If you’re moving or remodeling your home, chances are you’ll need a space to store your appliances. Whether you plan to store them for a month or long-term, you should store them properly to maintain their condition. Here are some tips for how to do appliance storage the right way.
Drain Water
The first step in appliance storage is to make sure you remove all water from any hoses, holding tanks, plastic tubing, or other internal components. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but water left in hoses and tanks can freeze and cause damage while sitting in storage. It can also cause mold to grow. Water can remain in hoses and tanks even after you remove them from the outlet source, so double-check the water is gone before you continue the storing process.
Clean and Prep
No matter what appliance you’re storing, you need to give it a good cleaning. If you store appliances when they’re unclean, you can expect them to be just as dirty (or even more so) when you retrieve them again. The best thing to do for your appliances’ sake is properly clean and prepare them for storage.
Using the appliance cleaner of your choice, carefully dust and wipe down all the parts of your appliance. This includes areas like lint filters, grids, or tubes. For your fridge and dishwasher, be sure to examine them carefully for food particles. After you’ve scrubbed, rinsed, and wiped your appliances clean, be sure to give them enough time to air out and dry.
Treat for Insects
Bugs can sometimes get into storage units. Even though you’ve thoroughly cleaned your appliances, insects can hide in the little nooks and crannies. To make sure they don’t get into your items, it’s best to treat your appliances with insect spray. This will keep them safe and bug-free while you keep them in your unit. Also, be sure to allow your appliances to dry before continuing with storage.
Pack and Protect
It’s important to pack your appliances right so they stay safe during storage. If your appliance has glass shelves or fragile parts, remove them and transport them separately. Anything with finishes that can scratch or dent easily should be wrapped in blankets or bubble wrap. And if your appliances have doors, use strong tape to hold them shut while you transport them. Remove the tape once your appliances are in your storage unit and prop the doors open. This will prevent any mildew or mold from growing inside while you’re away.
When you rent a storage unit from us, you know you’re in good hands!
Find a Secure Storage Facility
Appliances are expensive, so it’s important to protect your investments. Make sure you rent at a self-storage unit at a facility that offers security measures like perimeter fencing around the property, gated access, individually-alarmed storage units, and security cameras. That way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your appliances are safe in their unit.
At Bay Street Storage, we take appliance storage, and all storage, seriously. When you rent a storage unit from us, you know you’re in good hands! We have two convenient locations in Post Falls for you to choose from, and we’ve got all your storage needs covered. We’re here to make your storage experience as easy as possible. If you need any help, let us know!
