Whether you’re moving, renovating, or simply in need of long or short-term storage units to create more space in your home, it’s crucial to know how to prepare appliances for self storage.
In this blog, we will share our tip tips to ensure safety and preservation of your appliances while they are stored away, regardless of the duration they are in storage units for.
Get Cleaning
As much as you won’t like to hear it, it takes some elbow grease for a successful appliance storage experience. Grab your gloves, scrubs, and strongest detergent, and get cleaning before you store away your various appliances. Thoroughly clean them, both inside and out, from top to bottom. Remember to also clean the filters, tubes, pipes, stains, liquid substances or dust particles, as even the smallest amount of grime or dirt can cause damage, if left in storage units.
After cleaning, ensure that your appliances are completely dry before storing them away. Appliances such as fridges, dishwashers, microwaves, and ovens require extra attention as they come into contact with food most.
Don’t Forget To Drain
The next step when preparing your appliances for self storage is to focus on kitchen appliances with filters, tubes, pipes etc, as they will require additional cleaning. Before heading into storage, they need to be completely drained to prevent freezing and mould growth.
Also, pay attention to areas that retain moisture, such as the defrost pan in fridges and the door seal around dishwashers!
Tip – To properly clean your washing machine and dishwasher pipes, run them through a full cycle while empty, using a cup of bleach and white vinegar.
Tape Before Transporting
Now that your appliances are squeaky clean and bone dry, they’re almost ready to be transported to your storage unit. But first, you need to seal the doors of each appliance with packing tape, so they’re tightly secured and won’t swing open while in transit. You can even keep them sealed while in storage units for an added layer of protection.
Tip – Make sure to buy packing tape specifically as this won’t affect the finishing of your appliances or leave a sticky residue.
Make Sure It’s Stored Upright
While on the move and in storage, it’s essential to store your kitchen appliances in an upright position to avoid any potential internal damage. During storage, we recommend packing them at the back of your storage units for additional protection, and to best utilise space.
Tip – For even more protection, you can keep your appliances off the ground by loading them onto pallets.
Dust Sheets And Bubble Wrap Protect Against Dents And Dirt
It’s easy for your kitchen appliances to get dented, scratched, chipped, or damaged by dust and dirt in self storage if they’re not covered with dust sheets or bubble wrap.
Avoid Heavy Stacking
While using storage units, avoid stacking heavy items on top of your appliances, as this can lead to structural damage. If you need to stack items, place lighter ones on top and distribute the weight evenly. By doing so, you minimise the pressure on delicate parts.
Regular Check-ups And Maintenance
It’s a good idea to check on your appliances periodically during their stay in storage. Look for any signs of damage, pests, or moisture. If needed, wipe down surfaces and perform basic maintenance tasks to keep your appliances in tip-top shape.
If you have followed these tips, you should now be well on your way to keep all of your important appliances in tip-top shape while they are being kept in storage.
Not quite found your perfect storage solution for your appliances? Get in touch today, we’d be more than happy to discuss your options with you.
