Packing and moving can be big job. Here are some useful tips to help you pack, move and store your belongings. Label all boxes and containers with their contents or consider numbering your boxes, keeping a master list of what you’re packing in each one. That way, you can quickly check your list and determine which box you’re looking for. Try to pack using two or three different box sizes only, as this makes stacking your boxes that much easier. Use the right box for the right job. Use specially designed mirror and picture boxes to protect your mirrors and artwork and wardrobe boxes to keep your clothes hanging neatly. Use towels or bed linen as an alternative to bubble wrap or foam when packing fragile items. When packing up stereo, TV or computer systems label your cords and make a diagram before you unplug them. Figuring this stuff out once is bad enough! As a rule of thumb, small boxes should be used to pack heavy items and big boxes should be used to pack lightweight items.
Books are compact but heavy so manage your load by only filling up a small box with books. Blankets and towels are light but take up a lot of space, so use larger boxes for items like these. Be prepared and have everything packed before your movers or friends arrive. If renting a truck or trailer, reserve ahead and call to confirm your reservation the day before the move. If hiring movers, book well in advance of your move and call the week before to confirm the details. If you’ve asked friends for assistance, call the day before to double check that they are still able to help. If moving yourself, make sure to have rope and/or tie downs available to help secure your load while in transit. If moving yourself, position old blankets or towels between furniture to prevent damage while in transit. Pack the items that you are least likely to access in the back of your unit, so that the items you might need are always handy and near the front. Ensure all plastic or shrink wrap is removed from items to prevent the collection of condensation, which can cause damage and lead to mold and mildew.
Remove mattresses from mattress bags — old linens or blankets work well as drop sheets or protective covers. Store items on pallets to encourage air circulation beneath items. Pack items within the storage unit in such a fashion as to encourage air circulation between boxes and furniture. If moving in to your storage unit on a rainy or snowy day, ensure to dry off the surfaces of any items as you place them in your storage unit. Consider climate controlled storage for temperature sensitive items — the enclosed environment of these buildings can also provide increased protection from dust and dirt. Electronics, family heirlooms, good wood (i.e. oak, teak, cherry wood) should be stored in heated storage where temperature fluctuations are minimized, unlike unheated where the temperature will fluctuate greatly with the season. Use old sheets to cover and protect upholstered or wood furniture if you plan to stack other items on top. Large trash bins are great for storing items likes shovels, rakes, etc.
Remove legs from items (i.e. kitchen table) and disassemble furniture (i.e. bed frame) when possible, as this saves space. Tape all hardware or legs that you have removed from items to the underside of the item, so that the hardware or legs don’t get lost. Always store your sofa or couch on its legs; never stand it on end as the two legs and armrest were not designed to bear the full weight of the sofa and may be damaged. Do not store perishable food items, as these attract rodents. If storing motorized items (i.e. a lawnmower, quad, snowmobile, or vehicle), drain of fuel and other fluids, and disconnect and remove the battery. Place cardboard under the motor, so that any drips are absorbed by the cardboard to minimize the risk of damage to other items you have stored. HomeLocationsFind A Unit/Get RatesStorage SolutionsA Smarter Way to StoreResidential StorageBusiness StorageSeasonal StorageRecord StorageFree Moving TruckTruck RentalsMailbox RentalsParcel AcceptanceInsuranceAuto and RV StoragePacking SuppliesTips & FAQsAbout UsCompany & Press ReleasesCommunityTestimonialsCareersAuctions/EventsAuction RulesBlog
Privacy StatementTerms & ConditionsSitemapWe spend a third of our time sleeping and likely shell out a good amount of dough on the mattress we sleep on. A quality mattress like Sealy, Simmons or Serta are good brands and will treat us right. As such, we need to do the same and make sure we keep what we sleep on in tiptop shape. For that reason it’s important to know how to properly put away a mattress and boxspring in a self storage unit. Protect your investment and your health with these tips:Opt for Climate Control When picking out a storage unit facility, go for a climate controlled one. All mattresses are prone to mold, not just memory foam ones and if you’re thinking of storing it for longer than a few days you want give your mattress a fighting chance against those pesky microorganisms that could be harmful to your health. Anything else you're storing like clothing, books, furniture, and electronics will benefit from a climate controlled unit as well. These units are usually indoors and will protect your valuables from flooding, pests and rodents.
Put all nuts and bolts in a plastic baggy and tape to the underside of your frame for safe keeping. Once your bed is disassembled, cover the headboard and frame with moving blankets to protect them from nicks and dust. Clean your mattress before storing. You can use an upholstery cleaner if you like, or Baking soda. Vacuum your mattress after cleaning it, as well. It’s amazing what comes up from your mattress with a good vacuuming. If you do see mold on the outside of your mattress, do not make the mistake of thinking that if you clean what you see your mattress will be safe. Mold moves quickly and will form in the pockets of the fibers inside your mattress. Even if the outside is “clean” the inside may not be, and you can still get ill from sleeping on a mattress with mold on the interior. Since mold is a spore-forming organism, the spores become airborne and end up in our lungs. There is no way to safely eradicate mold that forms on the foam inside your mattress, so you would have to throw it away and get a new mattress if not stored correctly.
Nest Bedding has a wonderful blog on what to do if you find mold on your mattress.Transporting Your MattressDo yourself and your valuable mattress a favor and do not tie it to the top of your car. If you tie it too tightly, you will warp your mattress. If you do not tie it tightly enough, you will have the horror of watching it fly off your car and likely cause some serious damage to pedestrians or cars behind you. We recommend transporting your mattress via truck. This way, it travels safely and is protected from the elements. Read about our specials here. Mattresses are made up of coils, springs, padding and other components. Leaving them on their side means these components can shift and settle differently than they were intended. True mattress professionals will tell you to never store your mattress on its side. Gravity is not doing your mattress any favors. Store mattresses flat on the ground or flat on top of the boxspring. Even if your mattress is in a waterproof protective bag, you may want to lay a tarp down first if storing on the ground.
This may mean a larger storage unit, as some find that setting up the bed as it would be at home in the unit to be the best for their mattress. If you have spent upwards of a thousand dollars for your mattress, you certainly do not want to destroy it by storing it unevenly or in a way that will dislodge the coils and padding.Don’t Stack Anything on Top Unless you have people sleeping on a mattress, there should be no boxes or any other objects on top of your mattress. That’s because they will push down on specific regions of the mattress and likely change its shape. This goes for plopping the mattress down on top of uneven surfaces. We know this sounds impossible, but if you want to protect your investment, you’ll heed this advice. Good mattresses are expensive! Most moving facilities and even truck rental companies sell inexpensive plastic covers for mattresses. They not only protect your mattress during transport from dirt but can also shield it at the storage facility from dust and moisture.