Moving To Make Your Life Better

Going on a Long-Term Mission Trip? Tips for How to Store Your Possessions While You're Gone

When you decide to go out of the country on a long-term mission trip to help those less fortunate, you have many decisions that you will need to make as well as a great number of things that you will need to do in order to get yourself ready for your trip. One thing you'll need to do is to place your items in storage so that they are ready and waiting for you when you come home. However, in order to make the most out of your storage unit and make sure all of your items are in good shape when you get home, there are some strategies that you should employ in the packing and storage process. Get to know some of these strategies so that you can be sure that you are doing everything that you can and should to get your items safely squared away in storage before you head out on your mission trip.

Be Sure You Fill Your Boxes All the Way

One of the biggest packing mistakes that people make when their items are going to remain in storage for a prolonged period of time is that they do not fully pack or fill their moving/storage boxes. When boxes have a large amount of empty space in them and you stack one on top of the other, the boxes begin to settle and collapse.

Without items inside of the box to hold up the structure of those cardboard boxes, they will not stand up to the pressure of other items being stacked above. Not only could settling occur in this case, but the stack of boxes could actually tip over and fall, breaking your possessions or causing damage to other items in storage.

Fill the boxes all the way to the top. But, the caveat is that you should not fill them with items that are particularly heavy. Too many heavy items in one box will make the boxes impossible to move or stack. Mix heavy items with lighter ones to fill boxes that are still easy to lift.

Make Sure Any Appliances Are Clean and Dry

It is understandable that you may be in a hurry as you are getting your appliances ready for storage. But, it is important that you do not skip the important step of cleaning out and drying out all of your appliances for storage. The drying process is particularly important for refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, and washing machines as these are the appliances that are most likely to contain water and to have such issues.

Any amount of moisture in your appliances, whether it is from the last use before you put them in storage or from washing them out, can cause mildew and mold issues. When your items are left alone in the storage unit wet, then, the mold and mildew will grow unchecked and after you come home and go to retrieve your items, you will be hit with the strong smell of mold and mildew and may not have usable appliances to work with.

So, be sure that everything has been cleaned out to prevent damage to your appliances and then allow them about 24 to 48 hours to completely dry before you put them in storage. For freezers and refrigerators, as well as other appliances that use water, you may want to try to store them partially open. This will prevent any lingering moisture from causing issues for you with your appliances when you come home.

With these tips in mind, you can be sure that you are able to head out on your mission trip knowing that your possessions are safely tucked away in your storage unit and that they will be waiting for you in good condition when you come back.


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