Pennfield Self Storage

1. Drain oil and gas from all outdoor equipment and dispose of properly.
2. Fuels, flammable and poisonous items cannot be stored in a self storage unit.
3. Tie large garden tools together.
4. Tie large sporting equipment together.
5. Bicycles, filing cabinets and other metal items will rust over time. Wipe all metal surfaces with a few drops of machine oil to help prevent rust.

1. Place labels on each cord, cable and wire before detaching it. You will be thankful you took the time to do this when you are reconnecting your equipment.
2. Remove all detachable parts and secure moving parts before packing. Use original boxes or heavy cardboard boxes for electronic items.
3. Wrap each item separately using bubble wrap or a large quantity of newspaper.
4. CDs, DVDs, albums, and software do not survive extreme temperatures. Consider not storing these items.

1. Use furniture polish on wood items to prevent scratching.
2. Remove legs, leafs from the furniture if possible. Place all hardware in a plastic bag and tape it to the furniture.
3. Use old blankets or bubble wrap to wrap furniture to avoid scratching. Do not put tape directly on the finished surface of wood.
4. Use cushions and pillows for padding between large items. Place them in a bag to protect them.
5. Look up! Most storage units are quite tall. Make the best use of your storage area by stacking to the ceiling. Put the heaviest items on the bottom and lightest and fragile ones on top.
6. Couches and love seats can be placed on end to save space. Place a protective covering under and over the items to protect from moisture and dust.
7. Kitchen and dining room chairs can be stacked on top of each other with protective cloth in between to protect them.
8. Leather items should be treated with leather conditioner before storage.

1. Remove racks and broiler pan from oven. Tape down the knobs and burner elements.
2. Disconnect washing machine from water, drain it and make sure it's dry.
3. Make sure refrigerators and freezers are clean, dry and the doors left open to avoid mold.
4. Tape electrical cords to the appliance.
5. Use the space inside the large appliances to store things, maybe awkward shaped items that need extra padding. Use blankets or pillows to pad.
6. Empty vacuums before storing.

1. Use towels and newspapers to pad the boxes.
2. Wrap dishes and glassware individually with bubble wrap or large quantities of newspaper.
3. Completely fill the box between items to avoid breakables moving around and breaking.
4. Mark each box FRAGILE and place at the top of the stack. Do not stack anything heavy on top of these boxes.
5. Wrap fine silver in an old diaper.

1. Put fragile items like lamp shades and light bulbs in a box clearly marked FRAGILE.
2. Use bubble wrap or towels to wrap each item individually.
3. Wrap large pictures and mirrors with heavy cardboard on both sides.
4. Store mirrors and large pictures on end, not flat.

1. Think twice before storing photographs in your self storage. Photos may suffer temperature damage.
2. Peel and stick photo albums will damage photos over time.
3. Look for a photo album that says "acid-free".
4. Remove anything that may bend or stain photos like paperclips or rubber bands.
5. Label the back of photos lightly with a marker, not a pen, with names, ages, dates and location. The pressure of the pen may damage photos.
6. Buy PVC-free plastic sleeves at a photo supply store or use plastic sandwich bags to store photos individually.
7. Metal boxes can be used to store photos.
8. Wood, cardboard and paper can harm photos and should be labeled "acid-free".
9. Don't store photos where you yourself are not comfortable. i.e. extreme heat, cold, humidity, dryness.

Any aerosol can including, but not limited to:

• Hair spray
• Shaving cream
• Deodorants
• Insecticides
• Cleaning products
• Spray starch
• Spray paint

Other flammable products:

• Oil-based paints
• Gasoline
• Kerosene
• Tar remover
• Matches
• Ammunition
• Paint
• Paint thinners
• Turpentine
• Auto batteries
• Lacquer remover
• Bleach
• Muriatic acid
• Lighter fluid
• Corrosives
• Explosives
• Nail polish remover
• Lighters
• Bottled gas

1. Keep important papers, valuables and tools to disassemble and reassemble furniture with you.
2. Put frequently accessed items in the front and allow for space to walk between rows as well as air circulation. Otherwise, pack your items close together to maximize the space, add stability and avoid moisture build up.
3. Try to put heavier boxes on the bottom and lighter ones on top.
4. Using uniform box sizes will make it easier to stack.
5. Make an inventory log of everything in storage so you can find it when you need it. Room, box #, contents and location. Keep the list in a safe place other than the storage unit.
6. Put serial numbers or other identifying numbers on the inventory list for your electronics, antiques and other valuable items.
7. Indicate replacement value on the inventory list. This will be helpful for insurance purposes as well as unforeseen damage or theft.
8. You may want to photograph some of the items before they are stored. They could come in handy in case of damage or theft.
9. Assign room/box # to each box. i.e. K1, K2, LR1 = Kitchen box 1 & 2 and Living Room box 1.
10. Label each box on all 4 sides so no matter how they are stacked, you can tell which box it is and what is in it.
11. Draw a simple map of the storage space that shows where items are stored.
12. Pack each room separately.
13. Use colored markers or sticky dots to distinguish between rooms and different members of the family.
14. Use towels, stuffed animals, blankets, clothing, linens, newspaper or bubble wrap to wrap and pack items.
15. Pack as much as you can in each box to avoid damage caused by collapse from the weight on the boxes on top of it.
16. Pack heavy tools and books in smaller boxes so they are not quite so heavy and easier to manage.
17. Use packing tape to reinforce the box bottoms.
18. Use pallets, skids or 2x4's to stack your boxes on so avoid possible moisture absorption.
19. Do not use moth balls, which will stain fabric.
20. Think creatively when using your space. Use drawers to store fragile items or items that must remain flat.
21. Store books flat, not on end, to protect the sides and spines. Empty drawers are a good place to store books.
22. Don't used plastic to cover your storage items. It retains moisture and could cause mildew and warping.
23. Check your storage unit periodically to make sure nothing has happened. It's also a good idea to leave the door open and air it out occasionally.
24. Keep an emergency kit in your storage unit. Not only may it come in handy for on the spot emergencies, but if your home is not accessible in an emergency, it will be a good resource.

1. Boxes
2. Tape/Dispenser
3. Bubble Wrap
4. Newspapers
5. Tools to disassemble furniture (Utility Knife/Scissors, screw drivers, pliers, hammer)
6. Plastic bags (to put screws and other hardware)
7. Rope or string (to tie pieces together)
8. Marker (to mark boxes)
9. Work Gloves
10. Old blankets or furniture pads
11. Mattress Bag
12. Paper and pen (to inventory each item so you can find things later when you need them)