Careful packing will make it easier to manage your storage unit when you visit looking for a specific item. Here are some ideas to help you select packaging for stored goods.

What protection does your item need?

Some items have more need for packing than others – for example, glassware really does need protection while in storage.

For certain items like books and media, packaging is more about organising than protecting.

Cardboard boxes

Cardboard boxes are readily available and easy to use. Boxes are usually sealed with tape – and it’s worth spending a little extra to get good tape as cheap tape can split, slowing down your packing process.

Cardboard boxes are light to carry, but don’t overfill them. Make sure they are easy for one person to handle. Cardboard boxes are breathable, which helps in the fight against mould and mildew.

Labelling cardboard boxes is key to successful storage. It’s a nightmare trying to locate your goods in a heap of unlabelled boxes.

One big advantage of cardboard boxes is that they can be readily recycled when you’ve finished with them (although they can be re-used a couple of times).

Stackable crates

Plastic crates are a heavy-duty solution for packing. They can be pricy, and are harder to recycle than cardboard at end of life, but good quality ones can be used again and again.

Shelving systems involving plastic crates and boxes are great for organising your storage because they make it easy to access your stuff. And clear plastic boxes make it a cinch to find the items you want (although it’s still a good idea to label your crates).

The disadvantage of plastic boxes is that they are not breathable. Check your stored goods for signs of condensation, and crack open the boxes every so often to let air circulate.

Bubble wrap, foam sheets and packing peanuts

Use bubble wrap or foam to pad fragile or brittle items like ceramics and glassware. You can also wrap sheets of bubble wrap around mirrors and pictures.

Hanging rails and garment bags for clothing

Clothing could be stored on hanging rails, or even in a cheap wardrobe, within your unit and this makes it easy to pull out a specific item when you want it. Breathable garment bags will keep most clothes in good condition and make your wardrobe easier to handle.

Clothing made from natural fibres stored at home (rather than in a climate-controlled storage unit) may need protection from moth, and plastic boxes will give peace of mind.

Vacuum bags are another solution for saving space – but clothing can come out looking rather wrinkled.

Getting packing for free or cheap

Packaging materials for stored goods can be pricy – but there are a few ways to save money on your packing.

You can re-use packing from a house move or from deliveries – boxes, bubble wrap and packing paper can all be used more than once.

Clean but worn domestic linen and textiles – think towels, bedsheets, curtains, blankets and duvets – are all useful for padding your stored items to save them from knocks and bumps in storage. Suitcases can be handy for packing stored goods, too.

Our post on how to save money on packing material has some more ideas.

Other ways to save on your storage bill

Storage companies typically don’t check your credit when you arrange storage, but it’s still important to ensure your monthly bill will be affordable. Minimise your costs by shopping around, and check that you are not being overcharged for self-storage insurance – that’s another service you can shop around for. Get a quick quote from Store and Insure to see how much you could be paying for peace of mind.