Storage Tips For Childhood Toys And Baby Items
Whether you are storing away your childhood toys for your future children or placing things in storage between babies, it's important to pack things up properly. The following techniques help ensure that the items won't be damaged so they can come out of storage as good as new.
Furniture
Items like cribs, bassinets and changing tables are typically made of finished wood, which can suffer from rot, mildew, or warping in a moist environment. You may want to invest a little extra and get a climate and humidity controlled unit to help manage the moisture. Thoroughly dust and clean the wood before packing it away, and drape a sheet or furniture blanket over each piece. You also need to slide mattresses into furniture bags for protection. It's best to skip plastic covers, since these can trap moisture. Another tip is to take a photo of the items assembled if you disassemble them for storage. Store the photo in a plastic bag with all the hardware, and attach the bag to the furniture.
Clothing
The main key to successful storage of baby clothing is to make sure all milk and formula stains are completely removed before packing them away. These protein stains can become more discolored over time. They may also attract pests to the unit. A stain remover formulated for the removal of enzyme and protein stains should be sufficient. Once the clothing is fully clean and completely dry, package it in a plastic storage tub. The tub will keep out moisture and pests. If you are saving the clothing to pass down to your next child, separate it out by size or age so you can simply grab the next tub from storage as it's needed.
Toys
A favorite stuffed animal or small toy can hold a lot of memories, so you want to make sure these are stored properly. Clothing, fabric toys and dolls require a thorough washing. These may need to be hand washed or air dried, so look at the care label first. Wipe down plastic or wooden toys with a disinfecting wipe to remove all grime and any food residue. You can even run small plastic toys with no stickers through the dishwasher to clean them. Once everything is clean and completely dry, place it in a storage tub or cardboard box. Dolls and stuffed animals are best stored in a tub to prevent pests from finding them. Try and keep all your tubs and boxes similar in size, too, so they stack more easily in the storage unit.
Contact a service like Rock Solid Storage LLC for more help.