Need A Climate-Controlled Storage Unit But None Are Available? How To Protect Your Belongings Until One Opens Up
If you've got wood furniture and family heirlooms to store, the best way to avoid damage is to choose a climate-controlled storage unit. However, sometimes climate-controlled units aren't available. When that happens, you need to take matters into your own hands and do the best you can to protect your property. The first thing you should do is ask your storage facility to let you know when a climate-controlled unit comes available. That way, you can move your belongings as soon as possible. The next thing you should do is take action to prepare your belongings for storage without climate control. Here are four steps you can take to protect your belongings until a climate-controlled unit becomes available:
Make Sure Everything Is Clean
When it comes to protecting your furniture, the most important thing you can do is make sure that it starts out clean. For upholstered furniture, begin with a thorough vacuuming to remove all the crumbs that could attract pests and mold growth. For wood and metal furniture, give them a thorough cleaning and then finish it off with an application of polish. The polish will help protect against moisture and heat damage.
Wrap Your Furniture
If your furniture is going to be stored without climate control for a while, it's important that you apply protective wrapping. Upholstered and metal furniture should be securely covered with several layers of plastic wrap. Wood furniture should be covered in plastic wrap to lock out moisture and keep wood-boring pests away. You should then finish by covering your wood furniture with either insulated furniture covers or old blankets.
Package Your Electronics
If you're going to be storing electronic equipment, it's best to store it in the original packaging. However, if the original packaging is not available, you can still safely store your electronic equipment. Begin by carefully bundling the cords and then wrapping them in bubble wrap. Place your electronic equipment, along with the power cords, in a plastic storage bin. Fill the storage bin with packing peanuts, toss in a silica packet, and place the lid back on the storage bin. The silica packet will keep moisture out of the storage bin.
Add Your Own Do-It-Yourself Climate-Control
Your storage unit might not come with climate-control, but there are some things you can add to keep moisture under control. One way to do that is by storing a couple of bags of charcoal in your unit. The charcoal will absorb any moisture that tries to gather in your storage area. You can also use kitty litter for the same purpose, which is beneficial during the winter when charcoal briquettes can be difficult to find.
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