Long Term Vs. Short Term Self-Storage Needs, there is a difference. Depending on whether you are going to use self-storage for a long-term or short-term period, will help you determine the best way to store your belongings. If you’re going to be here short-term, you may need very little effort when storing. If you’re going to be here long-term, then you may need to put in extra effort to keep your belongings in perfect condition. The following tips will help you to best utilize your self-storage, for any amount of time.
Long Term
If you are storing with us for more than three months, then you will want to organize your storage and protect your belongings from dust. First, you will want to seal fabrics/clothes in plastic tubs or vacuum seal bags. We recommend the vacuum seal bags because they maximize your storage space while protecting your fabric/clothing from potential damage. We recommend that you don’t store items in plastic bags such as garbage or grocery bags because it can trap moisture and cause mold/mildew to occur. You will want to make sure to use sturdy boxes of similar size to make stacking and accessibility easy for you. If you’re storing fragile belongings, you will want to individually wrap those and store them separate from the heavy and bulky items in the unit.
We recommend that you also use dust covers on mattresses and furniture. This will keep dust buildup from occurring. Lastly, if you plan to store appliances, you will want to keep them open and clean to prevent mold and mildew from occurring. Keep in mind, if you let your appliances mold, it will most likely spread to other belongings within the unit.
Short Term
If you’re storing with us for about three months or less, you shouldn’t have to take extra measures to keep your belongings clean and safe. The most important thing to do will be to leave an open space within the unit. This will allow a pathway for you to easily access your belongings and move them to and from your destination. Even though you are only storing with us for a short period of time, you will want to keep your fragile items as safe as you would in long-term storage, as you will most likely be moving items regularly to get settled into your new home. Also, instead of using dust covers, you could use cloths/blankets to cover your furniture. This could save you a little bit of money in packing process.
If you’re not sure how long you will be storing with us, then it would be best to follow the guidelines for long-term storage. We have more storage tips on our website as well. You can find them here. If you are still unsure of the steps you should take, there are many tutorials online that may explain self-storage better for you. Whether you store for short-term or long-term, we want you to have the best storage experience possible!