How to Prepare to Pack an Oklahoma Self Storage Unit

So you’ve decided to get a self storage unit in Oklahoma and you want to get ready to start packing it, but where do you start? While an excellent storage unit packer can utilize as much as 80-90 percent of their storage space, inexperienced packers often achieve only 50 percent. Here are some tips to get you started out right on the road to making the best use of your self storage unit!

Start by measuring your unit. Self storage units come in a variety of standard sizes such as 5×10, 10×10, 10×20, and 10×30. If you’re trying to choose a unit it can be helpful to know how much space the objects you plan to store will take up. You can pack and measure the objects, or you can use a self storage space calculator, such as this one at our Storage ‘R’ Us website.

Once you know the size of your self storage unit, the next step is to plan your packing. Know what’s going in the unit and where it needs to be placed for easy access. If you’ll be needing to get in and out of your storage unit, it can be helpful to leave aisles available to access all your items. Be sure to keep accessibility in mind when packing your self storage unit. It can save you a lot of time moving things around to access things behind them down the road.

When you begin packing, make sure you buy boxes that are sturdy and can hold up to being stacked. It’s better to buy boxes from a moving company or Storage R Us than to use old boxes from grocery stores. New boxes hold up better to being stored over time, and their uniform size and shape allows them to be stacked more efficiently. Use smaller boxes for heavy items like dishes or books, and larger boxes for items like blankets or linens.

When placing breakable items in boxes, you can pack them in newspapers or other bulk paper, but investing in bubble wrap can keep your items safer, cleaner, and, since it’s transparent, makes them easier to identify! Plus, it’s reusable! For storing clothes, you might want to consider a wardrobe box. Wardrobe boxes are available at Storage R Us, and they come complete with a built-in hanging rod to keep your clothes fresh and unwrinkled.

Whatever you pack in your boxes, make sure that they’re packed full (partially-empty boxes can shift or collapse when moving or stacking), that the weight is distributed as evenly as possible, and that the boxes are clearly labeled for easy identification. You’ll also want to make sure that you have plenty of good quality packing tape. Most people use more tape than they think they will when packing. The team at Storage ‘R’ Us can help you estimate how much tape you’ll need, and we’ve got more tape, boxes, and other packing supplies for sale on-site if find that you need them.