You’ve decided to move. Unfortunately, your new place has significantly fewer square feet than your current home. You’ve got some tough decisions about what’s coming with you and what’s not. Some items will be easier to sort than others, whether for sentimental reasons or practicality. When you make the hardest decisions, you might need more time than you’ve got to decide what to do. If your moving date is quickly approaching, consider placing items in long-term storage. Choosing a moving company offering this service will make things simpler.

Maffucci Moving & Storage has been protecting clients’ valuables since 1909. Since then, we’ve helped more people than we can count successfully complete short and long-distance moves. Our full service includes decluttering, home staging, packing and unpacking help, and storage, all at the hands of experienced, qualified professionals. With a track record this long and positive, there’s no doubt you’ll be satisfied with our work.

Prepping Items for Storage

Once you’ve realized that not all of your items will be able to make it into your new home, the first step is securing a long-term storage solution. We can help with that! After that, it’s time to prep your belongings for storage. Get started by analyzing and categorizing each item to determine the best storage method. When determining this, we suggest asking the following questions:

• What’s it made of?
• Is the material fragile?
• Can you disassemble it?
• Have you emptied what needs to be emptied?
• Is the material abrasive or a fire hazard?

From there, start thinking about the best way to label boxes and containers for easy access. Each box should have a label that clearly lists its contents, if there are fragile materials, and where the items belong once removed from storage. Ensure you keep a list of everything placed into the facility to keep track of things.

Cleaning Your Items

Before actually boxing anything up, clean it. You may not open the boxes again for a while, and the longer they sit, the smellier they’ll get if not clean. Items boxed in storage without getting cleaned could face mold or mildew growth. So, how do you properly clean your belongings?

• Wooden Items. Use a weak or mild cleaning solution or dilute one you have in a bucket of water. Using a soft cloth, rub off any stains. If that doesn’t work, add a bit more cleaning solution. Repeat the process as needed. Apply a sealant or protective coat on your furniture
• Metal Items. Mix baking soda with warm water to create a paste or a non-abrasive multi-purpose cleaner. Use a soft cloth to remove dirt. Apply touch-up paint to scratches and wipe it down with oil or a metal-appropriate polish to avoid tarnishing and rusting. Avoid abrasive cleaners and scrubbers.
• Leather Items. Different leathers require different cleaning methods, but all require a mild cleaning agent. Determine which method is right for your item before starting. Don’t use a concentrated solution; it will reduce the quality. Never put leather items in the washing machine.
• Fabric Items. Consult your item’s tag for optimal cleaning and drying conditions. If it’s fabric, you can put it in the washer. Separate by color and use a light detergent. Press them according to the conditions indicated on the tag.

What Materials Do I Need?

Before starting, there are a few general packing materials, like acid-free packing paper, tape, bubble wrap, labels, pens/markers, and scissors you need to buy. Other materials include plastic bins, sturdy cardboard boxes, mattress bags, furniture pads, and moving blankets. Plastic bins will hold up best in long-term storage, but they trap moisture, so double-check that everything is dry before packing. Cardboard boxes are for lightweight items or ones that don’t require as much protection. When you’re ready, review these storage solution tips to keep things simple:

• Maximize square footage by packing heavy items at the bottom and fragile items toward the top.
• Place labels facing out for identification.
• Stack as high as you can, but keep stability in mind.
• Leave plenty of room to move within the storage solution (a walkway down the center of your boxes that’s a few feet wide).
• Place a plastic tarp down before you store your things to keep water out.
• Place items on elevated free-standing shelves in case of flooding.
• Tightly seal all bags and boxes to avoid trapping moisture (leads to mildew and mold).
• Put silica gel packets in boxes to prevent moisture buildup.
• For larger items, use breathable coverings and leave space around them to ensure air circulation.

Storing Delicate and Valuable Items

Remember that you can’t pack all items for storage the same way. Delicate items, like glassware, artwork, documents, photographs, and electronics, require special preparation to ensure they stay safe. Pad each delicate box beforehand and include felt/foam dividers. Then, wrap them in several layers; don’t overstuff them, fill empty spaces, and clearly label them.

• Glassware—Clean the surface. Allow it to dry completely. Examine it for damages that need to be repaired before packing. Wrap glassware in several layers of cushion materials (bubble wrap, stretch wrap, packing peanuts, etc.). Use smaller boxes to prevent overfilling and excess pressure.
• Artwork—Wipe down the surface with a soft cloth. Pack each work individually in a cardboard box, with a crescent board or a cardboard divider between them. Store art framed to prevent cracks and damage. Never store art on the ground or flat-side down. Hang if possible.
• Documents—Sort documents into categories. Pack them in acid-free file folders and then in a plastic tote or file cabinet. Hang them vertically if you can. Keep newspaper clippings away from other documents to avoid discoloration. Always store paper flat and remove clips or rubber bands.
• Photographs – Sort your photographs and albums, including notes, with acid-free paper. Pack them in paper archive boxes. Avoid plastic boxes (we don’t know how they react to photographs long term).
• Electronics—Clean your electronics. Remove all batteries and cables. If kept, pack it in the original box, wrap it in moving blankets, and place a barrier between the screen and other items. Avoid using plastic to prevent moisture collection.

Factors to Consider for Long-Term Storage

When storing your items long-term, a climate-controlled storage solution offers the best conditions to minimize potential damage. This type of storage helps protect items from extreme temperature fluctuations, which can be especially damaging for electronics, fine clothing, and art. Climate-controlled storage solution stay between 55 and 80 degrees throughout the year, but the best storage solution depends on where you live and your local climate.

Climate-controlled storage solution come with many benefits. For one, they protect your items from dust, debris, and pests as they’re constructed with professionally sealed and insulated roofs, walls, and floors; due to the regular airflow and humidity control, dust is less likely to collect. Likewise, you won’t need to worry about pollen, dirt, snow, and rainwater being tracked in. Since the storage solution aren’t outdoors, the chance of mice and bugs getting into the storage solution is also seriously minimized. Consider the following factors when looking for long-term storage:

• Are there air-cooled storage, heated storage, and humidity-controlled storage options?
• Is the storage solution on the first level? (Most likely to have problems because of the weather/water.)
• Are your items rare, sentimental, or valuable?
• What items are you putting in the storage solution? Do they need special attention?
• Are the items at risk of warping, cracking, discoloring, or developing mold and mildew?
• Will your items expand, contract, freeze, or melt due to extreme temperatures?

Maffucci Moving & Storage– The Ultimate Relocation Service.

Figuring out a storage solution doesn’t have to be stressful. Maffucci Moving & Storage offers customers our 35,000 sq. ft. of climate-controlled space to keep your household or business items safe with advanced security protection. When you need to move and don’t have room for all your goods, hand them off to our qualified team. With more than 100 years of experience, you can trust us to do the job right.

Contact Maffucci Moving & Storage for a complimentary moving estimate. Whether you’re in the initial planning stages or prepared to move, our team offers customized guidance and support to make your move as cost-effective as possible.