Packing for Storage:

1. If you don’t have time or are having difficulty deciding about throwing away or donating certain things, pack them in boxes and label them with the type of item and "to go through.” For example: CHILDREN’S BOOKS TO GO THROUGH. This gives you the opportunity to take a few boxes out of storage at a time when you are ready to sort and purge.
2. Use boxes that are solid and well-constructed—double walled at a minimum. They can withstand more weight for stacking and are less likely to break when you move items in and out of storage.
3. To keep professional, dress or special clothing wrinkle-free, use wardrobe boxes. They come with metal bars that fit across the box to hang clothes.
4. Use small boxes for books to avoid making them heavier than 35 pounds. This protects your back and reduces the chance that boxes of books will crush other items. Also, packing books flats rather than upright will protect them from damage.
5. Fill boxes to the top to avoid having them cave in when other items are stacked on top of them.
6. It is helpful to make a list of what is inside boxes containing paperwork, a large number of items, or things that are unrelated, and it saves time in labeling the boxes. Here is an easy system to do this on your computer. Open a Word table or Excel document and create four columns called Box #, Description, Contents and Keep Until. Start by writing Box #1 on your first box and then filling in the table on the computer. Once you are done entering your list, close the box and put a red sticker on it. This means STOP! I already finished with this one. Keep a copy of your list at the front of your storage room so you’ll know what’s inside the numbered boxes.
7. If you won’t need to get into a box for at least six months, use tape to seal it. If you plan to use those items sooner, use boxes with lids or fold the flaps down instead of closing with tape.
8. Use flat boxes for mirrors and artwork to prevent them from breaking when you are moving items in and out of storage over time.
9. Other than furniture, try to reduce the amount of loose items as much as possible. It will be easier to stack and find things in boxes or plastic containers.
10. If storing seasonal or holiday items, use colored containers to easily distinguish what you need when. For example, Christmas decorations can all be in green tubs and Spring/Summer clothes can be in pink tubs. This will save time in labeling and allow you to easily grab what you need at the right time.

Moving into Storage:

1. If you plan to access and use items while they are stored, leave an aisle in the center of your storage unit.
2. If you have mostly boxes to store, consider how shelves might help you use the height of the space and more easily access your items when you need them.
3. Whenever possible, remove the legs from tables and stand them up along with other furniture to take advantage of the ceiling height and economically fit more into your storage room. Put screws and small parts into plastic bags and tape the bags to the matching furniture.
4. Move things into the storage room first that you are not likely to need. This way, the items you may want are in front and you won’t have to move too many things out when you want to access something.
5. If you expect to access and use items in storage periodically, leave a step stool and "storage tool kit” inside your room to use later. The kit should contain tape, markers, labels, etc.
6. Bundle and tie long-handled tools together. A clean empty trash can is a great place to store brooms, shovels and hoes. To protect your brooms, store with the bristle side up.
7. Store blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and other small items inside furniture drawers and refrigerators. Refrigerators and freezers should be clean with the doors left slightly open in storage.