Appliances

A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and stored with its door slightly ajar. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances and boxes can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators and freezers. Make sure that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.

Furniture

Place a pallet, corrugated cardboard mat, or plastic sheet on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Disassemble beds and tables and wrap table legs in paper. If a table will not disassemble, place padding on the floor and place the table on its top with the legs pointing up. Use dresser tops for stacking cartons and dresser drawers for linens or small, delicate items. Keep upholstery off the floor. Never wrap anything in plastic or cover furniture with plastic.

Most lightweight chairs can be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables that cannot be disassembled. Finally, place a light cotton (e.g. a bedsheet) dust cover on your furniture. Some facilities sell covers for your convenience.

Mirrors, Windows and Screens

These items should be stored on edge, not flat.

Estimating Storage Size

5 X 5

Personal items, clothes, boxes, skis, children's toys, small furniture items, business records, sales rep's materials. Suggested Supplies:

5 large boxes, 3 medium boxes, 7 small boxes, 3 rolls of tape & a lock

5 X 10

Small amounts of furniture: sofa, chair & chest of drawers, bed spring & mattress, business supplies & records plus other small items and boxes Suggested Supplies:

10 large boxes, 5 medium boxes, 8 small boxes, 3 picture/mirror cartons, 1-2 mattress bags, 4 rolls of tape & a lock

10 X 10

A one bedroom apartment with major appliances. Office furniture and supplies. Suggested Supplies:

3 wardrobe boxes, 20 large boxes, 10 medium boxes, 2 dish saver kits, 2 glass saver kits, 2 dish packs, 2 TV appliance boxes, 15 small boxes, 6 picture/mirror boxes, 4 mattress bags, 7 rolls of tape, rope & a lock

10 X 15

A two bedroom apartment or house including appliances. Boxes and miscellaneous items. Business storage, files and inventory. Suggested Supplies:

3 wardrobe boxes, 20 large boxes, 10 medium boxes, 2 dish saver kits, 2 glass saver kits, 2 dish packs, 2 TV appliance boxes, 15 small boxes, 6 picture/mirror boxes, 4 mattress bags, 7 rolls of tape, rope & a lock

10 X 20

3 bedroom house with major appliances, plus lots of boxes. Business storage, files and inventory. Ideal for storage racks. Suggested Supplies:

6 wardrobe boxes, 30 large boxes, 15 medium boxes, 4 dish saver kits, 4 glass saver kits, 4 dish packs, 3 TV appliance boxes, 25 small boxes, 10 picture/mirror boxes, 6 mattress bags, 10 rolls of tape, rope & a lock