Tips

Southern Storage Centers knows moving, packing and storing are never easy tasks. Use our checklists and guidelines to make your experience as smooth as possible. If you are in need of boxes or moving supplies, we can provide you with everything you need. Southern Storage Centers carries a wide variety of moving and packing supplies, as well as assorted sizes of boxes and moving kits. Planning and organization will make your move much easier, please use the following links to aid in your moving and packing.

Packing Tips and Checklists

Packing Checklist | Moving Checklist

7 Key Packing Tips

  1. Start packing belongings in areas where they are not in frequent use such as the basement, attic, garage, closets, and shelves. Reinforce the bottom of all our boxes with tape for extra strength and peace of mind.
  2. Pack on a room-by-room basis. That is, do not mix articles from the living room with articles from the kitchen. This will save time and confusion when you need the item.
  3. Small articles such as dishes, table lamps, pictures, and other fragile items must be carefully packed in boxes to ensure that they arrive in the same condition they were when they left. Wrap fragile items individually and pad the box in which you packed them with towels, sheets, or curtains. Do not pack jewelry or money. Put smaller boxes filled with fragile items inside large boxes. Liquor boxes are great for packing small items and glassware. Clearly mark the box “fragile”.
  4. Clothing that is normally placed on hangers such as suits, dresses, and coats should be hung in Southern Storage Centers wardrobe cartons. If these items are left in garment bags they may not withstand the stress of moving. Southern Storage Centers has wardrobe boxes available for rental if you are not interested in permanently keeping them. This will save substantially on the cost of these boxes, and most importantly, the trouble and expense of having your garments cleaned and pressed later.
  5. While dresser drawers do not necessarily need to be emptied, it can be helpful when the furniture is very heavy or structurally unsound. Chests of drawers are usually moved with the contents of the drawers left in place. It is important, however, to go through all drawers and remove and separately pack any breakable and valuable articles. Be sure that a drawer’s contents are not too heavy. Excess weight can damage the drawer while the furniture is being moved.
  6. Put small, heavy articles such as books, records, and canned goods in smaller boxes. Bulky, but not-so-heavy articles such as pots and pans, linens, small kitchen appliances, blankets, pillows, toys, large lamp shades and shoes should be placed in larger boxes.
  7. Flammable, combustible, or explosive materials such as aerosol spray cans, paint thinner or gasoline should not be placed in a moving van and can not be stored in a self storage facility. Shipping such articles is a violation of the Interstate Commerce Commission regulations because of possible danger.

Storage Tips

  • Take advantage of the height of your unit. Position your heavier furniture / appliances in the unit first, then stack upwards with lighter belongings. But always make sure your foundation is solid and not subject to shifting or leaning.
  • Sofas and love seats can sometimes be stored on end (vertically). This takes up much less room in a unit than storing horizontally. But be sure storing your sofa this way will not damage the stuffing material in the arms.
  • Table legs can often be removed from kitchen tables and the table top stored on end between the mattresses. Dining room chairs can be turned upside down and placed along the top of your mattress / box springs.
  • Remember to put boxes or file cabinets you will need to get in and out of regularly in the front of your unit. Plan for seasonal weather changes as well, when storing clothing.
  • For refrigerator and freezer storage, the manufacturers recommend placing open cans of coffee in the appliance to absorb moisture and prevent mildew. Remember to leave refrigerator doors ajar to prevent mold, and ALWAYS defrost and drain the lines before putting the appliance in your unit. Also empty drainage lines on your washer too.
  • Label boxes clearly and consider using an inventory list. This makes searching for a particular item easier and minimizes fragile items from being stored under heavier items.

5 Essential Packing Materials

  1. Boxes: You will need a large number of boxes in assorted sizes and shapes. Boxes should be in good condition and must have covers that can be sealed. We will be happy to estimate the number of boxes needed. Boxes may be purchased on consignment from Southern Storage Centers, so that unused cartons may be returned.
  2. Wrapping Paper: Use white newsprint to wrap items that are easily stained or soiled. The ink from printed newspapers rubs off easily. Old newspapers are good to use for fillers in “dead spaces”.
  3. Magic Markers: Mark each box with information such as its contents and the words “FRAGILE” or “THIS SIDE UP” on more than one side.
  4. Sealing Tape: Use sturdy tape that is at least 1-1/2 inches wide.
  5. Scissors: You will need scissors to assist in the packing process.