Useful tools for your storage unit
Posted on: 25 January 2018
A self storage unit is a great way to keep your belongings secure, whether you're just storing them temporarily during a move or taking advantage of affordable extra space. To really get the most out of your storage unit, however, you'll want to have a few extra pieces of equipment handy.
Shipping pallets
Items like books and clothing can pick up a musty odour if they're stored over a long period in an area with poor air circulation. To prevent this, you want to leave some room for air to flow around your storage boxes. Always leave an inch or two of space between stacks of boxes, as well as between boxes and walls. To really help with this problem, you can also place your boxes on shipping pallets, which will leave some space for air to circulate beneath them.
Shelves
If you're putting bookcases or shelving units into storage, consider putting them to use as a way of organising your items. Stacks of cardboard boxes -- the traditional method of keeping items in storage -- can be unstable, crushing items in the lower boxes and possibly even collapsing. Setting up shelves in your storage unit will help you keep boxes organised and safe. They're also a great way to deal with irregular items that don't fit in conventional storage boxes.
Markers and labels
You should label your boxes before they go into storage, but packing in a hurry means this can sometimes be overlooked. Additionally, you may have to remove items from boxes or add new ones, requiring you to update your labels. Keep a spare permanent marker in your storage unit for this purpose.
Light sources
Most storage units have plenty of lighting, but that doesn't mean it's always easy to see when you're surrounded by high shelves and stacks of boxes. Keep a cheap torch near the entrance to your unit and you won't have to worry about hunting in the dark for the one thing you need.
A map
Even in a small storage space, it may not always be easy to tell at a glance where everything is. To avoid this problem, create a rough sketch map of your storage unit, marking the locations of each different group of boxes or items. Keep the map together with your other tools close to the entrance and refer to it when you need to find something quickly.
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