How To Store Books In A Storage Unit

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How To Store Books In A Storage Unit

27 June 2018
 Categories: , Blog


Books are a wonderful thing to have in your home, as they create a classic and homey aesthetic while also providing hours of entertainment. However, book collections can quickly grow in size to the point where they can dominate the majority of the storage space in a room or even your entire home, which can make it hard for you to place other items and maintain a general level of cleanliness. Of course, throwing out a treasured collection of books isn't a desirable solution. Renting out a storage unit can help you alleviate the space constraints of keeping a large collection of books in your home, but you need to take care to properly protect your books to ensure that they do not become damaged while in storage.

Security Measures

The first thing that you should take into consideration, especially if you are considering storing books that hold a great deal of sentimental or monetary value, is how secure a storage facility is. Look for facilities that offer the ability to place your own lock on the unit, have manned security, and other similar security features.

Climate Control

Another thing that you should take into consideration when choosing a storage unit is that you may want to prioritize a climate-controlled unit. These units regulate the temperature and humidity of their interior, which will greatly reduce the risk of mold growth affecting your books. Further, since they are usually well insulated and located inside, pests are also much less likely to manage to get at your books.

Packing Techniques

Avoid overloading boxes, as bending or squishing your books can cause them to deform and lose their shape while in storage. Instead, make sure that there's a little bit of wiggle room between each volume. Further, always use cardboard boxes, not plastic. Plastic totes can trap moisture and contribute to mold growth, while cardboard is more breathable and will allow for enough evaporation to reduce the risk of mold damage.

Storage Location

Finally, you should be sure to place your books off of the ground while packing up your storage unit. This means using shelving units or tables to keep your boxes off of the ground. This reduces the risk of damage in the event of a flood or spill and prevents moisture from seeping up through the ground and into your boxes. If you have too many boxes and books for shelving units, you can always use wooden pallets to cover the entire floor of the unit instead.

For more information, contact your local self-storage company.