• Inspect your storage space. The space should be clean with a door in good working order.

• Determine the packing accessories you need: paper, bubble-pack, tape, rope, drop cloths, polyurethane sheeting, furniture covers, pallets, skids, file boxes, and storage cartons. Many of these items are for sale in our rental office.

• Fill containers only to capacity; partially full or bulging cartons may tip or collapse. Heavy items like books or tools should be packed in small boxes so they are easy to lift. Protect your fragile goods with packing paper and place them near the top of your storage space.

• Label boxes. Take home a list of the labelled boxes for easy reference when you need to locate your goods.

• Pack the storage space carefully. Leave air space around the perimeter to aid ventilation. Place a pallet on concrete floors and do not lean items against walls. Leave a walkway to the rear of your space for easy access. Use all the space available including the height. Place frequently used goods near the door.

Common sense and provincial laws determine what may be stored. Your company alone controls access to your storage space. Never store live animals, perishables, liquids, explosives, flammable liquids and fuels, toxic materials, or other items that need a controlled environment. Disconnect the battery cables to your equipment.

APPLIANCES: A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and stored with its door slightly ajar. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances and boxes can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators, and some freezers (Make sure if you put something on top of a freezer it doesn't damage the seal). Make sure stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.

BICYCLES AND OTHER METAL ITEMS: To retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil.

BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, but use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing paper to fill out pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box with books and do not overload.

BEDDING, CLOTHING, CURTAINS, DRAPES AND LINENS: Clothing, curtains, and drapes should be stored on hangers in wardrobe cartons (available for sale in our office). If wardrobe cartons are not available, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers or cedar chests along with bedding and linens.

DISHES AND GLASSWARE: Place a layer of packing paper inside the bottom and at the top of boxes containing glassware. All glass items should be individually wrapped: nest cups and bowls and stand plates, saucers, and platters on edge. Wrapped glasses should be placed near the top of cartons. Again, fill all pockets with packing paper. Label all boxes containing glassware, and do not place heavy items on boxes containing glassware.

FURNITURE: Place a pallet or corrugated cardboard mat on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Disassemble beds and tables and wrap table legs in paper. If a table will not disassemble, place padding on the floor and place the table on its top with the legs pointing up. Use dresser tops for stacking cartons and dresser drawers for linens or small, delicate items. Keep upholstery off the floor. Most lightweight chairs can be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables, which cannot be disassembled. Finally, place a light cotton (e.g. a bed sheet) dust cover on your furniture.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS: Save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing paper. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing paper.

FABRIC ITEMS: All items need to be clean and free from anything that my attract pests.

LAMPS: Wrap large lamp bases in padding, wrap smaller lamps and place them in boxes, and pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamp shades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items on cartons containing lamps or lamp shades.

MIRRORS, WINDOWS, AND SCREENS: These items should be stored on edge, not flat.

TOOLS: Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust. Long-handled tools such as rakes , shovels and hoes should be clean, lightly oiled and tied in bundles.

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT: All equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and dry before it is stored. Any equipment with sealing doors, such as a refrigerator, should be stored with its door slightly ajar.

METAL EQUIPMENT, TOOLS AND OTHER METAL ITEMS: All equipment needs to be clean. To retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil.

FILES, RECORDS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, but use pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing paper to fill empty pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box with books and do not overload.

FABRIC ITEMS: All items need to be clean and free from anything that may attract pests.

FRAGILE ITEMS: Place a layer of packing paper inside the bottom and at the top of boxes containing fragile items. All items should be individually wrapped placing the most fragile near the top of the cartons. Again, fill all pockets with packing paper. When stacking boxes that contain fragile items, place these on top of those containing heavy items. Label all boxes containing delicate items "FRAGILE".

OFFICE FURNITURE: Place a pallet, corrugated cardboard mat, or sheet on the floor and stand sofas on end. Disassemble furniture and wrap table legs in paper. If furniture, such as a table, will not disassemble, place padding on the floor and place the table on its top with legs pointing up. Most lightweight chairs can be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on other furniture. Keep upholstery off the floor. Finally, place a light dust cover over your furniture. Some facilities may sell covers for your convenience.