Renting Self-Storage? 3 Tips That Will Help Reduce Clutter

Posted on: 29 December 2015

Many people do not put much thought into packing items into a self-storage unit, but it is crucial if you want to keep things clutter-free and use the most of your space. Instead of just putting items into storage with no rhyme or reason, follow these tips that will help reduce the clutter and keep things more organized.

Narrow Down What Goes Into Storage

A common mistake made when using self-storage is to just move everything into the unit and to deal with it later. Unfortunately, that will lead to your unit quickly being filled with things that you do not need. Before you start moving things into the unit, separate your belongings into four groups.

  • Things to keep in the house
  • Things to store in the storage unit
  • Things to donate or give away
  • Things to throw away in the garbage

By taking some time to think about it, you'll avoid moving things into storage that you have no use for.

You should also take into consideration things that shouldn't go into your storage unit. This includes:

  • Hazardous or flammable materials, like chemicals, gasoline, and fireworks
  • Perishable materials, like animal products or food
  • Plants

Select The Correct Packaging

Avoid using bags to store items, since they are not very sturdy and will not stack well. Check your local classified ads for people that selling their old moving boxes at a fraction of the cost of new ones. They will do a great job of stacking efficiently, and be able to hold the weight of the items in boxes above them.

For a free alternative, check with a grocery store or warehouse club for used boxes. They are strong enough to move heavy produce, and will stack well on top of each other.

Keep in mind that you may need to buy specialty boxes to make sure that your fragile items do not break. Your local moving supply store will have boxes that are designed to hold glasses, picture frames, and other delicate items.

Make An Inventory

Create an inventory of the things that are in your storage unit. It will give you the ability to easily find anything since you'll know exactly what box it is in. It will also create a list of your belongings for an insurance claim if the items in your storage unit were to become damaged or stolen. While writing everything down would be preferred, it is much easier to snap a photo of the box before you put the lid on it.

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