Leaving Town For A While? How To Protect Your Belongings During Long-Term Storage
If you're going to be storing your personal belongings for more than a few months, you'll need to think long-term. With short-term storage, you can take short-cuts that will save time and energy. However, for long-term storage, special care needs to be taken, especially if you want to avoid damaging your belongings. Here are a few strategies that will protect your personal belongings while they're in storage:
Leave Plastic Bags for Short-Term Storage
When you're packing up for short-term storage, you can reach for those black, plastic trash bags. They work great for storing things like towels, bed sheets, and even your kid's stuffed animals. However, when it comes to long-term storage needs, you'll have to forego the plastic storage bags. Heat and moisture can build up inside the bags, and lead to serious problems, including heat damage and mold growth. Go ahead and use plastic bags for your short-term storage needs, but toss them aside when it comes to long-term needs.
Use Containers That Stack Well
If you're going to be storing your items long-term, and you're not going to be visiting the storage unit during this time, you'll need to make sure that your stored items are able to stack well. Avoid using cardboard boxes for long-term storage. Cardboard can become weak over time, which can cause your boxes to collapse under the weight. This can be a real problem if you're not going to be around to check on your belongings from time to time. To protect your belongings, use rigid, plastic storage containers. They'll stack well, and protect your belongings during their long months in storage. Not only that, but they'll protect against pest infestation while you're away.
Store Clothing in Vacuum-Sealed Bags
One of the problems with storing clothing is that they can rot in the heat, develop mold problems in the moisture, and be destroyed by pests such as mice and moths. You can protect your clothing by sealing it in vacuum-sealed bags. Unlike ordinary plastic bags, the vacuum-sealed bags lock out the air and the moisture, keeping your clothing safe from harm during storage. If you're going to be storing bedding materials, such as sheets and blankets, be sure to use vacuum-sealed bags for those items as well.
Take Care with Appliances
If you're going to be storing appliances long-term, you should spend some extra time with the preparation. Begin by giving your appliances a thorough cleaning. Use a bleach and water solution to clean your refrigerators, and your washers and dryers. Be sure that they're thoroughly dry before placing them in storage. This will prevent mold growth during storage. It's also important that you keep the doors slightly ajar while they're in storage.
Contact a company like Mar-Rube Trailer Rental for more information and assistance.