20 Jun Storing Electronics in a Storage Unit? Read These Tips
Safely storing electronics (and appliances that have electronics) in a storage unit is easy once you know how. A little preparation goes a long way. Replacing electronics is costly, not to mention time consuming. If you do have to replace items because they were improperly stored, you’ll probably be thinking “If only I had stored them correctly!”.
The list below provides item-specific storage preparation tips. To avoid repetition, we’ve used the shorthand “pad the box”, which means, “pad the interior box sides with wrapping paper or bubble wrap”.
We recommend renting a climate-controlled storage unit, which protects belongings, including electronics from heat, cold, and humidity.
TV
- Use original packaging or buy a TV box
- Wrap in packing paper and secure with tape. Pad the box
- Store upright so there is no weight on the screen
- Coil and secure cords and cables with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
Media Player
- Remove discs (if it’s disk-based)
- Wrap with packing paper or bubble wrap, place in a box. Pad the box
- Coil and secure cords and cables with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
Refrigerator
- Clean and dry the interior and exterior to prevent mold
- Store with the door open a few inches for air flow
- Wrap with moving blankets
- Store upright to prevent damage to the evaporator coils and compressor located at the back of the fridge
- Coil and secure cord with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
Microwave
- Clean and dry the interior
- Remove the glass tray and wrap it in packing paper
- Pack the microwave and tray in a sturdy box. Pad the box
- Coil and secure cord with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
Dishwasher
- Clean, drain and dry
- Coil and secure cords and hoses with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
- Store upright and wrap with moving blankets
Air Conditioning Unit
- Drain the unit
- Clean and dry
- Wrap in moving blankets and store upright
- Coil and secure cord with Velcro ties or zip straps
Desktop Computer, Laptop, Tablet
- Backup user data and system data
- Wrap in packing paper, place in a box and pad the box
- Store laptops and tablets in padded cases or wrap with packing paper or bubble wrap. Store in small box
- Coil and secure cords and cables with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
Cell Phone
- Backup phone data
- Store in a padded envelope or wrap in paper
- Place in a small box along with any accessories, pad the box
Gaming Console & Controller
- If it’s a disk-based console, remove disks and store them in their original case or padded disk case
- Wrap the console and controller in packing paper or bubble wrap
- Coil and secure cords and cables with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
- Store in small box. Pad the box
Printer
- Remove ink cartridges
- Wrap the printer in bubble wrap
- Store in a rigid cardboard box. Pad the box
- Coil and secure cords and cables with Velcro ties, zip straps, or electrical tape
Electronics Cables
- Coil and secure with Velcro ties or zip straps
- Label the cables using green painter’s tape
- Store in resealable plastic bags or small plastic containers purchased at a dollar store
Hard Disks and Motherboards
- Wrap in packing paper
- If you are concerned about static buildup, store in anti-static bags.
There is much debate about storage for disks and motherboards. Read “What’s the difference among these static protection bags?” on Stack Exchange. - Store in a small box. Pad the box
Climate-Controlled, Secure Storage Units at Valleyview Mini Storage
If you live in Kamloops and need long-term storage for household belongings including electronics, our climate-controlled storage units offer excellent protection from extreme temperatures and humidity. We also sell TV boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap and other moving and packing supplies.