Storage Boxes

As a general rule of thumb, when you pack up some items for storage, it is safe to assume they will be in there twice as long as you think.  As we have addressed in other write-ups, even if this ends up not being true, all it means is you will have protected your items that much better.  So what is the best route to take when you are looking to protect your possessions with packing materials?  This is the ultimate case-by-case basis.  Your christmas ornaments shouldn’t be protected the same way that your sweaters should be or your extra dishes should be.

For most of us, the whole point of storing things in high quality boxes or totes is to protect them.  This means that cutting corners on packing materials is counterproductive.  Even if you are not moving and you are simply storing the containers in the basement or garage, you might be surprised how many people have been burned by low quality packing materials and the damage that has occurred to their belongings.  For example, trying to use crunched up newspapers in the place of legitimate packing materials is no good.

For fragile stackable items like plates and bowls, packing paper is your best choice.  For individual items, bubble wrap or a few layers of packing paper should do the trick.  Every box should be filled completely, either with actual items or packing materials filling in the gaps.  This will ensure your items do not shift and potentially sustain damage.  Above all, it’s key to use high quality packing boxes.  After all, the packing materials can only go so far if the container itself is unreliable.  Again, even simple storage on a shelf can be a risky proposition with poor quality packing materials or boxes.  Do yourself and your possessions a favor by not cutting corners on this one.