Storing To Stay Calm

How To Organize A Storage Unit In Five Easy Steps That Anyone Can Do

4 November 2018

Lois King

One of the keys to a successful move into a storage unit is organization. While some people are just born with an innate ability to be ridiculously organized, others are far from it. Unlike color-coordinating every single item in your closet and sorting every book you own by subject, author, and then alphabetically by title, organizing a storage unit is a pretty easy task.  

1. Large Items First 

Placing all your larger items along the outside walls of your unit is a good use of floor space. Your refrigerator, washer, dryer, dresser, armoire, and TV stand can all line up neatly here. Not only are they nice, rectangular shapes that fit together neatly, but you can stack boxes on them. Do not, however, store anything inside the case goods (wood furniture) because the drawers can actually warp from the strain over time.

2. Create a Path

Before you load boxes and more furniture right up against your first row, leave a path around the unit. This may seem silly, but how would you reach the box on top of the fridge that you just pushed up against the outside wall? It doesn't have to be a roomy path, but having one certainly helps.

3. Label Boxes on the Side

When packing your items, be sure to label the side of the box. Your natural instinct may lead you to scribble the contents right on top after you seal the flaps with tape. Don't do it.

When you stack the boxes, you won't be able to read any of it. Take a few extra seconds to tilt the box now, while packing, and write your label on the side. As you place each box in the unit, turn them so that all the labels face the same direction, just like the labels of all the cans in your organized friend's pantry.

4. Don't Stack Too High

Don't stack too high. OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, advises no higher than four feet, up to seven feet if each foot is successively narrower. So, you can place several large boxes on the ground as a base and then a few more as long as they are smaller. While no one OSHA rep is going to write you up on a violation, it's a good rule of thumb to follow for your own safety.  

5. Raise the Floor

Don't place cardboard boxes or any box containing electronics directly on the floor. Ideally, grab a few wood pallets to use as a base before putting your gear in the storage unit. If this is not an option, store the electronics, preferably in the original box, on top of a table and use sturdy, plastic tubs for the rest.

Whether you want to get in touch with your inner, organized self or just show off for your friends, getting an organized storage unit can help make moving a breeze. For more information on utilizing household storage, contact your local storage company today.

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