A Step-by-Step Guide to Safely Storing Electronics in Your Unit

Electronics, particularly home appliances and gadgets, have become a necessity in every household these days. From carrying out our daily activities to ensuring maximum comfort within the confines of our homes, these devices are our trusted companions that enhance our quality of life. 

If you don’t store your electronics properly, they may get damaged permanently. This is especially true if you live in a hot and humid climate like Livingston, Texas. This is why it’s important to pack and store electronics properly to protect them from severe weather conditions and other environmental factors. To ease you with this process, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to safely store electronics in your unit:

Always Prefer Climate-Controlled Storage Units for Electronics 

Extreme temperatures, humidity, dust, and debris are the worst adversaries of your prized electronics. Even when your electronics are not in use, these factors can wreak havoc on the exterior as well as delicate internal components. In Livingston, summer months have a humidity level as high as 98%, which can cause moisture, rusting, and short circuits. But with climate-controlled storage units, you don’t have to worry about weather conditions outside. 

Luckily, some well-known Livingston storage units offer climate control features. These storage units maintain room temperature and humidity levels so that your electronics stay safe from the scorching heat outside and remain dry throughout. Moreover, climate-controlled storage units are usually sealed and insulated, which means your electronics remain clean and free of dust and debris. 

Choose the Right Storage Unit Size

Electronics can easily get damaged if you try to stack them up or stuff them into a small storage space. Also, you need to make sure they’re easily accessible whenever you need them. 

For this purpose, make sure the storage unit you’re renting fulfills the minimum storage space requirements for your belongings, especially for your electronics. Preferably, your electronics should only be placed in a row with their front side facing forward and some free space around them. 

Make a list of electronics to figure out your minimum storage space requirements. Measure their dimensions to estimate the space they’ll take up. This will help you determine the right storage solution and visualize a rough layout of how you’ll be placing these items in the unit. 

Backup Data

Even if you pack electronics with extreme care, you cannot guarantee the safety of data during transportation or storage. This is because long-term storage itself, as well as moisture and physical damage, can cause data loss. 

If electronic devices like cameras, laptops, game consoles, personal computers, smart televisions, and smartphones need to be stored, it’s wise to back up all the data on a cloud or portable storage devices like external hard disk drives (HDDs) or SSDs. Remove any memory cards and storage devices from the electronics if possible. This way, you can rest assured you won’t lose your critical data no matter how long you store your electronics in the unit. 

Thoroughly Clean Your Electronics Before Packing Them

Dust and debris buildup inside electronics form a layer over the circuitry, attract moisture, and cause overheating or malfunction. Before you start wrapping your electronics, take some time to thoroughly clean them inside out. Use a soft microfiber cloth to remove dust and gently clean screens and other fragile components. 

Ensure each component is completely dry before packing them. This is because moisture can quickly corrode metal elements and electronic components, which can cause short circuits or permanent damage. Use a dryer to ensure even the inaccessible parts of the machine are thoroughly clean and dry. 

Separate Components that are Loose or May Leak/ Disintegrate

If the electronic device has batteries, ink cartridges (inkjet printers), toner cartridges (laser printers), and biodegradable plastics in packaging, it’s important to take them out and store them separately. You can also give a call to Sell Toner to buy any unused ink toners and cartridges. These components can deteriorate, disintegrate, or leak over time and cause corrosion and short circuits. 

Home appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and ovens often have loose components like rotating trays, wire racks, egg trays, and boxes. It’s essential to take them out and store them separately. 

Use Original Packing

If possible, store your electronics in their original packing and boxes. Original packing is a perfect fit for your electronics and comes with customized padding to protect corners, screens, and protruding parts during transportation and storage. On top of that, the original packaging will make the packing and boxing task much faster and more convenient.

Pack Each Electronic Item Carefully 

Packing electronics needs more than just covering them in bubble wrap and stowing them inside a box. Follow these guidelines to pack electronics in case you have thrown away the original packaging:

• Never wrap or pack two electronics in the same sheet and box. 
• Use bubble wrap or anti-static bags to wrap electronics. 
• Use extra padding for screens, control panels, and displays. 
• Choose the right size of box for each electronic. Make sure the electronic is neither too tight nor too loose inside the box. If there are any empty spaces, fill them up with packing paper or foam peanuts. 
• Pack the cables, chargers, and other accessories in a separate bag and place it inside its own box. 
• Label each box in bold and visible writing, and indicate both the front and top sides.

Final Words

The above simple steps will make packing and storing electronics a breeze and keep them safe and sound from potential damage and environmental hazards. Besides these steps, remember to keep checking on your electronics regularly to ensure everything’s in order and there are no signs of damage, rust, or pests. Lastly, if you’re storing high-value electronics, choose a storage facility that offers 24/7 surveillance and digital keypad entry.