7 Ways to Protect Storage Items During the Winter

When the winter season is around the corner, storing your prized possessions in a shipping container in Toronto is a good solution to prevent important household items from getting damaged. Getting ready for winter might seem like an overwhelming task. But preparation is key and it always helps to start well in advance before winter arrives. With that in mind, to get you started prepping your items for a successful hibernation, here are seven ways to protect storage items during the winter season.  

1. Clean everything

It doesn’t matter what items you choose to store for winter, but they all need to be cleaned. Grimy items can attract insects and pests and when items are in storage for months, these pests can terribly damage your items. Giving your belongings a thorough cleaning with warm water and soap or with a spray cleaner with disinfectant is all you need. Be sure to clean the bottoms of items that accumulate the most dirt. Once done cleaning all your items, pat them dry to avoid any future mildew from developing on them. 

2. Cover items that contain liquid

General science says liquids expand when they turn into a solid. For items such as lava lamps, wine bottle collections, and aerosol cans, cover them up with layers of blankets, old clothes, and towels. By insulating liquid-based items, you prevent them from bursting and in case they do burst, the layered blankets will soak up the liquid. The same rule applies to food items in cans, glass jars, and plastic packaging. 

3. Protect wood furniture 

Any benches, tables, chairs, and desks made of wood should be cleaned, dried, wrapped up with plastic, and covered with a blanket. Covering wood furniture with thick blankets will inhibit mold and mildew from developing during the winter months. If you leave them wrapped in plastic and avoid covering them with padded blankets, they might experience small warpings on some areas as the cold temperatures could cause minor chippings. Always cover wood furniture with waterproof tarps or thick blankets to keep the wood intact. 

4. Keep electronics elevated

There is no doubt that electronics have intricate parts that can break in cold weather. That’s why they should be stored away with special care. Firstly, it’s ideal for storing electronics in their original packaging. If you no longer have the original packaging, then place them in boxes. 

Once they are packed, wrap each box with shrink wrap, and place them in plastic wardrobe boxes. Since the ground gets cold quickly, avoid putting your boxed electronics on the ground. Placing them on the floor during wintertime can lead to damaging the internal parts and batteries. Keep them stored on elevated areas such as shelves and on top of tables. 

5. Pack summer wardrobe properly  

Free up some space in your closet for jackets, coats, and sweaters by storing your summer wardrobe in a shipping container. To keep clothes from getting damaged during the winter months, first, clean all the clothes you want to store. Make sure each clothing item is dry. The ideal storage container for your summer wardrobe are boxes made out of linen or cotton.

All clothing items need to breathe. Avoid placing them in plastic bags, plastic bins, and cardboard boxes, as they risk getting damaged by mildew and pests. Once packaged in linen or cotton boxes, store your clothing in a section of your shipping container where it’s cool, dry, and dark. 

6. Protect household furniture 

Any furniture items such as sofas and additional pieces made out of metal, plastic, glass, or marble should be cleaned properly before placing them in a shipping container. Similar to packaging wood furniture, first use shrink wrap to protect all your furniture. Then cover them with moving blankets, tarps, or cushioned blankets for added protection. When placing your furniture in a shipping container, avoid placing them by the doors and windows. This prevents damaging them from any rain or snow that could seep in during the winter months. 

7. Add packing material 

Any other miscellaneous items such as toys, collectibles, books, and kitchen dishes should be stored in boxes or other storage supplies. Always add extra protection by using packaging materials like bubble wrap and polystyrene packing peanuts. By placing bubble wrap and packing peanuts into boxes, it insulates your belongings during winter. 

Protecting Your Stored Items Over Winter

We have outlined the most useful tips for packing your household items properly to sustain cold temperatures. Here is a summary of the seven ways on how to protect storage items during winter: 

• Clean everything. Before putting your items away in storage, clean your belongings with a spray cleaner with disinfectant. Wipe them down thoroughly, and be sure to dry them after to avoid any future mould and mildew.  
• Cover items that contain liquid. Use towels, old clothing, and blankets to insulate liquid-based items. Layering them during the winter prevents them from bursting. 
• Protect wood furniture. Items made of wood should be cleaned, dried, wrapped up with plastic, and covered with thick water-proof blankets. Protecting your wood furniture with blankets will prevent mould from growing during the wintertime.
• Keep electronics elevated. The best way to store electronics in a shipping container during the winter is to pack them in their original packaging or boxes. Avoid placing them on the floor of the shipping container as they can freeze and potentially destroy the internal mechanisms and battery. 
• Pack summer wardrobe properly. Store your summer wardrobe by cleaning all your clothes and drying them. Place them neatly into linen or cotton boxes and in a dry and dark area in your shipping container. 
• Protect household furniture. Cleaning, wrapping plastic wrap, and covering your furniture with moving blankets or tarps provide added protection over the winter months. 
• Put in packing material. By adding packaging materials such as bubble wrap and polystyrene packing peanuts, you protect your miscellaneous items such as kitchen plates, toys, and collectibles from getting damaged. 

For more information on our shipping containers in Toronto, call Sigma Container Corporation at 855-340-3342 or toll-free at 1-877-225-7762, or contact us here.