Helpful Hints | Specific Storage Tips | Selecting
a Unit | Size Guidelines
Helpful Hints
for Storage Customers
1. Plan your storage space. Place those items that
you may need to access often in the front. Allow for walkways.
2. Make up an inventory of your stored items and keep
it in a safe place at home or in a safe deposit box.
3. Place your storage items on 2 x 4 boards or on pallets
to guard against dampness. Any concrete floor may become cold
and damp.
4. CAUTION: Do not store anything COMBUSTIBLE (i.e.,
paint thinner, gasoline, solvents, paint, etc.).
5. Use uniform size boxes for easy stacking. Be sure your boxes are
strong enough to hold 25 lbs. to 30 lbs. (It is best not to put too
much in each box).
6. List contents of boxes on all four sides; number the boxes, seal
them with tape. 
7. Stack lighter boxes on top of heavier boxes.
8. Dishes and glasses should be wrapped in paper and
packed in sturdy boxes. Stack them on top.
9. Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in cardboard,
marked "FRAGILE" and stacked on end.
10. Furniture with drawers can be utilized as storage
places for pictures, nick-knacks, china, silverware, small items,
etc. Wrap them in tablecloths, towels or blankets to prevent
breakage.
11. Larger appliances make excellent "packing
cases" for blankets, towels, tablecloths, and clothes.
12. Shovels, hoes, rakes and hoses can be stored together
in empty trash cans. Stack extra cans inside one another.
13. Tables having removable legs should be "broken
down" to save space.
14. Sofas and love-seats can be stored on end to save
floor space. Always place a protective cover under the item on
the concrete. Cushions should be wrapped in plastic and placed
on top.
15. Cover stuffed furniture with cardboard or blankets
to protect against dust.
16. If you stand mattresses on their side, "prop"
them up so they stand straight. They may tend to bend out of
shape and become lumpy.
17. Rent the smallest amount of space you need and
pack the space full.
18. Prepare your space by placing a protective cover
on the floor under your goods.
19. Do not place heavy or sharp objects on top of upholstered
furniture.
20. Use a good quality lock on your door. Cheap locks
rust and do not provide good security.
Specific Storage
Tips
APPLIANCES: A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly
dry and stored with its doors slightly ajar. Items can be stored
inside large appliances. Cartons can be stacked on top of stoves,
refrigerators and freezers. Make sure that stove and baking equipment
are cleaned before they are packed.
BICYCLES AND OTHER METAL ITEMS: To prevent rust, wipe
all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine
oil.
BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS: Pack books flat To protect their
spines. Do not place boxes directly on floor. Use pallets or
skids to prevent moisture. Use packing paper to fill out empty
pockets in the cartons. Do not pack fragile items in the same
carton with books. Do not overload.
BEDDING, CLOTHING, CURTAINS, DRAPES AND LINEN: Clothing,
curtains and drapes should be stored on hangers. If hanging facilities
are not available, such items should be carefully folded and
stored in dresser drawers or cedar chests along with bedding
and linen. Some facilities sell wardrobe safe cardboard cartons
which help protect your clothing. Food crumbs or stains should
be removed before storage. Avoid storing anything that will attract
rodents.
DISHES AND GLASSWARE: Place a layer of packing inside
both the bottom and tops of cartons containing glassware. Label
all cartons containing glass. All glass items should be individually
wrapped. Nest cups and bowls and stand plates, saucers and platters
on edge. Wrapped glasses should be placed toward the top of the
carton with padding above them. Fill all pockets with newspaper.
Do not place heavy items atop boxes containing glassware.
FURNITURE: Place a pallet, cardboard mat or plastic sheet on the floor
and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Disassemble beds and tables and wrap
table legs in paper. If a table will not disassemble, place padding on the
floor and place the table on its top with the legs pointing up. Use dresser
tops for stacking cartons and dresser drawers for linens or small, delicate
items. Keep upholstery off the floor. Most lightweight chairs should be stacked
"seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables which cannot be disassembled.
Place a light dust cover over your furniture.
 HOLIDAY
DECORATIONS: Save the cartons which contained delicate ornaments and pad
the ornaments with packing paper or newsprint. Wrap strings of lights around
a piece of cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing paper.
LAMPS: Wrap large lamp bases in padding. Wrap smaller lamps and place
them in cartons. Pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newsprint
to wrap lamp shades or any other goods which may be damaged by ink stains.
Do not store heavy items atop cartons containing lamps or lamp shades.
MIRRORS, WINDOWS AND SCREENS: These items should be stored on edge,
not flat.
RECORDS AND PHONOGRAPHS: Records should be stored on edge to prevent
warping. When moving a record player, the tone arm and turntable should be
secured to prevent bouncing.
TOOLS: Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag containing
a few drops of machine oil to retard rust. Long-handled tools such as rake,
shovels and hoes should be clean, lightly oiled and tied in bundles.
Selecting a Unit
SELF-SERVICE STORAGE is the most economical and convenient way to
store your property.
WHEN SELECTING A UNIT, remember that the rent is determined by the
unit's size. Ask the facility manager to help you choose a size which fits
your requirements.
REMEMBER, a small efficiently-packed unit will cost less than a larger
unit in which the contents are poorly arranged.
HELPFUL TIPS
1. Inspect your storage unit and make a list of the packing accessories
which you will need. Commonly used packing aids include such items as newsprint
or wrapping paper, bubble-pack, tape, rope, drop cloths, polyurethane sheeting,
mattress and furniture covers, pallets, skids. dehumidifiers and cartons.
The manager may have some or all of these items for sale on the premises.
2. Place a pallet on the floor. Do not lean items against walls. Leaving
air space around the units perimeter will aid ventilation. Leave a walkway
to the rear of the unit. Use all the space available, including its height.
Disassemble items such as bed frames.
3. Place frequently used items near the door.
4. Fill containers to capacity. Partially full or bulging cartons may
tip or collapse. Heavy items such as books or tools should be packed in small
boxes. If a carton is too heavy, it will be hard to lift and should be divided
between two or more cartons.
5. Fragile items should be cushioned by packing and placed toward the
top of the unit.
6. Label cartons and take home a list of the labeled cartons for ease
reference when you need to locate your property.
THE RENTAL AGREEMENT
FOR YOUR PROTECTION, insist on a written agreement and read it thoroughly.
The manager will answer any questions which you may have. Make note of the
payment date and see if the agreement covers pro-rated rental periods. Find
out how and when performance deposits are refunded or forfeited upon termination
of the agreement. REMEMBER TO NOTIFY the facility in writing if you change
your address or phone number.
INSURE YOUR GOODS
ITEMS PLACED IN SELF-SERVICE STORAGE UNITS are the sole responsibility
of their owner. They are not insured by the facility operator. If your insurance
does not cover stored possessions, check with the facility manager or your
local insurance agent about acquiring low-cost insurance coverage for your
goods.
SINCE YOU ALONE CONTROL ACCESS to your storage space, there are some
items which should never be placed in a storage unit. They include. live animals,
perishable, liquids, explosives, and all flammable liquids and fuels.
YOU CONTROL THE COST of storing your property in a self-service storage
facility. Since the rental price of a unit depends on its size, the way you
pack and arrange your mini-storage unit determines its cost.
Members of the Self Storage Association are pledged to the highest standards
of cleanliness, efficiency and integrity. Look for this sign when you need
additional storage space.
What size of Storage space do you need?
|
Size
|
What will it store? |
Cubic Feet
|
|
5 x 5
|
Sports equipment, small furniture, chests of drawers, chairs,
rugs, boxes of household items |
200 cf
|
|
5 x 10
|
Household items and furniture, beds, couches, refrigerators,
washers, dryers, lawn mowers, garden tools, bicycles, motorcycles, outdoor
furniture.
1-2 bedroom apartment contents |
400 cf
|
| 10 x 10 |
Household items and furniture, beds, couches, refrigerators, washers,
dryers, lawn mowers, garden tools, bicycles, motorcycles, outdoor furniture.
1-2 bedroom apartment contents |
600 cf |
|
10 x 15
|
Household items, major appliances, shop tools, parts, merchandise,
inactive files and records.
2 bedroom apartment or small house |
800 cf
|
| 10 x 25 |
Furniture and household items from a moderate sized house, small
automobile or boat.
3-4 bedroom dwelling contents |
1300 cf |
|
10 x 30
|
Furniture and household items from a large sized house, small automobile
or boat.
Contents of a 55 foot moving van |
1600 cf
|
|
