All storage tips
Packing
6 min read
How to pack a storage unit so you can find things later
Big items against the back wall, a walkway down the middle and labels facing out. A simple plan for packing a unit you’ll actually open again.
Denise Walker, facility manager
Most people pack a storage unit the way they pack a moving truck: fast, and all the way to the ceiling. That works until you need the winter coats that ended up behind the sofa.
Make a floor plan first
Sketch your unit on paper. Put the things you won’t need until you move out against the back wall, and save the front two feet for anything you’ll want this season.
Leave a walkway
In a 10×10 or larger, keep a 2-foot aisle down the middle. You lose a little space and gain the ability to reach every box without unpacking the unit.
Box rules we give every renter
Use same-size boxes so stacks stay stable
Heavy boxes on the bottom, never over 40 pounds
Label two sides and the top, facing the aisle
Stand mattresses on their side, wrapped in a cover
Keep a list of what’s in each box on your phone
Protect the floor
Set boxes and furniture on pallets or plastic sheeting, even in climate-controlled units. It keeps cardboard off concrete and air moving underneath.
Planning a move?
See what fits before you rent.
Every unit drawn to scale, with web prices from $49 a month and $1 first month on select units.
More storage tips.
Rules
4 min read
What not to store in a storage unit
Some things are unsafe, some are against the rental agreement, and some just won’t survive. Here’s the short list we go over at the counter.
Climate control
5 min read
Climate control: do you actually need it?
Climate-controlled units cost a bit more. For wood furniture, electronics, photos and anything stored through a Charlotte summer, the extra few dollars usually pays off.
Furniture
5 min read
Storing furniture without scratches, dents or mildew
Clean it, take it apart, cover it with breathable fabric and keep it off the floor. How to store furniture so it comes out the way it went in.