Dew Storage Center, LLC
Dew Storage Center, LLC
3704 Old Highway 12E
East Helena, Montana 59635
406-223-8059 or 406-223-9236
info@dewstoragecenter.com
How to Pack for Storage
Packing your belongings for short or long term storage is easy right?  Just throw
everything into whatever box will hold it and cram it in the storage unit as tight as
you can get it.  Wrong!  Below are several things you can do to make your
packing easier and the storage of your personal belongings a more enjoyable
experience.
Before packing any items for storage, it is a good idea to take pictures or
videotape of all your belongings.  In addition to pictures or videotape, remember to
complete an inventory list of all your major items to be stored.  Never store those
pictures, videotape or inventory list with the rest of your items.  Ask a trusted fried
them in a safe deposit box at your financial institution.

It is a good idea to mark your valuables with your driver’s license number or the
last four digits of your social security number.  You should engrave this number
with an engraving tool or use a permanent marker.  Check at the local police
station or library to see if they might have an engraver that you could use.

Consider that temperatures inside a storage unit will differ greatly from the
outside temperature.  During the summer, temperatures inside a storage unit can
reach as high as 110 degrees on a hot day.  During winter months, sustained
freezing can occur.  Therefore, do not store items that might get damaged during
such temperature ranges.

Consider purchasing an ABC range fire extinguisher and keeping it within easy
reach just inside the door of the storage unit.

Do not store dried foods or liquids inside store units.  Any dried or boxed foods
will attract rodents into your personal belongings.  Once inside, mice, rats, and
other bugs will eat more than the foods that were stored.  Liquids will freeze in the
winter.  When they thaw, damage will occur to other items stored around where
the liquids were.

If the storage unit has electricity inside, do not attempt to plug in any type of
refrigerator or freezer to try and keep some of your frozen meats.  If the power ever
goes out, you will end up with a lot of spoiled meat, thousands of maggots, a
smell that you will never get rid of, and end up throwing your refrigerator or freezer
away.

If you do store an empty refrigerator or freezer, make sure to prop the door open a
little so air will circulate through the inside.  If not, mold and mildew will
accumulate inside causing quite a mess.

Make sure to drain all the hoses on your washing machine and make sure that
the tub and water pump is empty.  If not, water will freeze inside the pump which
may crack it.

If you store a steam cleaning machine or carpet cleaner, make sure to drain all of
the water and cleaning solution holding tanks.  Water will freeze inside the tanks,
expand, and crack your tanks ruining your equipment.

Do not store gas, oils, or any other flammable liquids inside a storage unit.  
Always empty out the gas tanks on lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws,
weed-eaters, etc and leave the gas cap loose to prevent vapor build up.

Do not store any guns or ammunition inside a storage unit.  Besides the
possibility of theft, the ammunition could possibly ignite on a hot day.

Wax candles or wax figurines will not do well inside a hot storage unit.  Consider
asking a friend to keep these items for you instead of inside the storage unit.

Do not load too much weight into one box. If you feel it has become heavy, divide
the contents into two boxes. Remember, even though the boxes might seem
sturdy, the taping on the seams will be the weakest point.

Using a permanent marker, write down what each box contains and to what room
it belongs. Do not write just on the top or on one side only.  Doing so may cause
you extra time when trying to find the labeling while searching for an item or box.

As an alternative to writing on the side of each box, consider typing out an
inventory list and placing that list inside a Zip-Loc bag taped to one side of the
box.  Or, obtain the type of plastic bags such as the Post Office or UPS uses and
place your inventory in that.  Those bags have an adhesive on one side and will
stick to your box better than using tape.
Copyright 2009
Storage tips continued on next page
The most important thing to
remember when preparing
to move your belongings
into a self-storage center is
to plan ahead.

Try not to rush through
packing or moving your
belongings.

Rushing through a move
will only add to the stress.

Besides the added stress,
your belongings could get
damaged beyond repair.
Or, someone could get hurt.