What Can Fit In Your Storage Space?

Storage Unit Sizes

The following chart is designed to help you visualize exactly how much space is available for storage in some of our most popular unit sizes:

Preparing goods for storage

• Blankets, draperies and clothing – have blankets, draperies and out-of-season clothing cleaned, then pack them inside a plastic bag, inside the box. Hanger boxes should have a plastic liner to keep out dust and moisture.
• Books – pack them flat, not standing on end (which may cause damage to the spines). Books are extremely heavy, so don’t pack too many in one box or mix them with fragile items.
• Electronics/Computers: pack in original boxes if possible, cover, and consider climate controlled units to protect components.
• Mirrors and pictures – large works should be stored in appropriate boxes. Smaller pictures can be wrapped in paper or bubble wrap and stored in boxes with clothing or linens.
• Mattresses – protect them and your furniture with designed plastic covers.
• Furniture and tables – remove legs and disassemble to conserve storage space. Wrap with furniture pads to protect from soil and scratches. Wrap the legs together with packing paper and, if possible, tape them to the protective wrap placed around the corresponding item.
• Photos – old photographs tend to curl over time. To keep them flat, place them between two pieces of cardboard and tape them together. Do not store irreplaceable photos. Negatives take up little space. Consider keeping them with you.
• Documents should probably not be stored – such as birth certificates, family bibles, genealogy, baby books, photo albums, graduation, military service records, legal documents, court records, adoption papers and divorce papers. We suggest keeping them in your possession, or leaving them with a friend who will safeguard them indefinitely. It occasionally happens that someone falls on hard times and has to abandon their storage unit. Don’t take a chance.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Use Pallets, 2 x 4’s, plywood, anything that will keep your items off the floor of the storage unit.
• Utilize all the space in your unit. Make a plan as how you are going to arrange your items. A good plan will save you the time of having to rearrange your unit. Leave an aisle in the center of your unit so that you have a walk way to the back of the unit.
• Label the boxes on all sides and keep a list for easy reference. This will save you time if you have to look for something in particular. When packing fill them without making them too heavy to lift. Always put the heavier boxes on the bottom and the lighter ones on the top of the heavier ones. This will prevent boxes from being crushed.
• Be sure to store frequently used items at the front of the unit to avoid having to search for them.
• To protect your items cover them with moving pads, sheets or light blankets.
• Store mirrors and paintings on end, not flat
• If it is possible store couches on end. Stack chairs seat to seat. When stacking furniture use paper pads in between the items to avoid scratching.
• Do not use plastic to tightly cover your belongings. It retains moisture. A dust cover is advisable.
• Do not store food items.
• Do not pack boxes so that they are too heavy to carry, especially when you are packing books.
• Do not assume that your home owners or renters insurance will cover your belongings while they are in storage.
• Do not give out your password, gate code or any information to any one that is not listed as having “access”.
• Do not use printed newspaper. The ink may smudge and get on your items.
• Do not forget to clean appliances before storing them.
• Do not store any toxins or flammable materials, such as paint, oil or gasoline.
• Do not store Documents – such as birth certificates, family bibles, genealogy, baby books, photo albums, graduation, military service records, legal documents, court records, adoption papers and divorce papers. We suggest keeping them in your possession, or leaving them with a friend who will safeguard them indefinitely. It occasionally happens that someone falls on hard times and has to abandon their storage unit. Don’t take a chance.