17 Jul How to Safely Store Appliances in a Mini Storage Unit
If you’re renovating a kitchen or moving, you may wonder how to store appliances safely. Our Kamloops mini storage company has many customers that store refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, stoves, cooktops and ovens. We always recommend cleaning, preparing and covering appliances in storage.
Clean Before Storing
Food remnants and moisture can cause mold, odours, discoloration of plastics and corrosion of metals, even in climate-controlled storage units.
- Defrost fridges and freezers. Clean with mild soap and water and dry them thoroughly.
- Clean and degrease ovens. Use oven cleaner to clean the inside of the oven and oven racks or use the self-cleaning option if there isn’t much baked-on grime. Dry the oven inside and out.
- Degrease stoves, including under burners and knobs, where grime builds up. Remove coil elements and scrub with a baking soda paste or mild soap and water. Avoid submerging coils in water. Dry the coils completely. For drop-in cooktops, clean the edges of the cooktop thoroughly where food particles and grime become trapped.
- Washing machines and clothes dryers should be cleaned inside and out. For washers, add a cup of bleach or vinegar to the water and start a normal wash and rinse cycle. Do a second rinse cycle to ensure bleach or vinegar is removed. Keep doors open for a few hours to completely dry the inside. Wipe exteriors clean and dry them.
Disconnect and Prepare
- Leave freezer and refrigerator doors slightly open to promote airflow. Never store them in your home with the doors open. Children have become trapped in fridges and freezers, which can be difficult to open from the inside. Although newer fridges and freezers usually have magnetic closures (instead of locking mechanisms), it’s still not worth the risk.
- Disconnect washing machine hoses and drain water from the drum and pump.
- Disconnect dishwasher hoses and drain thoroughly.
- Disconnect stove and oven power supplies.
Use twist ties, zip-ties or low-tack painter’s tape to wrap and secure cords.
Cover and Protect
- Protect appliance exteriors with clean moving blankets.
- Use bubble wrap to protect small appliances, glass doors and other fragile parts.
- If the storage unit is not climate controlled, store larger appliances on wooden pallets or boards to keep them off of the cool, moist concrete floor.
Store Upright and Securely
- Always store large appliances upright.
- Never stack appliances in storage. They may tip over and become damaged or cause injury.
- Leave a gap of a few inches between appliances to promote air flow.
Choose the Right Storage Environment
Whenever possible, choose climate-controlled mini storage, which protects against extremes in temperature and humidity that can damage metal parts, electronics, seals and gaskets.
Get more tips
Read detailed “Appliance Care and Maintenance Tips” from WestCoast Appliances.
Questions About Storage Units for Household Appliances? We’re Here to Help
Valleyview Mini Storage in Kamloops is a climate-controlled storage facility that is perfect for keeping appliances safe from the effects of heat, cold and humidity. Because we have over 45 different sizes of storage units, our customers can always find something suitable. If you need help estimating the size of storage you need, make a list of the appliances you’d like to store and contact us or call 1-250-314-6253. We’ll discuss the best options.