Wondering how to store appliances? Keep reading for the best tips & tricks.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Storing most things long-term doesn’t require much preparation. Things like clothes, furniture, and kitchenware will be just fine in a clean, secure storage unit. Appliances, however, are a different story. To ensure they don’t get damaged while moving or storing them, appliances need a little extra attention. It’s not a lot of extra effort, by any means, but it does take a few minutes.
Those few minutes, though, could extend the life of your appliances by years, so they’re well worth it. That goes for both small and large home appliances which, although different sizes, are similar in design. If you’re getting ready to store appliances, short or long-term, great news! This article is made just for you! Read on to find out how to store appliances like a pro!
Make Sure Appliances are Completely Dry
Moisture is the #1 enemy of appliances in storage; that’s an accepted fact. It’s also the reason why they need to be very dry before storing them. If they aren’t, even a tiny amount of moisture can ruin them or cause damage that requires costly repairs. Any appliance that you have that uses or is cleaned with water should be left to dry for several days. That includes your washing machine, which means good planning is needed. (You do not want to run out of clean socks and underwear the day before you move, trust us!) Make sure small appliances like blenders are very dry also before they’re packed.
How to Store Appliances: Run the Washer
Most washing machines will do well in storage, but it’s best to make sure they’re clean first. The fact is, lots of soap, gunk, and grime build up in washing machines. If you don’t wash it all out, when the washer comes out of storage, its odor might be, shall we say, disturbing. Running it empty washes the washer very nicely. (You don’t even need to use detergent!) Running it clothing-free also ensures the majority of water is expelled.
Have Your Appliances Wrapped to Protect Their Finish
If you’re a stickler for appliances that look practically perfect, the bad news is that moving and storing them is risky. Let’s face it; major appliances are heavy, and, sometimes, bump, dings, and other accidents happen. (That goes double if you’re moving them to storage yourself, by the way. Just FYI.)
To protect them while moving, top movers wrap them with large moving pads, which are thick and tough. The problem; when they deliver your things to storage, they’re going to take the pads back off. (They need them to protect the next customer’s stuff!) That’s why, if you’re moving into storage, wrapping your major appliances is a good idea. You can do it yourself if you purchase moving pads or have your movers do it for you. (They have the expertise, of course, and the good tape!) When it comes to how to store appliances, wrapping them to protect their finish is a top tip!
How to Store Appliances: Use Dollies
While it’s a good idea to protect your appliances, you also need to protect your back. Large appliances are heavy and can hurt you or the person(s) helping you if you’re not careful. Hand trucks and dollies were explicitly made to make moving large appliances easier. (Heavy boxes too!) You can rent them for the day from iStorage if you need them. Trust us; it will make moving day much less exhausting.
Another tip for how to move appliances; let a moving company do it. They have the trained personnel, equipment, and, even better, insurance. Plus, most moving trucks can get in and out of iStorage’s facilities with no problem!
How to Store Appliances: Remove Any Glass
Many refrigerators have glass shelves that may or may not come loose and break when moving. For that reason, if they aren’t permanently attached, you should remove glass shelves (and doors). You can sometimes set them in the bottom of the fridge, but that’s still slightly risky. Your best bet is to pack them in a mirror box or at least in some flat cardboard. Once you do, if they fit, you can sit them in the fridge for storing.
Moving large (and some small) appliances is heavy work and needs to be done well. Preparing your appliances is also vital, ensuring they work when you eventually take them to your new home. At iStorage, we have moving pads to wrap appliances, and we also rent dollies and hand trucks. (They really do make moving them easier!) If you have questions or need advice, chat with us online anytime! We’re the appliance storage experts!
This post was published on 1/18/2018. It was updated on 4/9/2021.