Pack it up and store it

These instructions will help you to pack and store your belongings so that they will remain in good condition until the next time you need them. The member companies of the Self Storage Association provide all the necessary packaging materials for storing and moving houses.

Pack it up!

Fill the boxes according to the measurements: if boxes are too full or too empty, they might collapse the pile.
Mark the boxes and make a list so you know where everything is.
Mark the boxes with fragile content so you know when to be careful.
Pack heavy objects in small boxes so it’s easier to move them around.
Remove individual shelves from shelving units and bundle them up.
Dismantle everything you can and protect the individual parts with packaging material.
Wrap furniture in protective plastic to prevent them from getting dirty and dusty.

Books and documents

Pack books horizontally not to harm the spine of the book. Do not pack fragile objects in the same box or fill in the empty space between them with packaging material. Avoid filling the box up too full and use small cardboard boxes.

Clothes and textiles

Pack clothes and textiles in their own, airtight bags and store them hanging on a clothes’ hanger or in boxes. It is recommended to remove any food or other stains before storage. Pests can be a risk anywhere so add a mothball (for instance “Raid”) just to be safe. You can find more information on pest control online, for instance in Finnish atwww.hyonteismaailma.fi.

Dishes and decorative objects

Soften the bottom and edges of the box. Package everything separately, place bowls inside one another and glassware on top of everything else. Fill any empty space in the box with packaging material. Mark the boxes with a ‘Fragile’ sticker and do not place any heavy objects on them.

Furniture

Dismantle furniture and protect the pieces with packaging material. If you cannot take a table apart, place it on the floor with the legs sticking up. You can load lightweight chairs on top of one another. Finally, cover the furniture with a light dust cover.

Light fittings

Pack and protect shades and tubes separately. Pack small light fittings in boxes and larger ceiling light fittings in bubble or protective wrap. Do not store heavy objects on top of anything fragile.

Paintings and mirrors

Pack them well, protect the corners and store them upright. Use plastic or bubble wrap when packing, as it also protects the paintings from moisture. Tape the bubble wrap or plastic firmly on the reverse side of the artwork and make the packaging fitted to prevent the plastic from rubbing against the art.

Metal, bicycles and tools

Clean and wipe all the metal surfaces with a cloth dipped in machine oil. Tie tools with long handles, such as rakes or spades, in bundles to keep them stored neatly.

Home appliances

Attach washing machine’s tub before removal (see the washing machine’s manual). Clean and dry the refrigerator and freezer and leave the doors a little open. You can also store other things inside large appliances.

Store it

Ensure that the storage unit is dry, clean, warm and air-conditioned. In a cold storage unit, water caused by condensation could ruin your belongings and detach any adhesive bonding. It’s also good to keep in mind that a garage is not a fireproof storage space.

Place a platform underneath the objects so that the boxes and furniture are approx. 10 cm from the floor up.
Leave some space around the things to keep the air flowing.
In addition, leave some space at the side of the unit for easily accessing the unit.
Stack up heavy boxes first and light and fragile ones on top of them.
Place the often used things close to the door.
Store sofas, beds, paintings and mirrors upright, if possible.
Make use of all available space including height