If you are wanting to free up some space in your home, storing items that you do not need on a regular basis in a self-storage unit can be a common option for people to use. However, there are mistakes that can occur when storing items in these units that you will want to avoid making.

Mistakes With Packing The Items For Self Storage

Improper packing of the items that you are wanting to store can substantially increase the chances of these items suffering significant damage. One of the most common mistakes that people will make when packing their items for self-storage will involve failing to adequately pad these items or overpacking boxes.

Unstable Stacking Of These Boxes Or Other Items

When you are placing your boxes in the storage unit, it is necessary to be careful when stacking these boxes. In addition to making sure that the boxes are perfectly stacked on top of each other, you will also need to avoid stacking them too high. This can make the boxes less stable, and it can increase the weight that the bottom box will have to support. In some cases, it can be possible to exceed the maximum weight of the storage box, which can lead to it failing at some point in the future. If one of these stacks collapses, it can easily cause surrounding stacks of boxes to fall as well. When a person finds themselves needing to stack their boxes more than a few high, this can be a sign that they may need to invest in a larger storage unit to avoid overstacking.

Failing To Clean The Items Before Putting Them Into Storage

Before you store any items for a long period of time, it is often a good decision to thoroughly clean them. This will remove any of the dirt, dust, or other materials that could be on the items. Failing to remove these substances can lead to the items developing an unpleasant odor that could be difficult to eliminate. This can be particularly beneficial for items that have a lot of fabric as the fibers of these items can be very effective at absorbing smells. To help keep these items smelling pleasant during their time in storage, some people will place a small number of cedar chips or another type of scented wood. These items can retain their smell for very long periods of time so that your items will smell pleasant when you remove them from storage for use.

To learn more about self-storage, contact a company near you.