·        Spray wooden furniture with a good polish.  Cover with cardboard or drop cloths.

·        Use cardboard liberally inside the unit – use it to protect wooden furniture, and place on floor under soft furnishings, mattresses etc.

·        Do not store food items unless in sealed containers.

·        Do not store chocolate products e.g. Easter eggs

·        Defrost refrigerators/freezers and leave the door open. Do not put a towel in the bottom of the refrigerator to soak up water. Ensure water has drained from washing machine hoses before going into storage

·        List contents of boxes on all sides, number and seal with tape.

·        Use boxes, plastic bags or clothing bags for storing clothes.

·        Do not set mattresses directly on concrete floor. 

·        Keep all items off the floor if possible to allow air movement.

·        To retard rusting of exposed metal, use a light coating of oil.

·        Plan your storage space.  Place those items that you may need access to in the front and allow for walkways.

·        Make an inventory of your stored items and keep it in a safe place elsewhere.

·        Stack lighter boxes on top of heavier ones.

·        Wrap pictures and mirrors in cardboard and mark “FRAGILE” and stack on end.

·        Large appliances can be used as “packing cases” for blankets, towels, clothes etc.

·        Shovels, rakes, hoes, etc can be stored together in an empty rubbish bin.

·        Tables with removable legs should be “broken down” to save space.

·        Do not place heavy or sharp objects on top of upholstered furniture.

·        If using a dehumidifying product inside your unit place this product in an area that will do no damage if it leaks eg not on top of a mattress.

·        Clean lawn mower blades and empty fuel from tank

·        Give leather  goods a treatment of avocado oil or other leather preservative.

·        Store mattresses on edge vertically

·        You may wish to place moth balls around your unit, although management does have a regular spray programme.

·        Do not store paint or any type of corrosive.  Containers may break down and contents will leak over your furniture and to other units.

·        Gas bottles must be empty and valve left open.