Plan ahead. Have enough packing supplies ready before you start. Use uniform boxes for easy stacking. Think about how you want your storage unit arranged; remember items first into the storage unit will be the last ones to come out. If at all possible, make a walkway through the unit. Allow a small space between your items and the walls. Store valued items towards the back.

Have a system in place; taking the time to be organized will make a stressful event a little more durable. Mark your boxes with numbers on all four sides. Keep a list of contents from each box with you. Label all 'fragile' boxes to make sure nothing gets stacked on top of them.

Appliances
Refrigerators and/or freezers should be thoroughly dry and stored with doors 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.

Books and Documents
Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, but use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing to fill out empty pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box with books and do not overload.

Boxes
Label boxes for easy retrieval. Place the heaviest boxes on the bottom.  Fill your boxes completely so that they will not collapse when stacked.

Clothing
Clean all clothing before hanging them in a wardrobe box for storage.  Blankets and draperies should also be cleaned and then hung in wardrobe boxes.

Dishes and Glassware
Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and at the top of boxes containing glassware. Ideally these items should be stored in a specifically designed dish pack box (available in the office). All glass items should be individually wrapped: nest cups and bowls and stand plates, saucers and platters on edge. Wrapped glasses should be placed near the top of cartons. Again, fill all pockets with packing materials. Label all boxes containing glassware and do not place heavy items on boxes containing glassware.  Keep dish pack boxes under 30 pounds for easy lifting.

Electronics
Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes. Label cables and tighten transit screws. If removing screws, tape them to the objects they are removed from.

Furniture and Upholstery
Place a pallet on the floor to protect furniture. Allow space between the fabric and dust cover. Never use plastic, it can collect moisture and cause mildew.  Mattresses should be covered and stored flat.  Break down beds and tables.  Use protective covers for your wood surfaces before storing.  Store tabletops and sofas on end to save space.  Use dresser tops for stacking cartons and consider your furniture drawers for storing delicate items.  Wrap these items with bubble wrap or packing paper.  Most lightweight chairs can be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables which cannot be disassembled.

Holiday Decorations
Save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing paper or newsprint. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing paper.

Lamps
Wrap large lamps and place them in boxes and pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamp shades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items on cartons containing lamp shades.

Paintings and Pictures
Large paintings or framed pictures should be stored in specially designed art/mirror boxes.

Tools
Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust. Long-handled tools such as rakes, shovels and hoes should be clean, lightly oiled and tied in bundles.

Additional Storage Information

Insure Your Items in Storage
The items you place in Aaron Self spaces are the sole responsibility of you, their owner. Items are not insured by Aaron Self. A good quality lock is the best way to ensure the safety and security of your belongings, regardless of any security system a storage facility may have. Check with your insurance carrier for coverage, or ask a storage consultant for a referral. Remember, if it's worth storing, it's worth insuring.

Prohibited Storage Items
Common sense and state laws determine what may be stored. You alone control access to your storage space; therefore, never store live animals, perishables, liquids, explosives, flammable liquids and fuels, toxic materials, or other items that need a controlled environment. Remember to drain the fuel from gasoline engines before storage.

How Much Space Will I Need?
Use our size estimator as a beginning reference when thinking about what size will accommodate your belongings. It’s also a good idea to stop in and look at several spaces in order to get a feel for the size you will need.

A Few Suggestions As You Store Your Items

	Place items you may need most frequently near the front of the storage unit.
	Don't store perishable or combustible items (such as paint and chemicals)
	Drain fluids from lawn and garden equipment to avoid corrosive damage
	Use trash cans to store shovels, hoes and rakes
	Use a dehumidifier if you're storing heirlooms to prevent mildew