Appliances: A refrigerator, freezer or washing machine should be thoroughly dry and stored with its door slightly ajar. Some goods can be stored inside large appliances and boxes can be stacked on top of appliances. Make sure that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.
Bicycles and other metal items: To retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil.
Books and Documents: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors. Use packing to fill out empty pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile items in the same box with books and do not overload.
Bedding, Clothing, Curtains, Drapes and Linens: Clothing, curtains and drapes should be stored on hangers. If hanging cartons are not available, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers or cedar chests along with bedding and linens. Food crumbs or stains should be removed before storage and avoid storing anything that will attract rodents.
Dishes and Glassware: Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and at the top of boxes containing glassware. All glass items should be individually wrapped. Nest cups and bowls and stand plates and saucers and platters on edge. Wrapped glasses should be placed near the top of cartons. Fill all pockets with packing. Label boxes containing glassware and do not place heavy items on top of boxes with glassware.
Furniture: Place a cardboard mat, or plastic sheet on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Disassemble beds and tables and wrap table legs in paper. If a table will not disassemble, place padding on the floor and place the table on its top with the legs pointing up. Most lightweight chairs should be stacked seat to seat or placed upside down on tables. Finally, place a light dust cover over your furniture.
Holiday Decorations: Save the original cartons that contained delicate ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing paper or newsprint. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard (a two litter soft drink bottle also works well) before placing in a carton lined with packing paper.
Lamps: Wrap large lamp bases in padding, wrap smaller lamps and place them in boxes. Pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamp shades or any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items on cartons containing lamps or lamp shades.