How to Pack and Store Items Safely
By Steve Allred
Palm Beach Restoration Studios Inc.
West Palm Beach Fl 33407
561.514.0025
A) Buy good quality storage containers such as Rubber Maid, avoid the cheaper, always on sale brands. Remember you get what you pay for. We have had Rubber Maid bins for years and we have had the cheaper brands break before getting home!!
B) Be good to the environment. Buy a shredder and shred all that junk mail. Shredded bills and such make great "filler". One word of caution though, be sure to remove staples before shredding.
D) Bubble Wrap, Friend or Foe? Both. First, almost all Bubble Wrap is made with plastic polymers. These can easily react or "melt" to the surface of items that have chemical based surfaces. Hand painted or restored items are especially vulnerable. Always use acid free tissue or light weight construction paper first when wrapping. Then use the bubble wrap around the paper.
E) Bugs and Vermin YUCK!! Nothing worse than opening up your treasured box of Holiday Ornaments only to find bugs have been celebrating in the box all year!! There are a couple of steps you can take. First always place a few mothballs in each box. Be sure to not place directly on something that can be stained. Second, tape lids closed, be sure to check for vent holes especially under handles.
F) Acid free paper, be sure to use tissue wrap and or blank newsprint sheets that are marked "Acid Free" this will reduce staining. Never use newspapers or magazine pages, they are extremely messy and break down quickly leaving a dusty, staining mess behind.
G) Lastly, store boxes in a dry location, safe from temperature extremes and above all moisture.
