Oregon Moving & Packing Tips
Place all smaller items in uniformly sized boxes. Completely fill each box with heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top. Uniformly sized boxes stack easier and conserve storage space. Store smaller, more valuable items to the rear of the unit and large items toward the front of the unit.
Wooden furniture should be covered with blankets to avoid scratches.
Plastic sheeting will protect your stored goods from dust and dirt. Cover everything with plastic sheeting. Use a high quality disc lock to secure your storage unit. This type of lock is difficult to cut or break and offers maximum protection for very little money.
Leave a small airspace between your stored items and wall of the storage unit for proper ventilation. Store items that will not be needed to the rear of the unit and items you will need access to toward the front of the unit.
Preparing Items for Storage
- Books: Pack books flat (rather than standing on end). Doing so will protect the spines that will bend and warp over time if stood upright. Books tend to be heavy, so pack them in small boxes and don’t put them in boxes with other, more fragile items.
- Mattresses: Place mattresses in plastic covers to protect them from dust and dirt.
- Blankets, draperies, and clothing: Have blankets, draperies, and clothing cleaned and then pack them on hangers in wardrobe boxes.
- Lawn mowers: Drain gasoline and oil from all small engines. This precaution will protect both your stored property and the property of others from the dangers of fire and explosion.
- Leather items: Treat leather items (couches, clothes, etc.) with a leather conditioner prior to storing them.
- Furniture and tables: Place blankets over furniture to protect them from scratches and dust.
- Pillows and toys: Store smaller items like this in large, plastic garbage bags or large boxes.
- Photos: Photographs tend to curl over time. To keep them flat, place between pieces of cardboard and tape them together. Do not store irreplaceable photos. Since photos and negatives take up very little space, try to keep these items with you.
- Breakable items: Wrap breakable items inside bubble wrap and store with linens.
- Dishes and glassware: Store these items in specially made boxes called dish packs and glass packs.
- Appliances: Clean and dry all appliances prior to storage. Do not leave anything inside of appliances to be stored. Store all appliances upright with doors ajar to allow ventilation.
- Label boxes items: You’ll know what is in each box without opening it.
- Do not store these items: Furs, jewelry, and other sensitive items, irreplaceable items, any living thing, firearms, explosives, flammables of any kind (gas, diesel, oil, paint, etc.), drugs or drug paraphernalia, stolen items, any type of hazardous items, perishable items of any kind, hazardous waste materials of any kind, items that produce odors or any item that will in any way make other tenants or the management team unhappy. Properly stored items will hold up much better in storage than items not stored properly.