How To Store Your Appliances

Old or unused home appliances make excellent backups if something goes wrong, and they’re great to have on hand for helping a family member get settled into their first home. The problem with unused appliances is a matter of space. Garage storage significantly cuts down on parking space, and simply getting large appliances into a basement or attic is a huge challenge.This is why many people consider investing in a storage unit for unused or backup appliances.

 Self-storage rental units can be economical and easy answers, whether you need to store an appliance for the long haul or just a little while. The manager of any such facility can be a good person to talk to about how to successfully store your appliances, but the following tips will guide you through the process as well.

 Preparing Your Appliances for Storage 

• Step 1: The first thing that you should do is run the appliance through one final cycle. If you have a washing machine or a dishwasher, put it through a full wash cycle while it's empty. Just make sure that you use a cup of white vinegar or bleach rather than detergent when running this final cleaning cycle.

• Step 2: Drain all the liquids from any appliance. That includes emptying out holding tanks, plastic tubing, holding tanks, and all internal components. That will help reduce the possibility of mildew or freezing from happening.

• Step 3: Clean out the insides thoroughly. The interior should be scrubbed and dried, especially for kitchen appliances. Remnants of food, especially sugar, can be attractive to bugs, even in indoor storage units. When cleaning your fridge, don’t forget to clean the defrost pan. Any appliances that use water likely have a rubber cushion seal that's around their doors; wipe this to prevent mildew.

• Step 4: Treat all appliances for insects and  clean the entire exterior, particularly around vents of motor-driven appliances, as there might a be grid, tube, or lint filter; a vacuum usually works, but an old toothbrush can also do the trick in smaller areas.

• Step 5: If there is any removable glass, take it out. The same goes for any fragile parts that can be taken out. If your appliance has a finish that might get scratched or dented along the way, wrap it up in bubble packaging or blankets.

• Step 6: Secure your appliances with tape to make sure the doors stay closed. Tape is likely only to stay in place during the move, but still pick something like blue painter's tape that won't leave any residue behind. Don’t forget to always transport appliances upright. Once an appliance is in storage, take the tape off and leave the doors open as another step in preventing mildew.

• Step 7: Lock up your appliances and store them with peace of mind and more room in your house.

Appliance Storage Pro Tips:

• If you live an area with lots of humidity, high/low temperatures, and big temperature swings, then a climate-controlled unit can help preserve mechanical and electrical parts from fissures and rust.

• If using a moving truck, place your appliances on the truck last so you can take them off first and put in the back of the storage unit.

• Putting appliances towards back of the storage unit leaves room for smaller and more frequently used items.
• Leave an open box of baking soda inside washing machines and refrigerators the appliances to minimize unwanted odors.
• Use the inside of your refrigerator, washer, and dryer to store smaller household items like dishes, silverware, or linens