The primary thing we see in storage units is furniture, so knowing how to properly store your furniture is a huge must. Not only do you want to keep your belongings in good condition, you want to protect it from scratches and jostling during all the moving.
Disassemble anything you can e.g desks, bookshelves, tables, chairs, and more.
This is probably the most time consuming step, but it has more than one benefit.
Taking apart big pieces of furniture has several benefits: it will be easier to move, reduce the likelihood of anything breaking or scratching, and will allow you to store more items in a smaller space, saving you money.
If possible, get bubble wrap or cloth to wrap around each piece to further protect your furniture. You can leave it loosely wrapped so it can "breathe".
PRO TIP: Make sure to prepare plastic Ziploc baggies with labels for each piece of furniture, put all the screws, bolts, and small pieces together and organized.
Wrap it up, and don't forget the floors!
Make sure everything is completely covered including the floor. Most storage units have concrete floors, similar to your garage or basement.
To further protect your items, you should put down a protective layer between anything you set on the floor and the cold concrete. You can lay down a thick plastic sheet, put items on top of a pallet or other ways to help create a layer and air flow.
Never put furniture into storage uncovered. Use old sheets or plastic wrap to cover the pieces to protect them from dust and moisture.
If you are going to use plastic, make sure it's light and breathable to make sure that you are not trapping in moisture which could cause your furniture to swell.
Do not move in the rain.
Trapped moisture, however little, is your biggest enemy. Sometimes mother nature has other plans, and you just can't help it, but if you can - never ever move in the rain, even a slight sprinkle can have devastating effects. Wait until it stops drizzling to move your items or keep them 100% covered at all times with plastic.
What to do if you got stuck in the rain? Visit your unit or space often and keep the door open to air it out.
Bring towels to dry off all of your furniture, use baking powder and moisture absorbers where you can.
Continue to monitor your items weekly until you are sure everything is fully dried.