How to Prepare Electronics for Storage

Electronics like your computer, TV, or speaker system can be the focal point of the room that they are installed within. However, whether you are moving into a new house or simply want to create some more space in your existing home, you may want to place your electronics into a storage unit until you have the space and time to set them up properly. Understanding what you can do to protect your electronics while in transit can help make unpacking easier, as you won't have to worry about appliances not starting up again when you plug them in.

Climate-Controlled Storage Units

The first and most important thing that you should consider when putting your electronic valuables into a storage unit is the importance of investing in a climate-controlled storage unit. These storage units do represent an additional cost each month, but they are well worth it, as they maintain a standard temperature and humidity level within the interior of the unit no matter the outside conditions. This helps prevent potential moisture damage from rendering your electronics unusable. Furthermore, climate-controlled storage units are most commonly located within a secure building or facility, which drastically reduces the risk of theft.

Screen Protection

For large items with screens, particularly computer monitors and TVs, you'll want to make sure that you cover the screen while the appliance is in storage. Covering the screen with a moving blanket is usually your best bet, since the softness of the blanket will not scratch the surface of your screen and will effectively keep dust and other airborne particles off of your screen while also providing cushioning for transit. Secure moving blankets with packing tape, which won't damage or leave residue on your appliances once removed, but avoid taping the screen directly.

Remove Peripherals

In order to protect your electronics from becoming damaged, you should make sure to remove all batteries, ink cartridges, and other accessories and peripherals from your belongings before you move everything into a storage unit. This is because they can degrade over time, with the ink drying out or the batteries draining. Further, batteries and ink cartridges can easily leak, which can cause significant amounts of damage. In a similar vein, you should make sure that all CDs and other physical media are removed, as they can break and shatter within your electronics while in transit, which can be difficult or impossible to remove once you take everything out of storage again.


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