Okay, real talk time. I have a problem. I can’t walk past a storage unit without mentally rearranging the contents. My friends call me for packing interventions. I once spent a Saturday reorganizing my neighbor’s unit just for fun.
At County Line Storage, we’ve turned my obsession into your advantage. Here’s everything I’ve learned from packing more units than I can count – the good, the bad, and the “why is there honey leaking from that box?”
The Storage Unit Reality Check
Let’s start with some hard truths:
- You own more junk than you think.
- That “temporary” storage solution becomes permanent fast.
- Everyone thinks they’re good at Tetris until they face a real storage unit.
I learned this the hard way when I had to unpack my entire 10×10 unit just to find my winter coat… in July.
My Personal Packing Philosophy
After helping 37 friends move (yes, I counted), here’s my golden rule:
If you can’t picture exactly where something is right now, your system sucks.
No more “I think it’s in the blue box near the back” nonsense.
The Step-by-Step Method That Actually Works
1. The Pre-Packing Purge (Get Ruthless)
Grab three markers:
- Red: Absolute keepers.
- Blue: Maybe pile (then cut it in half).
- Black: Why do I even own this?
My last purge stats:
- 3 garbage bags donated.
- $127 made selling junk on Facebook.
- 1 existential crisis over why I owned 14 coffee mugs.
2. The Boxing System That Changed Everything
Forget what you know about packing. Here’s the real deal:
- Liquor store boxes – free, sturdy, and perfectly uniform.
- Suitcases – wheels make moving heavy books a breeze.
- Dresser drawers – already waterproof containers for fragile items.
Labeling pro tip: Use colored tape – red for fragile, blue for kitchen, green for “open first.”
3. Furniture Tetris: My Secret Weapon
Here’s how I fit an entire living room into half the space:
- Couches: Flip upside down, stack chairs inside.
- Mattresses: Stand on edge along walls.
- Tables: Remove legs, use as shelves.
Game changer: Putting my bookcase in sideways created instant shelving for boxes.
5 Packing Hacks That Feel Like Cheating
- Vacuum bags – Reduced my bedding from 4 boxes to 1.
- Pool noodles – Slit them to protect furniture edges.
- Tension rods – Created hanging space for clothes.
- Over-the-door organizers – Perfect for shoes and small items.
- Pegboard – Hung tools and awkward items on the walls.
At County Line Storage, we’ve got a whole wall of customer-submitted hacks – come check them out!
The Storage Unit Hall of Shame
Learn from my mistakes:
- The Great Shampoo Explosion of 2019 – Never store liquids.
- The Missing Passport Incident – Important docs go up front.
- The Mildew Disaster – Plastic bags are the enemy.
The Final Checklist
Before you lock up:
- Can you reach the light switch?
- Is there at least one clear path?
- Does anything look unstable?
- Did you leave air space against walls?
If you answered no to any of these, keep working.
Why This Matters More Than You Think?
Here’s the truth most storage places won’t tell you: 40% of renters pay for space they don’t need. At County Line Storage, we’d rather help you pack smart than upsell you.
Bring us your packing plan – we’ll tell you exactly what size unit you really require.
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