Storage Tips: How to Store Appliances

Appliances are expensive, so protect your investment by making a list of what you have. This can come in handy if you have to make an insurance claim due to damage.

Your inventory list should include the name of each appliance, ideally along with a photo for easy identification and proof of ownership.

Take the time to clean your appliances before storage thoroughly. Using the appliance cleaner of your choice, carefully dust and wipe down all air intake areas like lint filters, grids, or tubes. Look inside for food particles, clean them out, and then wipe the outside to ensure no water or dust is left behind.

Water can remain behind in hoses and tanks after you remove them from the outlet sources. This can cause severe problems — like mold and potential breakage from freezing — if you don’t drain them out before storage.

Though you’ve thoroughly cleaned your appliances, insects and other pests can hide in the nooks and crannies. Cut down on the potential for pest damage by spraying appliances with insect spray. Be sure to allow them to dry before continuing with storage.

Appliance doors and drawers can open during the moving process and break, so use wrapping film or moving tape to keep doors closed during transportation.

In addition, protect appliances from scratches and dents with moving blankets, bubble wrap, or wrapping film when moving from your home or office to storage.

Appliances are expensive, so protect your investments by renting a self storage unit at a facility that offers advanced security measures, including:

• Perimeter fencing around the property
• Electronic gate access with keypad entry
• Individually-alarmed storage units
• Security access to your floor only (for multi-level facilities)
• Facility manager who lives on-site
• Video surveillance cameras throughout the property
• Controlled-access building with indoor storage units

If you’re storing appliances in a region that experiences extreme hot or cold temperatures, consider renting self storage with climate control. This amenity keeps your storage unit between 55 and 80 degrees year-round to prevent damage to your appliances’ electrical and mechanical parts.

Note: If you opt for a storage unit that does not have climate control and your appliances have been exposed to freezing temperatures, be sure to allow 24-48 hours for them to thaw before use.

Always keep appliances upright during transportation and storage to prevent damage, then place them toward the back and side walls of your storage unit. It’s also a good idea to raise each appliance off the ground with pallets.

In addition, do not plug in your home appliances while they’re in self storage.