Looking at storing your personal items in a storage unit for a long or short time?  We recommend that you take sometime to prepare  and make sure your goods are stored in a way that will minimise the chance of damage occurring.   To assist you we have put together some helpful storage tips:

• Make sure items are stored in suitable boxes and wrapped carefully, if needed. Plastic stackable boxes with lids are great for keeping items dry and safe. 
• Try not to overload boxes with too many heavy items, such as books or tools.  Overweight cartons are hard to lift and move, and can crush items beneath them or full apart when moved.
• Place large, strong, heavy items at the rear of the space. Then work forwards and upwards with lighter, fragile items.
• It is a good idea to keep some room at the front of your unit for items you might need access to. Keeping some walkways around furniture pieces is helpful if you will be accessing your storage space regularly. Shelves can make it very easy to access your items without “digging down” through stacked cartons, however please do not attach these to the walls of your unit.
• Label your cartons, and keep a list of your cartons to help you locate specific items.
• Ensure your fridge, freezer and other whiteware are thoroughly DRY, CLEAN and EMPTY. Store your fridges and freezers with their doors slightly ajar, and with a deodoriser inside.  It is not recommended to store anything else inside as the shelves and linings can be easily marked and damaged
• It is recommended that you empty your wardrobes, drawers and cupboards to protect their shelving and structure. Pack clothing and personal goods in strong sealed cartons with some naphthalene or mothballs to protect and maintain their condition.
• Make sure to vacuum food crumbs from between sofa cushions to avoid attracting vermin.
• Protect fragile items with careful packing. Wrap them individually. Nest cups and bowls. Stand plates, sauce platters and casserole  dishes on their edges. Fill any gaps in the carton with packing such as scrunched paper or bubble wrap to prevent items from moving around. Label all cartons containing fragile items and store them toward the top of carton stacks.
• Store mirrors, windows, screens and paintings on their edge, not lying flat, and well protected by bubble-wrap or in a flat pack carton.
• Pack lying flat not on their spines.
• Wrap silver in NON ACID tissue paper or plastic bags to help reduce tarnishing. Wipe chrome or cast iron with a little machine oil to help retard rust.
• It is best not to leave cartons partially full or bulging as they can tip or collapse.
• Store any machinery with an empty fuel tank, and appliances or toys with batteries removed.

PLEASE NOTE: You are not allowed to store any goods that are illegal, stolen, flammable, explosive, environmentally harmful, hazardous, perishable or that otherwise present a risk to property or people.