Being in the military sometimes means that you will be deployed overseas for an extended period of time. When this happens, you may need to store your belongings in a storage unit while you are gone. When storing items in a storage unit, you need to be sure that you pack your belongings properly. The following guide walks you through a few tips for properly packing boxes for long-term storage.
Secure the Tops and Bottoms of the Boxes
Before you pack the boxes, create an "X" with packing tape from corner to corner of the bottom of the box. The "X" will not easily pull away from the cardboard when you put weight into the boxes because it has multiple points of contact on the box. Fill the boxes and then close the top of the boxes in the same way. By closing the top and bottom of the boxes with the "X", you can rest assured that the boxes will not collapse when you stack them on one another.
Label the Boxes Well
When you are packing the boxes, label them with information about what is in them, the room where they will be placed when you unpack your storage unit, and the weight of the box. When you get back from your deployment, the labels will help you get your home in order as soon as possible because you will not have to wonder what is in each box.
Stack the Boxes Properly
You labeled each box with its weight so that you could properly stack them when you place them in the storage unit. You need to stack the lighter boxes on top of the heavier boxes. If you stack the boxes on top of one another without taking the weight into consideration, you could come home to crushed boxes or damaged belongings because the boxes may topple over when the ones below them are crushed.
Protect Belongings from Pests
Before you start packing the storage unit, be sure to place moth balls around the edges of the unit. The items in your unit will not be moved during your deployment and could serve as great homes for rodents. The smell of moth balls is not appealing to the rodents and will keep them away from your belongings.
If you follow these tips, you can rest assured that your belongings will be safe while they are being stored. When you go to remove them from the unit, be sure that you take the time to place the boxes into the moving truck with the heaviest boxes on the bottom to ensure that the breakable items in the lighter boxes are not damaged. If you're looking for moving boxes, visit Elite Truck Rental.
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