Packing Tips August 17, 2018 3 min read Jason Sexton

How to Efficiently Pack A Storage Container

The late, great comedian George Carlin once said that “A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.” While we’d like to think that there’s a lot more to home ownership than just collecting stuff, it’s true that as you live, you tend to collect things. Many of these items are important and precious to us, but ultimately start to clutter our homes. When this happens, it’s natural to consider getting a storage container .

Four Tips For Packing A Storage Container

If you’ve done this, then you’re faced with the next task: packing that container. This is not as easy as it sounds. A well-packed container must keep your valuables safe, but they should also be easy to find should you want to retrieve something later on. In addition, you want to pack that container with as much stuff as possible, right? So, how you can do this? Here are some tips to help you when you’re packing a storage container.

1) Label and Secure

The first step in how to pack a storage unit is to protect everything going into the container. This means that large items – such as mattresses or furniture – should be protected by using bubble wrap, blankets, and other items to provide padding. Breakable items such as glass or dishes should also be wrapped in newspaper or bubble wrap. Once wrapped, smaller items should be consolidated into boxes. This actually helps in several ways. First, it provides an extra layer of protection for what are generally some of the more valuable items being stored. Second, it’s simply easier to pack boxes...

2) Use the Right Box

Most people have a tendency to just dump things into a box without paying attention to things like weight. Then, when they go to pick up a box, it’s too heavy. This can result in injuries. Instead, be smarter: smaller boxes are great for heavier items because when the box gets full it’s still a manageable weight. Save the bigger boxes for lightweight items, so the box doesn’t become too cumbersome when filled.

3) When Filled, “Finalize the Box”

Many people make the mistake of filling a box with as much as it can carry, and then just closing it and moving on to the next one. The problem with this is that the contents inside the box are still able to get damaged in any number of ways as the boxes are moved into the packing containers. Contents can shift, boxes can break. To avoid these, you need to prepare the box for transport. First, look inside the box. It might be full of your items, but chances are it still has some space inside. The space may be too small to fit anything else in it, but that doesn’t mean the items won’t move....

4) Store Your Items Correctly

Now that everything is packed and protected, it’s time to move it into the storage container. Move the biggest and heaviest items first. If you are storing a couch, turn it on end to use the space better. Then, fill in the remaining space with the smaller, lighter items and boxes.

If You Need Additional Help

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Jason Sexton — Founder & Owner, On The Go Moving & Storage
Jason SextonFounder & Owner, On The Go Moving & Storage

Jason founded On The Go Moving & Storage in Redmond, WA in 2009 and has personally overseen more than 25,000 moves across Greater Seattle. He holds a Washington State Household Goods Mover license (HG-064180) and writes from direct, hands-on experience in the moving industry.

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