Published: October 29, 2017

How to Pack Your Sensitive Items for Non-Climate Controlled Portable Storage

Perhaps the greatest thing about UNITS portable storage containers is their versatility. You really can use them for just about any reasonable personal or commercial purpose.

More often than not, portable storage containers are used during home renovations when the family is still living in the dwelling. This means that items that are used to a steady, climate controlled environment may be subjected to elements that could be harmful.

Since portable storage containers aren’t climate controlled, it’s important to know how to store your belongings to ensure they will stay intact while in storage. Below are some of the more common types of items that need special care in a non-climate controlled setting.

And remember to enjoy how accessible, yet secure portable storage is for you and your family!

How to Store Photographs

Family photos are some of the most precious treasures we can keep and pass on from generation to generation and storing them properly is critical to ensuring they will be pristine for decades to come.

You may be tempted to use a shoebox or filing box, but don’t do it! Over time, cardboard boxes may accumulate moisture causing damage to your photographs. Choose a box that is either airtight stainless steel or plastic. This will ensure moisture will not reach your photographs.

Be sure to store your photos in an organized fashion. If you’re storing in a box, use dividers with labels to chronologically order your photos creating a timeline of your life. You can also buy plastic sleeved pages that you can use to organize photographs in a three ring binder.

In today’s technologically advanced age, it’s quite easy to digitize photos. If you have a scanner at home, you can kick back with your favorite beverage and spend as long as you’d like scanning. The library is also a great place to use a scanner. Just make sure to be quite.

How to Store Leather, Suede, and Other Skins

If storing photographs is all about keeping moisture out, storing leather and suede is all about locking moisture in. Leather and suede can become brittle and crack if it is not kept in the proper environment. They can also lose their shape and fit if the problem becomes acute.

Make sure all of your suede and leather items are cleaned before you prepare them for storage in a portable container. Fun fact for you: a pencil eraser can be used to take stains out of most suede. If you take your clothing to the dry cleaner, check with them to see if storing with them is a viable option.

To keep the shape of your coats, bags, shoes, and jackets intact, stuff them with acid-free paper. Don’t overstuff, because you can stretch and loosen stitches. Understaffing will not keep the integrity of the item intact. Be like Goldilocks and find the level of stuffing that is just right.

Plastic is leather and suede’s best friend when it comes to storage. Every item should be individually wrapped in plastic to ensure that as little moisture as possible is able to leave. Bonus points before using mink or another kind of conditioning oil before wrapping in plastic.

How to Store Electronics

All electronics need to be kept safe from the elements. They’re sensitive pieces of machinery that are meant to work in a climate controlled environment. Since your portable storage container is not climate controlled, it’’s important to remember a few things when storing electronics.

Before you begin, make a list of everything you are going to store and take a picture of everything plugged in and working properly. This will ensure you can get everything back together after you’re finished storing.

Heat and moisture are the main foes you’re trying to defend against. If you don’t have the original packaging for your electronic items, try to find a similar plastic container. Still, if none are available, wrap everything individually in plastic.

Try not to store electronics high off the ground. Place them as close to ground level as possible and cover them with a towel. A towel will provide some stock absorption in case of accident. Also be sure to lean the item against the wall if possible.