Guidelines for Safe and Efficient Storage
General Household Items
- Pack irregular shapes in cartons wherever possible, to stack and maximise space
- Place heavy items at the bottom/on the floor
- Pack and label cartons, room by room
- To avoid boxes breaking open, do not stretch the tape when applying – but roll the tape over the box
- Keep an inventory and record of where items are stored
- Plan where you will position items, before beginning to store them
- Place large, heavy items that you can stack upon at the rear of the unit
- Allow for walk ways to reach items
- Store items you may want close to the door, for easier retrieval
- Use covers to maintain and protect your goods whilst in storage
- Mattresses, beds, sofas and beds are best covered with the plastic cover open at one end to allow moisture to escape
Appliances
- Make certain the ice tray is empty & the freezer box is ice-free before storing your fridge
- White goods, such as fridges and freezers should be thoroughly DRY and CLEAN
- A deodoriser (baking soda in a dish) placed inside fridges or freezers maintains freshness
- Leave the door secured slightly ajar using a folded piece of corrugated cardboard
- Leave all white goods completely empty whilst in storage – unbelievably, some people leave food in them!!
- Drain water from all hoses and remove them from the water inlet fittings on the machine: Tip washing machines towards the drainage pipe to further remove waste water between inner/outer bowls
- If stacking appliances, put folded cardboard or a furniture blanket/rug on top of the layer below to prevent scratching
Furniture
- Where possible unscrew the legs from items of furniture e.g.. bed bases, tables etc
- Clothing can also be stored in vacuum packed plastic bags: available from our facilities for purchase
- Vacuum food crumbs from furniture
- Where possible stand tall items on their end
- Place a layer of cardboard or a furniture blanket/rug underneath sofas before standing on their end
- Use heavy items such as fridges to hold upturned beds in place
Glassware and Dishes
- Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and top of cartons containing breakables
- Some items will benefit from a second layer of bubble wrap applied at 90o to the first layer
- Secure the bubble wrap around the products using tape
- Fill any gaps in the cartons with packing e.g.: scrunched/shredded paper or linen
- Label all cartons containing fragile items and avoid storing heavy items on the top
Mirrors and Paintings
- Protected by packing material e.g.; bubble-wrap or a flat-pack carton
- Store standing on their edges in an upright position
Electrical Equiptment
- Electrical equipment is very delicate and sensitive and should be handled with care
- Where possible, use original boxes to repack in.
- Pack out any gaps in the cartons
- Remove all batteries to avoid damage from leaking batteries
- Computers are best stored in original boxes or bubble-wrap and good quality packing cartons If you are unsure about your computer, refer to the manufacturer’s manual, or consult your retailer, especially if storing for longer than six months
Mowers and other Machinery
- Stand mower on a flattened cardboard box in consideration of others to keep the floor clean
- Drain fuel and oil from all machinery
Do Not Store
- Any goods that are illegal, stolen, inflammable, explosive, environmentally harmful, hazardous, perishable or that are a risk to the property of any person.
e.g. Chlorine, acid, paint and petrol, LPG bottles (unless purged)
Locations
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