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Preparing fragile items for storage

21 August 2019

Hazel Bailey

Packing your belongings to go into a self-storage unit is more than a matter of just putting piles of books or shirts into storage boxes. Some items -- including some of your most precious -- need a little extra care. Fortunately, all you need to keep these delicate items safe is a little extra preparation and a few easily available packaging materials. 

Dishes and glasses

Fragile items like cups and plates need to be handled carefully. Put a layer of packing material between plates and wrap glasses individually in a soft material like bubble wrap. Make sure that all voids in the box are filled with a packaging material like foam pellets or bubble wrap to prevent these items shifting during transport. Also, be careful not to overload your boxes: glass and ceramics can be very heavy. Make sure that you can safely carry each box without the contents falling through the bottom. 

Photographs

Photographs aren't generally vulnerable to physical damage in the same way that fragile items like dishes are, but they can be vulnerable to environmental threats like damp. Preserving these valuable items begins with creating digital backups. To protect the physical items, store them in airtight plastic bags to prevent condensation from forming. Place slips of archival paper between loose photographs to prevent them from sticking together. When you place the boxes in your storage unit, be sure not to overcrowd it; the ideal layout includes space underneath and behind your boxes for air to circulate. 

Books and magazines

Like photographs, books and magazines can be affected by damp; they're also vulnerable to warping if they're put under pressure or stored in any position other than lying flat. If you have older or more valuable books whose covers need protection, seal them in bags or wrap them in packing material. Although old newspaper is a common bulk packing material, it's not appropriate for books or magazines as the ink can transfer and be tricky to remove. Just like with photographs, place books in a position where there's plenty of air circulation. In addition, remember that paper products like books and magazines are heavy: although you want them off the ground, putting them on too high a shelf or atop a stack of boxes can be unsafe. 

Storage units are designed to keep your belongings safe not only from outside threats but from damp and other hazards. Still, if you're concerned about the risk to your stored items, taking these simple precautions will help restore your peace of mind. 

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