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PACKING BOXES
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Use sturdy purpose-made packing cartons as flimsy boxes may collapse.
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Fill cartons to the top as partly filled cartons will collapse if other heavy items are placed on top.
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Make sure cartons are not too heavy to lift when filled - a carton of books or files is particularly heavy.
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Label each carton with its contents, and which room it has come from.
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Use boxes rather than bags even for packing smaller items - bags can burst and they are difficult to stack.
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If packing books, pack them flat as packing them on their ends could damage the spines.
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FRAGILE ITEMS
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If you have any fragile items to pack, use bubble wrap for protection.
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If
you want to use newspaper to pack fragile items, be aware that the
print is likely to rub off and transfer to your item over a period of
time.
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When packing plates, wrap each plate in packing paper and store them on their ends.
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Wrap mirrors and pictures in bubble wrap and stack on their ends in cartons.
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FURNITURE, FURNISHING AND CLOTHES
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If
furniture needs to be dismantled for removal, keep all the fittings (eg
screws, nuts, bolts etc) together in a plastic bag and tape the bag to the item of furniture.
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Have blankets, furnishings and clothing washed or cleaned before storage.
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Heavy
items should not be placed on top of soft upholstered furniture or
mattresses, otherwise “dent marks” are likely to form over time and the
furniture may even become damaged.
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If clothes are folded for storage, they can develop “fold marks” over time; it is better to store them in a wardrobe carton, which also enables them to be easily accessed. |
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GARDENING EQUIPMENT
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If you’re storing gardening equipment, clean it first so that it doesn’t go rusty.
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If
any gardening equipment has fuel in it, you must drain it off in order
for it to be safely stored and to comply with our storage regulations.
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MISCELLANEOUS
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Some
items (eg videotapes, records, photograph albums, photographic
negatives, precious wood) need climate controlled conditions and are
not suitable for storage. |
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Dust Protection
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Even
in unoccupied premises, dust is in the air and will eventually settle
on your stored items. Covering them with a dustsheet when you have
finished storage will mean that your items stay clean for when you want
to access them. |
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Use covers to protect mattresses and upholstered furniture from dust. |
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Use packing paper to cover furniture, particularly if it is polished. |
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Safe Storage
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Store light items on top of heavy items, not the other way round as otherwise the pile may collapse. |
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If
you’re storing kitchen equipment, clean it first. It is especially
important to defrost the fridge or freezer, and the doors should be
left open in storage. |
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If you’re storing electrical items, remove the batteries first, otherwise they may leak over time and damage the item. |
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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SPACE
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Use racking to take full advantage of the height of the room. |
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Save
space by filling empty furniture (eg wardrobes, sideboards, cupboards,
fridges), with smaller items (once the furniture is in position).
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Save space by removing the legs (if detachable) from tables. Wrap in bubble wrap and tape the the legs to the table. |
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Storing sofas on their ends (but not sofa beds) makes better use of the height of the room. |
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In a large storage room, create aisles so that you can access all items easily. |
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If there are some items you will need to access more frequently than others, store these at the front of the room. |
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