WardStore Smart Storage Tips

Thanks for choosing WardStore for your personal and/or business storage needs. For your convenience, we’ve assembled some common sense tips you can use to store your property safer and smarter! You probably even know many of these, but its always good to review. Better to apply an ounce of prevention than a pound of cure!

As a general rule:

If you are renting a 10x15 (approx. 150 sq ft.), you can probably fit:
- the contents of a large bedroom or three bedroom apartment
- Small car/boat or appliances and patio furniture

If you are renting a 10x20 (approx. 200 sq ft.), you can probably fit:
- the contents of a one car garage or four bedroom apartment or house
- An automobile/Truck, appliances, patio furniture

General Storage Tips:

Since WardStore does not insure your belongings, do not assume that your homeowner or renter insurance will cover your belongings while in storage. You may need to purchase insurance. Check with your insurance agent.

Store frequently used items at the front of your unit, or nearest the door for ease of access. Store valuable items towards the back of the unit- furthest from the door.

You may wish to prepare your unit for storage by placing plastic on the floor under your goods to minimize condensation that may rise from the concrete. Another option is to find a few good wooden pallets to place your good upon so they’re off the floor.

It is against the law to store materials that are hazardous or combustible such as gasoline, cleaning fluids, paint, etc... Drain all gasoline from lawnmowers, power tools, boats, snowmobiles, etc. before storing them. Never store food items which could attract rodents or other vermin.

Try to keep your boxes of uniform sizes, so they many be stacked easier.

Completely fill each box- doing so keeps unfilled boxes from being crushed. Put your heaviest items on the bottom and the lighter items on top.

Create an aisle down the center of your space for easy access to your "stuff."

Come visit your "stuff" on a nice breezy day and leave the door open for awhile to help with air circulation.

House Hold Goods:

To save space, fill interiors of appliances with linens, clothes and stuffed toys. Stuff towels in the washing machines inner tub.

Appliances should be thoroughly clean and dry. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors slightly open. Remove and discard vacuum cleaner bags.

You can use your bureau drawers as packing space. Consider filling them with some of your fragile items and use blankets, sweaters and towels for padding.

Disassemble beds and mark the pieces so that they are easy to put back together.

Store mattresses and box springs on their edges. Wrap them in plastic for protection and elevate them off of the floor. Use pallets, 2x4’s, plywood... anything that will keep your items off the floor.

Avoid leaning items against the walls of the storage unit, if possible. Leave a small space between the goods stored and the storage unit’s walls to allow for ventilation.

Do not stack heavy or folded objects where they could shift or collapse when you move or need access.

Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in cardboard and marked “FRAGILE.” Stand them straight up... never flat.

When packing books, pack them in small cartons that weigh no more than 30 lbs. Alternate bindings (back to front, front to back) and cushion them with wadded packing paper.

When you disassemble electronics such as computers and stereos (items that have numerous cables), place small colored stickers on the cable and the same color sticker where the cable goes. If possible, use the original packing for electronic items.

Label boxes by numbers on all four sides - have the master list separate from your storage space... and avoid writing on the box what its contents are. Label each box as you seal it. Mark “Fragile” on all boxes with breakables.

Think twice about using printed newspaper to pack with. The ink may smudge off on your items.

Avoid storing items such as glass water filled globes during the winter - they will freeze. Avoid storing items such as candles during the hot weather - they may melt.