Whether
you're moving across the country and need to store your belongings
until you find a new home or you're renting out your house while you
travel, a self-storage unit may come in handy. But before you rent a
self-storage unit, it's important to carefully pack all of your
possessions prior to storage and your kitchen items may require a bit
more attention and protection.
Prior
to storing anything in a unit, you'll need to prep them first. This
is especially true in the case of kitchen or other food-related
items, which can be a magnet for pests. Here are three tips for
storing kitchen items safely and effectively.
1.
Clean
the Items
The
most important thing you'll need to do prior to storing your kitchen
items is to thoroughly clean them. Debris such as stuck-on food
remnants on pots and pans, or dried liquids in cups and mugs, can
invite in an assortment of pests including rats, mice, flies, and
cockroaches. Leftover food and drinks can encourage mold growth,
which in turn can damage your belongings.
Before
packing up your kitchenware, clean and sanitize every piece. Put
pots, pans, dishes, and silverware through your dishwasher and make
sure every bit of debris is removed. In the case of stubborn stains,
you may have to pre-soak or hand-wash the pieces. Ensuring
dishes and kitchen equipment is thoroughly cleaned will deter pests
and protect the longevity of these items.
Wipe
down kitchen appliances, such as toaster ovens, toasters, and
blenders with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution and make sure no
crumbs or debris are stuck inside them. Clean and sanitize your
coffee pot by running vinegar through it according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
For
those hard to remove stains, turn to the 50/50 vinegar and water
solution once again. To clean and sanitize a heavily soiled pot, pan,
or bakeware item soak it in the 50/50 mixture prior to washing it.
This process will make stains easier to remove and will ensure that
the kitchenware is squeaky-clean prior to storage.
After
cleaning the pieces, make sure that they're completely dry before
wrapping them up to prevent mold and mildew growth.
2.
Wrap
Delicate Items
Some
kitchen items, such as delicate vintage or porcelain pieces, require
extra care and attention before they're packed into boxes. Take the
time to individually wrap each teacup, plate, cookie jar, or cake
stand in either white packing paper or bubble wrap. Tape the ends of
the paper or wrap for a secure fit.
Try
to avoid stacking the fragile items in the boxes, but if you must
stack them, place crumpled paper or bubble wrap in between the layers
for added protection. Fill in any open spots with the paper as well,
to prevent the pieces from moving around. Use a sticker or permanent
marker to label the boxes as fragile to alert the movers of what's
inside.
3.
Choose
a Climate-Controlled Unit
Although
a climate-controlled unit may cost a bit more than its outdoors
counterpart, it's the best place to store your kitchen items,
especially any kitchen items that contain electronics. Self-storage
units that are climate controlled and are located indoors will
feature air conditioning, which will help reduce moisture and
humidity. Moisture damage can cause pots, pans, and kitchen
appliances to rust over time.
It's
also important to store any food or beverages, including bottles of
wine, in a climate-controlled environment so that they don’t expire
sooner than anticipated and so that they can retain their full
flavor.
If
you're planning a move or life transition and need to store your
household items, contact Tysons
Self Storage
today
to inquire about our available storage units.
