Sizing Up Your Storage Needs
Please store cardboard boxes off the floor (wood pallets work well).
Approx. Unit size | How much will fit | About the size of a.. |
|---|---|---|
5' x 5'1.5m x 1.5m  | Small furniture, boxes, garage tools, washer, dryer or other small items. | Small half bathroom |
5' x 10'1.5m x 3m  | A couch, chair, dresser, mattress set, boxes, and small items. | Walk-in closet |
5' x 12'1.5m x 3.6m | Similar to the 5 x 10 A couch, chair, dresser, mattress set, boxes, and small items. | Walk-in closet |
9' x 10'2.7m x 3m  | One bedroom apartment with appliances, boxes and small items. | Mid-sized bedroom |
10' x 10'3m x 3m  | One bedroom apartment with appliances, boxes and small items. Motorbike or ATV. | Average-sized bedroom |
10' x 12'3m x 3.6m | One bedroom apartment with appliances, boxes and small items. Units vary with some having 8' doors wide while others have 10'. | Average-sized bedroom |
10' x 15'3m x 4.5m  | Furnishings from a two bedroom apartment or small house without appliances, plus cartons and small items. Sleds. | Large bedroom |
10' x 20'3m x 6m  | Furnishings from a three bedroom home with appliances or a car or truck. | Small one car garage |
10' x 25'3m x 7.5m  | Furnishings from a three bedroom home with appliances or a car, truck or boat, or other recreational equipment | Standard one car garage |
12' x 20'3.6m x 6.1m | Similar to the 10' x 25' but with a 10' wide door. Furnishings from a three bedroom home with appliances or a car, truck or boat, or other recreational equipment | Standard one car garage |
12' x 25'3.6m x 7.6m | Furnishings from a three-four bedroom home with appliances or a car, truck or boat storage, or other recreational equipment. Each unit has 9' high doors. | Standard garage |
12' x 30'3.6m x 9.1m  | Furnishings from a four or five bedroom home with appliances, basement and garage items or space for vehicles, skidoos, atv's, or motorbikes on or off trailers. | Long one car garage with 10' wide door. |
12' x 35'3.6m x 10.5m | Furnishings from a four or five bedroom home with appliances, basement and garage items or space for vehicles, skidoos, atv's, or motorbikes on or off trailers. | Extra long one car garage *has wider door |
- LABEL & NUMBER BOXES ON ALL FOUR SIDES.
- USE COLORED STICKERS TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT ROOMS.
- KEEP AN INVENTORY OF THE CONTENTS.
- ALWAYS USE NON PRINTED NEWSPRINT (INEXPENSIVE AND WON’T STAIN)
- USE BUBBLE WRAP, PLAIN NEWSPRINT OR STYROFOAM CHIPS TO PROTECT BREAKABLES .
- USE ‘FRAGILE’ LABELS WHERE NEEDED.
- USE ZIP LOCK BAGS TO KEEP KNOBS AND OTHER SMALL ITEMS TOGETHER.
- REMEMBER TO LEAVE A WALKWAY IN YOUR STORAGE UNIT FOR EASY ACCESS!
Appliances
- DRAIN AND REMOVE ALL WATER FROM HOSES.
- CLEAN AND DRY THOROUGHLY.
- SECURE ALL MOVING PARTS.
- STORE APPLIANCES WITH SEALING DOORS AJAR AND SECURED OPEN WITH PLASTIC TIES.
- STORE LIGHTWEIGHT ITEMS, SUCH AS BLANKETS, IN FREEZERS.
Electronic Equipment
- SEPARATE COMPONENTS.
- WRAP IN ORIGINAL CARTON OR USE BUBBLE WRAP, PLAIN NEWSPRINT OR ANTI-STATIC BAGS AND PLACE IN CARDBOARD BOXES.
- NOTE: DO NOT USE FOAM CHIPS AS THEY CONTAIN STATIC ELECTRICITY.
Books, Files, Records and other documents
- PACK FLAT TO PROTECT SPINES.
- ALTERNATE BOUND EDGES.
- DO NOT PLACE DIRECTLY ON CONCRETE- USE A PALLET.
- USE SMALLER BOXES TO PACK BOOKS.
Lawn and Garden
- DISCONNECT BATTERIES.
- TIE LOOSE ITEMS LIKE HOSES AND RAKES TOGETHER.
- REMOVE ALL DEBRIS FROM MOWERS AND WEED EATERS.
Sports Equipment
- USE LARGE BOXES OR SINGLE SIZED MATTRESS COVERS TO PROTECT SKIS OR OTHER SUCH EQUIPMENT FROM SCRATCHES.
- WIPE METAL SURFACES WITH MINERAL OIL.
- DRY ALL HOCKEY AND OTHER SPORTS EQUIPMENT WELL BEFORE STORING.
- LARGE GARBAGE CANS WORK WELL TO STORE BATS, STICKS AND BALLS OF ALL KINDS.
Fabrics – Clothing, Curtains, Drapes and Linens
- USE WARDROBE BOXES TO HANG OR FOLD AND STORE IN DRESSER DRAWERS.
Holiday Decorations
- STORE IN ORIGINAL CARTONS OR PACK WITH PLAIN NEWSPRINT OR BUBBLE WRAP AND STORE IN
CARDBOARD BOXES.
Mirrors, Windows and Screens
- WRAP IN CARDBOARD OR CRATE AND STORE THEM ON EDGE.
Motorized items
- USE OIL-PROTECTIVE PADS UNDER ALL MOTORS TO PROTECT THE FLOOR FROM ANY LEAKS OR SPILLS.
Bowl and cups
- WRAP INDIVIDUALLY AND PACK UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE HANDLES TURNED IN
PLATES. - MAKE A 3-4” CUSHION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX (BUBBLE WRAP OR CRUSHED PAPER
WORKS WELL. - WRAP PLATES INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN WRAP IN BUNDLES OF FOUR WITH BUBBLE WRAP
- STORE BUNDLES ON EDGE UNTIL THE BOX IS FULL.
- USE BUBBLE WRAP OR CRUSHED PLAIN NEWSPRINT ON TOP TO CUSHION THE PLATES BEFORE CLOSING.
Plates
- MAKE A 3-4” CUSHION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX (BUBBLE WRAP OR CRUSHED PAPER WORKS WELL)
- WRAP PLATES INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN WRAP IN BUNDLES OF FOUR WITH BUBBLE WRAP
- STORE BUNDLES ON EDGE UNTIL THE BOX IS FULL
- USE BUBBLE WRAP OR CRUSHED PLAIN NEWSPRINT ON TOP TO CUSHION THE PLATES BEFORE CLOSING
Fragile Dishes
- WRAP INDIVIDUALLY AND STORE IN CELLED CARTON WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
- CUSHION WELL WITH BUBBLE WRAP.
- WRAP TINY, FRAGILE ITEMS IN COLORED TISSUE TO AVOID THROWING A VALUABLE TREASURE
OUT WITH THE PACKING PAPER BY MISTAKE.
Flatware
- STAINLESS STEEL DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL WRAP.
- SILVERWARE SHOULD BE WRAPPED IN LOW-SULPHUR CONTENT PAPER OR IN CLEAR PLASTIC
TO PREVENT SCRATCHING AND TARNISHING.