Temporarily Downsizing? Use This Guide To Decide What To Put In Storage

If you're moving to a smaller place and won't be able to fit everything into your new home, placing some of your items in storage until you're able to eventually move again to a larger home is a great solution. However, deciding exactly what belongs in the storage unit, one like Walsh Moving & Storage, and what needs to come with you to your new place is not always easy. Here's a look at several items you probably can do without at your new place, and a few that you definitely don't want to put in storage.

Items to Put in Storage

knickknacks, candles, and other decorations: Set a select few decorations that mean something to you aside to use in your new home. Then, pack the others up for storage. Glass and stone figurines, candles, and other table-top decorations generally store well.

Appliances: As long as you clean and dry them out well, your appliances should be fine in storage if you don't need them in your new home. There's no sense in having two microwaves in your new place! Just remember to store your refrigerator with the door open so it does not get smelly.

Sofas, dressers, and other extra furniture: Wooden furniture should emerge from storage looking as good as new, as long as you give it a good polish before you put it in there. Cover sofas and plush chairs with specially-made sofa bags to protect them from the elements.

Items You Should Not Put in Storage

Valuable and meaningful artwork: Whether that painting is worth thousands or simply a few warm memories, it's unlikely to emerge from storage looking its best. Find a place for it on your wall in your new home, and put the cheaper, non-meaningful artwork in storage.

Wool and down bedding and clothing: These natural fibers and fillings are hard to protect from moths and pests. Make them the ones you will use at your new home, and stash your artificial fiber clothing and bedding in storage if you don't have room for it all.

Cosmetics and toiletries: Sure those bottles of lotion may last for years in your bathroom cabinet, but they're not likely to survive the temperature changes that occur in a storage unit. Take them with you, or throw them away.

Valuable books: If you have books that mean something to you or are worth a tidy sum, take them to your new home. Books easily become stained and musty in storage.

Deciding what to put in storage and what to keep can take some time. Speed up the process by making a list of everything you have. Then, work your way down the list, placing an "S" next to items you will send to storage and am "H" next to ones you'll take to your new home.