A Guide for Packing Mirrors for Storage

If you are wondering how you can pack your mirror to guarantee maximum protection during storage, then read on through this guide for some simple yet effective packing tips.

Step 1 – Invest in High-Quality Materials for Packing

Packing mirrors should start with understanding why it is important to buy high-quality packing materials. If you would want to store your mirror safely, then you must buy packing supplies of high quality.

These materials include a packing tape, Styrofoam, customized moving box, and corner protectors. Compromising on the quality of these packing supplies while trying to save your money might result in costly consequences in case the mirror breaks and you have to buy a new one.

Step 2 – Take a Masking Tape and Make a Large ‘X’ Sign on the Mirror

Place the mirror on a flat, soft surface such as the bed. Then place strips of the packing tape on the glass from one corner to the other to form an “X”. The aim of doing this is to ensure that the glass will not shatter in case it gets broken.

Taping the glass will also protect its frame from being damaged in case the mirror falls from a high height. This way, you will only replace the broken glass rather than the full mirror, and this will save you money. 

Step 3 – Use Corner Protectors to Guard the Frame Corners

Learning how you can transport a mirror is all about protecting it from all possibilities. Most people forget to protect the frame. They only focus on protecting glass. However, failing to protect the frame is a big mistake since the frame itself protects glass.

Hence, protecting the frame is important to avoid damage that may come from bumps during transit. Use corner protectors to protect the frame. These protectors are ideal for frames that have right-angled edges. Use bubble wraps for frames that are curved or ornate. 

Step 4 – Get a Cardboard Sheet and Place it on the Glass Surface

Use scissors to cut a piece of cardboard to place on the mirror. The cardboard will protect the mirror from grime, dirt, and dust that leave marks and scratches on glass surfaces.

Step 5 – Take a Styrofoam and Cut it to a Size Similar to the Cardboard and Place it on the Cardboard

To protect the mirror further, take a Styrofoam, then cut it into two sections. Their size should be similar to the cardboard.

Take the Styrofoam and place it on the cardboard. Use a packing tape to secure them together.

Step 6 – Now Wrap the Styrofoam, Mirror and Cardboard Together

Take some old blankets or towels and use them to wrap the mirror, Styrofoam, and cardboard in one bundle. Ensure the wrap is tight enough. You may use bubble wraps if you can’t get some blankets or towels.

Use plastic wraps to top up the bundle. Plastic wraps will prevent mold and moisture from damaging the mirror when storing it.

Step 7 – Put the Wrapped Mirror in a Customized Box

It is important to use a customized box to move or store a mirror. A customized box will come in a perfect size for your mirror and protect the entire mirror from damage.

Using a larger box will leave a lot of room where the mirror may move a lot during transit and this may damage or break it.

Moving large mirrors tends to be tricky. Using a fitting and high-quality moving box will protect it from accidental bumps during transit.

Step 8 – Mark the Box Clearly

Mark the box as “Fragile” in clear and large writings. Mark all sides to make sure that everyone handling the package will not have any excuse of tossing it carelessly.

If you forget to mark the box, you might fail to treat the mirror carefully especially when moving.

Step 9 – Move or Store the Mirror Upright

The most important thing when moving or storing a mirror is to keep it upright. Also, no item should be stacked on the mirror.

Glass is the most delicate part of a mirror and storing the mirror with the glass facing the front or laying it flat would risk chances of objects falling on the glass and break it. Storing it upright will keep it safe from damage.

With these 9 steps in mind, you have learned how to easily pack large mirrors for storage or when moving.

The post A Guide for Packing Mirrors for Storage appeared first on WhatStorage?.

source https://whatstorage.co.uk/packing-mirrors-for-storage/

The Ultimate Student Moving Checklist

Relocating into a new apartment building at school can be a very hectic time. It’s a big change that can be mind-boggling. Combine that with getting off to a good academic start and making new friends, and you’re pretty much setting yourself up for a nervous breakdown! So, how do you get ready for the move? Pretty simple. A moving checklist.

The stress of relocating can mold your mind into a pretzel, and cause you to overlook some things. Trying to recall everything you need to get done, from furniture shipping to setting up the Wi-Fi, can be almost unmanageable, which is why it’s vital to be proactive. With a complete, printable student moving checklist your move will be simple and stress-free. If you’re looking for a more standard checklist, check out our moving home checklist.

Important Documents

The following credentials will be very important for your move to college, particularly during your first few weeks. Make duplicates of all of them and stash them together in a secure file to make sure none of them goes missing.

• Passport photos
• Your bank card and bank details
• Driver’s license/passport or some form of ID
• Accommodation documents
• Passport photos
• Your course acceptance letter
• All official college documents, together with your acceptance letter
• All your Student Finance documents
• National Insurance card

Entertainment/Electrical Items

It really goes without saying that you will want to bring entertainment with you to college, for example your personal computer. You might even want to bring your own television, however you should check with the administration before packing it.

• Headphones
• Cable adapters
• Camera
• Computer/laptop and charger
• Extension leads
• Hair styling tools and hair dryer
• Speakers
• Phone and charger
• HDMI cable, Ethernet cable
• External hard drive

Clothing

Clothing usually is a no-brainer; you will most probably know what you want to take with you to college. Here is a list of the basic essentials, including a few extras that you might have forgotten about, to make sure you’ve got everything you need for all occasions.

• Formal shoes
• Smart-casual clothing
• Formal clothing
• Nightwear
• Comfortable clothing
• Everyday clothing
• Everyday shoes
• Raincoat
• Backpack
• Gym Bag
• Seasonal clothing (sunglasses, gloves, scarves, hats)
• Costume clothing (for themed parties!)
• Winter boots
• Slippers
• Swimwear
• Clothes hangers
• Dressing gown

Academic Items

Academic supplies like notepads and books can take up a lot of space and weight in your bags. So, don’t freak out, you can always stock up on everything you need when you get to college. Most colleges will have a shop providing all the important stationery items. However, there are some basic essentials you might want to take with you just to get started.

• Sticky notes
• Paper clips
• Sell tape
• Planner, diary or journal
• Stapler and staples
• Highlighters
• Pencils and pens

Your college will probably send you a ‘recommended reading list’ before your arrival at college, and purchasing all of these textbooks can seem like the sensible, organized thing to do. But, it’s best to wait until you have actually started your course and assessed the situation before you decide which books you really need to buy. As not only do they consume a lot of space and weight in your luggage – they’re costly! You’ll quickly learn that you can find many of them in the library at no cost, or you could even share or borrow them from your course-mates.

Kitchen Supplies

You have to eat while you’re at school, so start by gathering the necessary kitchen supplies so that you can cook and store food that you don’t eat. You also need to have something to eat on and eat it with. Consider the following supplies:

• Pot
• Plates
• Cups
• Mug
• Dish soap and scrub brush
• Bowls
• Fork, knife, spoon
• Tupperware
• Can opener
• Pan

Room Needs

While many college rooms come furnished, it is with the bare necessities, and you will still need some things to make the room usable, especially for studying and other uses. The following are some of the basic items that you won’t want to go to college without:

• Alarm
• Pillowcases
• Mattress protector
• Mini sewing kit
• Mini iron and ironing board
• Trashcan
• Storage
• Duvet
• Bed sheets
• Pillows
• Clothes hangers
• Hangers
• Bulletin board/dry eras
• Clothes horse
• Doorstop
• Lamp
• Earplugs
• Hot water bottle
• Wastebasket

Toiletries

The first time you get sick, you are going to feel really crappy about not having a bottle of Tylenol, Excedrin or Aspirin. So, get it before you get sick. Don’t forget the following:

• Razors, clippers, tweezers
• Floss and toothpaste
• Lotion
• Medicine
• Shower stuff
• Hair styling products
• Bandages
• Soaps

Miscellaneous

These items may slip your mind when boxing up your personal effects, but you’ll be surprised at how handy some of them can be in your time of need.

• Umbrella
• Change for washing machines and bus fares
• Beach towel
• Playing cards
• Alarm clock
• A torch
• Swiss army knife
• Batteries
• Books
• Handheld hoover
• Toolkit
• Sports equipment

Essential non-essentials

The following items aren’t precisely essentials, but we can almost guarantee that you’ll need to have them in your new room, to give it that touch of home.

• Pictures of friends and family
• Fake plants for decoration
• Bulletin board
• Cushions/Throw blankets for decoration
• Full-length mirror/wall mirror

Other stuff

There are also some things that you might not think about, that would be good to take to college with you.

• Cleaning supplies
• Storage containers
• Household products (Ziploc bags, trash bags, light bulbs)

Let’s face it- When you go off to college, you are moving out of your house, and thus you need some basic personal effects to function. So, if you fear bringing your stuff with you over the summer break or you simply don’t have enough room in your apartment, finding a self-storage unit near you may benefit you.

The post The Ultimate Student Moving Checklist appeared first on WhatStorage?.

source https://whatstorage.co.uk/the-ultimate-student-moving-checklist/

Choosing a Removals Company

Don’t underestimate the time spent packing and moving your belongings, not to mention the stress of carrying heavy furniture pieces.

Packing itself takes days. And if you choose to move everything yourself, you will have to invest another day in unpacking everything as well as calling friends and family to help you carry boxes. Make sure to check out our Moving Home Checklist to make sure you plan your move properly. 

You might end up with broken plates or scratched furniture pieces. Plus, some items are extremely hard to carry, so if you have massive wood furniture or large sofas, you are setting yourself for a day that is bound to give you a few grey hairs.

That said, some people still want to save some extra bucks by doing everything themselves. This may work if you are currently unemployed and you don’t lose money by taking too many days off. But if you are a 9-5 worker or freelancer, your boss won’t be happy to hear that you got sick twice in a month.

Going DIY could also be a viable option if you don’t have heavy furniture or fragile items, which is unlikely to be the case. But if you do, you probably won’t need a removals company.

A self-storage unit can be helpful as well if you don’t want to bring the heavy furniture to your new place for the time being.

If you do have heavy furniture and fragile items, you might want to consider a removals company since they also offer insurance in case something goes bad. Also, it’s going to be easier for you if you have professionals helping you both pack and move your belongings.

This being said, picking the right removals company is not easy. With so many options out there, it’s hard to pick, but this is where we help.

We put together a short guide on how to pick the best removals company in your area, negotiate on price, and more.

A good removal company practices transparency

There are a number of services that a removals company offers, including packing, moving, and providing insurance.

Based on the quality of the services, the distance traveled, and the size of the crew, you will receive a quote. The bigger the crew is, the faster the team, and the better the insurance options are, the more you pay.

But you should be able to find out how much these services cost individually and make a compromise in one area, if necessary, to negotiate on price.

For example, you might ask what their hourly rate is, how much it the traveling costs are, and how much the insurance costs separately.

A good company is transparent about their costs, and they will try their best to help you out. For example, some moving companies offer discounts if you use your own packing supplies.

If you don’t have belongings that are expensive and need to be moved, maybe you can negotiate a more affordable insurance package.

A good removals company will visit your home in person before making an offer

Getting quotes over the phone from a removals company is always a bad idea, both for them and for you.

They are some factors that can lower the costs on your end and make their job twice as hard. For example, a piano will be hard to carry, especially if the stairways are very tight. But if they don’t come to look around first, they won’t know it.

On a similar note, you might be able to get a discount if you don’t have “problematic” items that require a lot of work. For example, if you’re moving to the first floor and you don’t have a piano to carry, it’s going to be easier on movers compared to someone living on the 10th floor in a crowded area.

If you do get a quote from a removals company that can’t pay a visit (this usually happens when you call them just a few days before your move), make sure you are honest about what type of items you have and what the new location looks like.

You should have a conversation about moving your items at least 2 weeks before your moving day. Most removals companies are quite busy, and you might not find anything on a short notice.

Compare the prices from moving companies in the area where you are moving

When you ask for an estimate, make sure you get the hourly rate for workers, the insurance fees, the fees for packing, mileage, and other costs before you compare two companies.

If you are moving to a smaller town, you might be able to get a better offer from a moving company in the place you are relocating. When you are comparing two companies, make sure they both offer the same service package. Otherwise, you might be making a compromise on quality.

You should also research the area where you are moving, when it comes to uneven roads and the type of automobiles moving companies use.

Tall lorries don’t go well with bad roads and steep gradients, which might get you in trouble with the local police. Make sure you ask about permission to unload before you do so.

Another factor that impacts the pricing is when you plan to move. During holidays and on Saturdays, prices are usually higher since the demand is increased as well.

Research your insurance options

Make sure you reading the contract and asking the right questions about emergencies. Ask the removals company representative about what happens if the move is delayed, or what kind of insurance they are offering and what it covers. Do valuable items require special insurance, and what’s the limit per item?

Also keep in mind that if you choose to pack some items yourself, those items won’t be covered by insurance. You might be saving a bit on the packing costs but might lose money if your items do get damaged.

Before you send the items, make a list with the fragile and heavy objects that may offer some difficulties.

Ask them if they will help you unload the packages in the designated room

Many companies help their clients get their packages to the designated room if the boxes are labeled, which saves a lot of time and energy for property owners.

Some removals companies offer cheaper services but don’t include putting the boxes in certain rooms. Before you sign a contract, make sure you ask if they will help you out with this and if they need a floor plan so the movers know where to unload certain boxes.

Ask for the credentials and experience of the removals company  

If the removals company has a website, you can check yourself if they are members of The British Association of Removers or The National Guild of Removers and Storers. These organizations ask from their members a certain degree of professionalism and experience in the industry before accepting them. Being part of one of these organizations can be a good indicator of the quality of the services that they offer.

The post Choosing a Removals Company appeared first on Self Storage Comparison with WhatStorage.

source https://whatstorage.co.uk/choosing-removals-company/

11 Items That Should be Stored in a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit

When you decide to take the big step of storing your belongings in a self-storage unit, you should look for what kind of features these services come with.

Certain items are more fragile than others and can be damaged over time by humidity, high and low temperatures, and exposure to light.

You may be tempted to skip this step, but the truth is that our homes are different from storage units. In them, we always try to maintain a balanced temperature and humidity.

The items that were preserved so easily in your home will need air conditioning in a storage unit as well. Most of them do.

If you have some belongings that you cherish and you plan to use a storage unit, make sure you look at our list of items that require special care.

1. Paintings and art collections

Extreme temperatures can make the canvas shrink, and humid environments can lead to mold and mildew growth.

Art is best stored in cold and dry environments without sudden temperature changes.

2. Fabrics

Anything made out of fabric, including upholstered furniture, can grow mildew and develop an ugly smell in a humid setting. Fabrics last longer when they are cleaned professionally and stored at 50% humidity.

3. Electronics

Electronic devices can handle a little bit more humidity, up to 60%. But you have to be careful with high temperatures during the summer.

Above 60% humidity, your electronics will stand no chance, and you will start noticing corrosion and mold.

4. Metals

Many collectors choose to store their metal coins in a self-storage unit. But metal is no more resistant to humidity than other materials, not to mention that you need to keep your items away from sudden temperature changes.

In the presence of moisture, iron will rust and copper will change its color to green (hence, why your finger turns green from copper rings), silver will darken, and lead will be completely destroyed.

5. Paper

If you collect comics or you want to store your books and photographs, keep in mind that they might turn yellow in the winter or summer due to temperature changes.

Paper items are affected by humidity as well. Ideally, it should be below 30% humidity, and your belongings should be protected from light as well.

6. Mattress and pillows

Mattresses and pillows are tricky because there is always the chance of retaining moisture. It’s not that difficult for a dress to dry after it gets a bit humid in the storage unit, but a thick mattress will become a home to mold in a situation like this.

The humidity levels in a self-storage unit should be around 40%

7. Leather furniture

Aside from making sure leather doesn’t shrink from humidity or warp from high temperatures in the summer, you also have to make sure you let it breathe.

A thin cotton sheet works best for this type of furniture. It protects it from dust accumulation and it lets the leather breathe, which prevents pungent smells.

8. Wines

Perhaps one of the trickiest items to store, wines need low light, moderate humidity, and a constant temperature.

You may be tempted to store your wines in a dry environment, but it’s best to keep the humidity between 40% and 70 %. Environments that are too dry will damage the quality of the wine. They will also make the seals harden and the bottles difficult to open.

On the other hand, too much moisture in the air will change the color of the wine and accelerate the aging process. This will ruin its flavor.

9. Wood furniture and antique items

If you have some cabinets from your parents or antique items, a climate controlled environment is a must due to how wood reacts in cold and hot environments.

In a colder setting, the wood will contract. In hot temperatures, it will dilate. On top of this, the moisture in the air should be controlled as well since it can lead to mold.

Occasionally, the wood also needs to be treated against parasites and polished with oil to maintain its shine.

What can be stored in a storage unit without climate control?

If you want to store your belongings, do it in the spring or the fall, before extremely hot or cold weather arrives. Even items that would be otherwise damaged in the lack of climate control will remain intact during the gentler seasons.

The problem with this approach is that the weather is rarely predictable. You can end up with exceptionally hot days during the spring or cold, rainy days during the fall.

Other items that can be stored without any special requirements are items that are made to withstand extreme temperatures, such as patio furniture pieces, frying pans, pots, spoons, knives, and forks.

Whatever doesn’t get damaged in extreme temperatures, can be stored in a storage unit without climate control.

The post 11 Items That Should be Stored in a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit appeared first on Whatstorage.

source https://whatstorage.co.uk/11-items-that-should-be-stored-in-a-climate-controlled-storage-unit/

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