How to Pack for Long Term Storage: Professional Packing Tips

A room by room guide to packing furniture, boxes and belongings so they  come out of long term storage in the same condition they went in. 

Packing for a move and packing for long term storage are two different jobs.  Kent Removals & Storage has spent 80+ years learning what survives months or  years inside a container and what does not, and this guide covers the materials,  preparation and techniques that keep belongings safe.

Why Packing for Long Term Storage Requires a  Different Approach

Long term storage puts different pressure on belongings than a short move does. Boxes are not opened and repacked within days, so any weakness in materials,  moisture or pest control has months or years to cause damage instead of hours.  Furniture sits under its own weight in one position, cardboard can absorb 

ambient moisture over time, and anything packed too tightly in plastic can trap  condensation against timber or fabric. 

The goal when packing for long term storage is stability, ventilation and  protection, in that order. Items need to be secured so they cannot shift or crush  other items, they need enough airflow that moisture does not build up, and they  need a barrier against dust, pests and knocks. Kent designs its storage process  around these three factors, from the materials recommended through to the  containers used. 

Choose the Right Packing Materials for Long Term  Storage 

The materials used for a quick house move are not always the right choice for a  container that will not be opened for months. Standard supermarket boxes and  cling film style plastic wrap are common causes of mould and pest damage in  long term storage because they either weaken over time or seal in moisture. 

As a general rule, use breathable materials on timber furniture and fabric, and  reserve sealed plastic for items that genuinely need a moisture barrier, such as  documents or out of season textiles. Label every box clearly with its contents  and the room it came from, since a labelled inventory is the fastest way to find  something months later without unpacking the whole container. 

How to Prepare Furniture for Long Term Storage 

Furniture is usually the highest value item going into storage, and it is also the  most vulnerable to damage from poor preparation. Learning how to store  furniture in a storage unit properly starts with a few extra steps before anything  goes into the container. 

• Clean and fully dry every piece of furniture before wrapping it. Any residual  moisture trapped under a cover will encourage mould over a long storage  period.

• Disassemble bed frames, table legs and modular furniture where possible.  Smaller components pack more securely and are less likely to be damaged by shifting during transport. 

• Use breathable furniture covers rather than plastic sheeting. Plastic traps  condensation against timber and upholstery, which is one of the most  common causes of mould in long term storage. 

• Elevate furniture on pallets or boards rather than placing it directly on the  container floor, particularly for items that will be stored for an extended  period. 

• Keep hardware such as screws and bolts in labelled bags taped to the  matching furniture piece, so reassembly is straightforward when the items  come out of storage. 

Packing Room by Room for Long Term Storage 

Working through the home room by room, rather than packing at random, makes it far easier to keep an inventory and reduces the chance of missing a  preparation step that matters for long term storage. 

Climate and Container Considerations for Long Term  Storage 

Even well packed boxes and furniture rely on the storage environment itself.  Kent offers climatised storage, which helps manage temperature and humidity  swings that can otherwise affect timber, electronics and fabric over a long  storage period. Containers are reinforced steel, monitored through a four level  security system that includes 24 hour CCTV surveillance, back to base alarms  and fire monitoring, with crane and forklift handling available for heavier loads. 

Kent offers three mobile storage tiers, so the level of hands on help can match  how much preparation and packing you want to take on yourself.

A pre move survey helps determine which tier suits the volume and type of items being stored, and gives an accurate view of pricing before anything is booked. 

Common Packing Mistakes to Avoid for Long Term  Storage 

• Wrapping furniture directly in plastic sheeting, which traps moisture against  the surface instead of letting it breathe 

• Overpacking boxes beyond their weight limit, which weakens double walled  cardboard over months in storage 

• Skipping an inventory list, which makes it far harder to locate specific items  later without unpacking everything 

• Ignoring pest proofing steps such as sealing food residue out of kitchen boxes and using sealed tubs for textiles 

• Stacking heavy boxes on top of lighter or fragile ones, rather than building  from the heaviest items up