give them plenty of time to sufficiently dry, otherwise condensation could creep in to your unit.
3) Avoid Using Plastic
While plastic bags are very convenient, and can hold a lot of items, they are also known to trap moisture, leading to damp and condensation coming into your unit. If you are storing for a long-period of time, this could cause a lot of harm that can easily be avoided! The best way to avoid this is by using cardboard boxes. Cardboard boxes are known to be the best storage option. They are strong, sturdy, and also easy to stack on top of each other. Everything you are looking for when storing for long-term.
4) Label All Boxes
This is another crucial step for long term storage success. Before placing a box into your storage unit, make sure the outside is labelled with a list of contents. This will save you a load of time down the line when you come to take your stuff out of storage, or you are in need of one specific item. You won’t have to route through every box to find it.
5) Create An Inventory List
Since you will not be entering your storage very often, it will be helpful to know what you actually have in there. Create yourself an inventory list that you can refer to, so you will be able to find what you are looking for when you come to take your belongings out of storage in a few years time. If you have time, you could also create yourself a map of your storage unit, so you know where each of your boxes are stored. Saving yourself plenty of time.
6) Never Abandon Your Storage Unit
The biggest mistake we’ve seen people make when storing items long term is to put them into storage, and never check up on them until it’s time to move out. If there is a problem with your items, it’s important that it’s addressed immediately. Checking up on your storage unit will make you aware of a problem as soon as it occurs.
Read through our storage tips and think you are ready to book a storage unit? Get in touch with RedSpot today, and one of our storage experts will be more than happy to discuss your storage options with you.
