Storage & Packing Tips

Maximizing your storage unit’s potential through strategic packing and storage is an art and a skill. Whether putting decorations into storage or moving to a new home, methodical packing can be the key to staying organized and simplifying the storage process. 

Glacier West Self Storage has compiled some essential tips and tricks to give you the upper hand in making your storing process a well-oiled machine. 

Packing Tips 

• Be prepared. Before packing, you should have boxes, tape, packing materials, marker pens, and furniture covers on hand. If you don’t know where to find these supplies, most Glacier West Self Storage facilities have them available for purchase on-site. 
• Start packing early. Packing nearly always takes longer than you think, so give yourself plenty of time to do it right. 
• Seal boxes. Use packing tape to help prevent dust and dirt from settling on your items. 
• Label everything. Mark boxes on all sides according to what they are storing and take down a list of what you’ve stored to identify where things are being kept easily. Additionally, any boxes containing fragile items should be labeled as such. 
• Use drawers and appliances. Save space by keeping smaller items in furniture like dressers or refrigerators you plan on storing. Be sure to line any fragile items with towels or packing materials.  
• Put big things in small packages. Heavy items like tools and books should be kept in smaller boxes for easy carrying. A box should weigh at most 30 pounds as a rule of thumb. Any excess space in a box should be filled with packing materials. 
• Protect your furniture. Wrap furniture legs in Bubble Wrap or protective pads to safeguard against scratching during the moving process. Mattresses, wooden furniture, and upholstered chairs should be covered with furniture covers or plastic bags to help block out dust. Be sure to tie bed rails together.  
• Hang your clothes. To help keep clothes and draperies in good condition, hang them in wardrobe boxes.  
• Cushion fragile items. Belongings such as plates and glassware must be individually wrapped and cushioned with packing paper, with plates stacked on edge. Books should be laid flat and lined with paper. 
• Ready your appliances. Any appliances you plan on storing must be cleaned and dried before storage, with doors taped shut during transport and wedged open during storage. Pad moveable parts with packing paper for protection. 
• Pad wall decor. Mirrors, art, and picture frames must be padded with paper and placed in large boxes.  

Storing Tips 

• Strategically stack. Your heaviest belongings should be on the bottom, with lighter and more fragile boxes on top. Flat furniture like tables and dressers should be stacked top to top to maximize your space. Place your most frequently used items toward the front of your storage unit. 
• Make a path. Create a center aisle through your unit for easy access to all your storage. 
• Tightly pack paper items. Store photographs and paintings flat between two pieces of cardboard to prevent them from curling. 
• Keep furniture legs off the floor. If possible, remove the legs from your furniture. You can also store tables and sofas on end to save space, so long as you wrap the surface of these items. 
• Stack on pallets. Use skids or pallets to avoid placing boxes directly on the concrete. 
• Avoid storing prohibited items. By law, several items and materials cannot be stored in your unit. Check our FAQ page for more information. 
• Drain engines. Gasoline and oil need to be drained from lawnmowers and other items with engines. 
• Lay down your mattresses. Cover and store your mattresses flat on a level surface. 
• Place long handles in cans. Shovels, rakes, hoes, and other long-handled items should be kept in trash cans or wardrobe boxes.
• Wipe down metal. All metal surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with a cloth that contains a few drops of machine oil to prevent rust. 
• Lock it up. Invest in a high-quality lock for your storage unit, which we have for sale at our facilities.  

Contact us for additional inquiries on how best to store with Glacier West Self Storage.