Not at all. Furniture, bikes, fridges, washing machines, garden furniture and tools are all welcome to go into your unit just as they are, as long as everything fits inside your unit. Boxes are simply the easiest way to look after the smaller things.
What can go in loose
Big, solid things don’t need a box, just a little care before they go in:
- Sofas, armchairs and mattresses. Make sure they’re completely dry, then cover them against dust and marks with a furniture blanket, dust sheet or mattress bag. Leave the open end of a bag loose so air can move.
- Tables, wardrobes and bed frames. Take them apart where you can, and tape screws and handles to the piece they came from. Wrap the corners of glass and mirrors.
- Fridges, freezers and washing machines. Clean and dry them inside first.
- Bikes. Clean and dry is all they need. E-bikes and e-scooters are welcome too, with a few simple battery rules.
- Garden furniture and tools. Brush off the soil and let wood and cushions dry fully. A petrol mower or strimmer can come in once it’s been run completely dry, with the tank empty and the oil drained. Fuel and fuel cans stay at home, because they’re a fire risk for everyone on site.
Standing furniture on a pallet or a few lengths of timber keeps it off the floor.
What’s better in a box
Kitchenware, books, clothes, toys, paperwork and ornaments are happier boxed, for three reasons. Boxes of a similar size stack safely, so you can use the full height of your unit. They keep dust and knocks off things you can’t cover one by one. And a labelled box is easy to find again.
Label each box on more than one side with what’s inside and which room it came from. Put the heavier boxes at the bottom, and the things you’ll want soonest near the front. It’s best to avoid bin bags for storage, as plastic bags can trap moisture. Clothes on hangers can go straight into a wardrobe box.
Packing something doesn’t change whether it can be stored, so it’s worth a quick look at the things we can’t store before you load.
Keeping everything inside your unit
Corridors and shared areas are used by every customer, so we ask that everything stays inside your own unit. Anything left outside a unit can be cleared away, so if the last few pieces won’t fit, take them home with you that day and give us a call: you can change to a bigger unit if one is available. Our team is happy to help you work out the right size before you book, too.
Getting what you need
You can order boxes, covers and blankets from our Box Shop for delivery to your door, or buy packaging in store at Burton, Bath, Chipping Norton and Dorking during office hours. Free trolleys at every site make light work of the loose furniture.
When you’re ready, get a price online or call us on 0800 2545585.
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