Kapiti Self Storage
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Packing & storage tips

A little preparation keeps your belongings in good shape and makes your unit easier to use. Not sure what size you need yet? Try our storage size calculator.

Packing your things

Boxes

  • If it fits in a box, box it — boxes stack safely and keep the dust off.
  • Stick to a few box sizes so stacks stay stable, with the heaviest boxes on the bottom.
  • Fill each box right up. Half-empty boxes collapse and overfull ones split, so pad gaps with paper.
  • Label every box on the side as well as the top, so you can read it when it’s stacked.

Books & paperwork

  • Use small boxes — books get heavy fast, and a box you can’t lift is a box that gets dropped.
  • Lay books flat rather than on their spines.
  • Keep important documents in sealed plastic tubs rather than cardboard.

Fragile items

  • Wrap glasses, plates and ornaments one at a time in packing paper.
  • Stand plates on their edge, not flat, and fill any spare space so nothing can move.
  • Wrap mirrors and artwork in paper and cardboard and store them standing up, never flat.
  • Mark boxes FRAGILE and keep them on top, away from heavy items.

Clothing & linen

  • Wash and dry everything first — dirty fabric attracts pests and mildew.
  • Fold rather than hang for long-term storage, so the fabric doesn’t stretch out of shape.
  • Vacuum bags save a lot of space for duvets, pillows and bulky winter gear.

Appliances & electronics

  • Clean, dry and fully defrost fridges and freezers at least a day before moving them.
  • Leave fridge, freezer and washing machine doors slightly open so they don’t go musty.
  • Pack electronics in their original boxes if you still have them, and tape cables to the item they belong to.

Tools & outdoor gear

  • Wipe metal tools with a light coat of oil to stop rust.
  • Drain petrol from mowers, trimmers and chainsaws before you bring them in.
  • Clean BBQs and remove the gas bottle.

Furniture

  • Cover furniture with old sheets or moving blankets. Avoid plastic wrap for long stays — it traps moisture and can cause mould on fabric and mattresses.
  • Take the legs off tables and beds, and flat-pack anything that comes apart. Keep the screws in a labelled bag taped to the piece.
  • Empty drawers and wardrobes before moving them — they’re lighter and less likely to break.
  • Stand mattresses and sofas on their ends to save floor space.

Loading your unit

  • Sketch a rough plan before moving day so you know what goes where.
  • Put a pallet, tarp or old blanket down so nothing sits straight on the concrete.
  • Load the biggest and heaviest items first, at the back of the unit, and use them as a base to stack on.
  • Stand long items — mattresses, tabletops, rugs — against the side walls.
  • Use the height: our units are 2 m high (2.2 m in the 7.2m x 3m units).
  • Leave a walkway down the middle so you can reach everything.
  • Keep the things you’ll need most often near the door.

What not to store

For your safety and everyone else’s, these items aren’t allowed. Everything you store should be clean, dry and free of food scraps.

  • Petrol, diesel, gas bottles or anything flammable
  • Paint, thinners, solvents or chemicals
  • Food or anything perishable
  • Plants or animals
  • Illegal or stolen goods
  • Motor vehicles

The full rules are in our Conditions of Licence (PDF).

Moving checklist

Storing your things while you move house? Here’s what’s easy to forget.

Update your address

  • NZ Post mail redirection
  • Bank, insurer and employer
  • Inland Revenue and the Electoral Commission
  • Doctor, dentist and vet
  • NZTA for your driver licence and vehicle registration

Sort your services

  • Arrange power, internet and gas at the new place
  • Disconnect or transfer them at the old place
  • Update home and contents insurance — and remember your stored items aren’t covered by us
  • Redirect or pause subscriptions and deliveries

Before moving day

  • Book a trailer, truck or movers early, especially at the end of the month
  • Start packing the things you use least
  • Pack an essentials box: chargers, toiletries, kettle, a change of clothes
  • Enrol the kids at their new school or daycare
  • Collect keys for the new place and get spares cut

Questions about your unit? Check our FAQs or call us on (04) 974 0520.