Do you hate having to sift through your self-storage unit for items that you know are somewhere in there? Organizing your self-storage unit is often a matter of starting the right way. Begin organizing now by establishing the following tips and habits.
Before anything gets sent down to storage, it should be inventoried. Every box you send in should be clearly labeled, and you should have a list that you keep with you of items that are in that box.
This is really important, because what happens if a natural disaster occurs and your items are damaged? What happens if you forget to lock your self-storage unit and it's robbed? This inventory will give you everything you need to give to your insurance company (or the self-storage company's insurance company) so that you can be reimbursed.
The ideal way to store items is often to store them against the walls of the unit before storing them in the center. Fill the back and then move along the left and right walls, leaving an easy access path. Position boxes so that their labels are on the outside, and you'll be able to walk into your storage unit at any time and immediately locate the item that you need.
There are affordable, safe, and sturdy racks that you can buy that go up against the walls of a self-storage unit. These racks make it easier for you to use all of the vertical space in your unit, which is often better than simply stacking things on the floor.
Cardboard boxes will be crushed over time, and because they'll be crushed, they can become dangerous. Though plastic bins are easier to stack, they can be more expensive as well. Racks let you store even irregularly sized items safely.
Every year, it's a good idea to consult your trusty inventory list (you did make one, right?) and clean out the items that you no longer need. Old ornaments that you never use anymore, documents that aren't relevant, and furnishings you're never going to use can be trashed, given away, or sold.
If you don't clean out your storage unit periodically, you're likely to keep accumulating different things. And accumulating all of those things will eventually lead to you having to deal with an unwieldy mess every time you need to find something.
Use two sizes of boxes and keep the boxes a reasonable size. Never over pack your boxes. Though you may feel as though you're making more efficient use of your space, you'll simply be creating boxes that are too difficult to move.
Instead of trying to pack boxes full of heavier things, consider alternating lighter items with heavier items, so each box is completely filled while not being as heavy. The smaller the boxes you use, the tighter you'll be able to pack everything in your unit.
You may be tempted to put clothing and other items in sealed plastic bags, but plastic bags are a bad idea for two reasons: they attract mold and mildew, and they are very difficult to stack and store.
Plastic bins are generally better. If you have to store large amounts of clothing, airtight plastic bags that are vacuum sealed can usually be stacked very easily (but you'll need to check them every once in a while for mold).
A properly organized self-storage makes it far easier for you to access and protect your things. If you want to get started storing all of your belongings, contact All American Storage today.
