When you are building a house, the process of packing your belongings for storage can be a nightmare! Certain items need a little more care than others. You don’t pack books in the same way you pack crockery, or clothes in the same way you pack your washing machine.
For anyone building a house, we have asked the experts at Kent Storage to provide a few tips and tricks for storing some of the most common household items:
Clothing
When it comes to packing clothes when you’re building a house, the tendency is to throw them in cardboard boxes or suitcases. This might be suitable for short-term storage but if you’re storing long term, you really need to invest in some plastic boxes with clip-on lids. These will provide far superior protection from dust, moisture, pests and odour than cardboard boxes or suitcases can.
Fridges
Use a thin piece of cardboard or a rag to keep your fridge door slightly ajar. This will prevent smells from building up. If you’re going to store your fridge for a really long time you may even want to consider removing the door to get plenty of air circulation moving through the interior. If you need further details, take a look at How to Store a Refrigerator.
Mattresses
You want to maximise your space so you’re probably thinking the best way to store your mattress is to store it on its side, or on its edge. Storing it like this places enormous pressure on the internal spring structure and because you’re forcing it into an unnatural position you can distort the shape. You need to make sure there is enough space for you to lay it flat on its back. If you need further details, take a look at How to Store a Mattress Tips
Bed Frames
There’s absolutely no point storing your bed frame intact. It will take up too much space and it will stay in better condition when you can protect the individual pieces. So, grab a set of Allen keys or a spanner and pull the bed apart before you store it. Just remember to wrap wooden frames in linen before you wrap them in plastic to prevent the wood from warping or shrinking.
Washing Machines
The night before you store your washing machine, run a warm cycle through it to remove any detergent residue. After the cycle is finished, leave the door or lid open to allow the machine to dry out. Before you store it grab a chamois and give it another dry to make sure there is absolutely no mould causing moisture left inside.
Couches
Unfortunately wrapping your couch in plastic can trap moisture, creating mould and mildew in the process. Instead, use furniture blankets to protect your couches. Always remember to store your couch in its natural position, rather than propping it up on its side to save space. And don’t place items on top of your couch as they can leave permanent marks.
Now you have done the packing, its time to pick a colour scheme.
iBuildNew is here to provide advice for anyone looking to build a new house. So feel free to give our expert phone consultants a call on 1800 184 284 and they will endeavour to answer your questions.
- We’ll ask the right questions to better understand your needs
- We’ll create a recommended shortlist ideally matched to you
- We’ll answer specific questions or concerns related to home building, land purchasing or financing