Packing Guidelines

• If you have items that need packing it is essential that you learn to pack as skillfully and efficiently as possible.
  
  Thinking ahead:

• Don’t pack anything you don’t want or need. Now is the time for a ruthless chuck-out or generous donations to charity.
• Start to pack well in advance – you always have more belongings than you imagine.
• Try to pack room by room. This will make unpacking at the new location easier.
• Consider setting up a ‘staging area’, such as a garage or spare room, which can be used as a designated packing area.
• Pack items that you don’t use on a daily basis first.
• Important documents and valuables should be packed separately and kept somewhere secure.

Boxes:

All packing materials can be purchased from McCarthy’s Storage World Leeds.

• Always use good quality, strong boxes. Don’t risk damaging your belongings for the sake of a few pennies.
• Make sure you have a good selection of different sized boxes. Light items such as blankets and towels should be packed into large boxes, whereas heavy items such as books will need to be packed into small boxes.
• Don’t pack boxes so heavily that they can’t be lifted safely. Check the weight as you go along and add lighter items such as toys and towels on top if they are getting too heavy. As a general rule, always place heavier items on the bottom.
• Try to fill boxes as much as possible, but not so much that the lids can’t be closed. This will allow boxes to be stacked in the van.
• Try to pack all electronic equipment and appliances in their original boxes – they generally provide the best cushioning and support.
• Consider using hanging garment boxes for clothes, which act like transportable wardrobes. They’re fantastic for cutting down on the ironing!
• Never close lids by folding under the corners in criss-crosses - they will not be secure. Always use good quality tape to tape up the boxes at both ends.
• Always label boxes clearly with the designated room at the new house after storage. Make sure you mark them as ‘fragile’ if they contain breakable items.

Wrapping:

• Wrap all breakables in white paper, tissue paper or bubble wrap. Do not use newspaper - it may leave smudges from the print.
• Old linen and towels can be used to cushion and wrap fragile items.
• To avoid leakages, wrap toiletries and other liquid items in sealable plastic bags. Make sure that all lids are securely tightened.
• Always make sure that sharp items such as knives are thoroughly wrapped or placed in containers before being put in the boxes.
• Use acid free tissue paper to wrap silverware; this will prevent it from tarnishing.
• Consider placing blankets and bedding in plastic bags not boxes – they will provide cushioning between the other items in the van.

Larger items:

• Storage furniture (chest of drawers, wardrobes etc.) may not need to be emptied out entirely. Only remove enough items so that they can be lifted safely. Ensure that no breakable items are left inside.
• Try and cover large items (tables, wardrobes etc.) with old sheets or blankets to prevent dust and damage. Remove legs if possible.
• Roll up carpets and rugs and secure with tape or rope.
• Bed frames and garden furniture may be too bulky or heavy to move. Take apart where possible and bind the pieces together with rope.
• Bicycle handlebars can be loosened and turned sideways so that they take up less space.
• Always tape loose screws and bolts to the furniture it belongs to – this will make life easier when trying to reassemble.

Attention!

• NEVER pack flammable items (paraffin and creosote) into storage They are major hazards and will invalidate any insurance cover you may have. This includes petrol, diesel or oil in garden machinery such as lawnmowers, which should be drained of all fuels.