Storing Kitchen Appliances: If you’re passionate about cooking, then you are probably also passionate about maintaining your kitchen appliances and utensils in tip-top condition. Besides using them properly according to specifications and cleaning them regularly, an important part of protecting your kitchen equipment is storing it correctly, whether you do it at home or in a self storage unit.
Here are some of the instances in which you should consider storing these items in self storage – and advice on how to do it:
When to consider self storage for your kitchen appliances and cooking utensils
- You have too many items and not enough storage space at home
You might be the “chef” of your family and circle of friends, the one that always hosts Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and all sorts of other parties. If that’s the case, then you probably own cooking equipment such as large trays and pots, fancy tableware, a large stand mixer you don’t necessarily use for your regular meals, and other stuff as well (slow cookers, pizza ovens, and so on).
Obviously, you need all those things, but you use some of them only for special occasions – and storage space at home is limited for most of us. This is why a small, 5’x5’ self storage unit, located close to your home, is an excellent solution for storing such possessions. Your stuff will be safe, and you don’t risk breaking or dropping anything because your kitchen cabinets are too cluttered. You can simply pick things up when you need them and drop them off when you’re done – and enjoy a neat and tidy kitchen in the meantime.
- You are planning a kitchen remodel
You decided that your kitchen needs a serious upgrade and work is about to start. If that’s the case, then you should pack your kitchen appliances, cooking gear and favorite tableware, and put them in self storage until the job is done.
On the one hand, it’s going to be a lot easier to complete the kitchen remodeling project if the space is clear and you or your contractors don’t have to work around or move big items like the fridge, the oven and so on.
On the other hand, it’s much safer: a lot of accidents can happen during a kitchen remodel, and you definitely don’t want your family heirloom set of china to fall out of the cupboard, or a bucket of paint dropped on top of your fridge.
Kitchen remodeling is pretty expensive, and you don’t want to end up having to replace appliances and utensils on top of that.
- You have a small catering business
Catering businesses have a lot of equipment and gear that needs to be stored somewhere. Whether you are cooking out of your own kitchen or you rent a space somewhere, chances are that storage space is a thorny issue, one that self storage can solve – the service is affordable, and most cities have dozens of facilities to choose from, so you will probably be able to find one located conveniently close to your place of business.
Also, you can get a month-to-month lease, and you can rent as much or as little space as you need.
How to store kitchen appliances properly
Whether you have space at home or you are storing your kitchen appliances and cooking gear in a self storage unit, there are some rules to follow in order to make sure they’ll stay in good shape long term:
- Defrost and wash your fridge and freezer and allow them to dry off properly before closing the doors and packing the items for storage. Make sure you add some fridge deodorizer inside, and tape the doors shut to avoid damages during transportation.
- Put your tableware through a dishwasher cycle – even if it appears to be clean – or handwash items that are not dishwasher safe. Once everything is clean and dry, pack into durable cardboard boxes or wooden crates. Use bubble wrap to protect fragile items, and make sure you add sheets of packing paper between plates and bowls, particularly if they are expensive, painted porcelain.
- Clean the oven thoroughly with suitable products – it’s important to remove as much of the baked grease and stains as possible. Protect the glass oven door with some padding before transporting and storing the oven.
- Small appliances such as coffee makers, juicers, blenders, electric kettles and so on should be disassembled when possible and the parts should be cleaned individually, to avoid packing them with bits of food hidden inside. Also, when needed, use an anti-limescale product.
- When storing large appliances long-term, whether at home (in a garage, or a basement) or in a self storage unit, it’s important that you raise them on pallets or that you at least place a tarp on the floor, to avoid humidity-related damages. Also, it’s important to leave ventilation space between the walls and any objects.
- Use lidded, sturdy boxes for small appliances and tableware, and make sure you cover the large appliances completely – bubble wrap is the best option, as it protects objects from bumps and dents. Other types of packaging, such as cardboard or old blankets, could work as well.
Following these simple tips and tricks will ensure that your kitchen appliances and other equipment will stay in perfect shape in the long run – so, happy cooking!