How to label your items in storage

When putting things into storage, people tend to think a little short-term. They’re itching to get rid of all their extra things and enjoy a ton of new space. But in that excitement, they often get in a rush and neglect to consider what happens when they need to take something out of storage. Namely, they botch the organization and labeling. Don’t let that happen to you. To save you a lot of headaches, take a look at these tips on how to label your items in storage.

Find a system that works for you

When you get down to the core of it, the truth is that you can organize your labels however you like. As long as it works for you, it’s a perfectly valid system. All the same, the people from Small World Moving TX still wanted to show you a few practical systems to help you organize your labeling.

There’s another perk to what you’re about to read in this section. You can use the below systems for more than storage. They’re very useful when moving, too, for example. So if you need movers Allen TX has to offer, let’s say, you’re more than welcome to give these methods a go.

One of the simplest ways to sort your items is to color-code them. Get tape of different colors for each category you would like to include (kitchen items, toys, garden tools, whatever you’re comfortable with). Put all belongings in each appropriate category and mark the boxes with suitable colors.

You can also use a numerical system, which is pretty simple as well. Just mark each box with a unique number and make a spreadsheet that correlates each number with a description of that box’s contents. This system has an added benefit of being easy to update. Whenever you remove something, for instance, you can write it down in the spreadsheet (assuming you organize it well). As long as you don’t accidentally delete it, it’s a great way to label your items in storage.

Hands typing in a spreadsheet on a laptop — Spreadsheets are a tidy, modern way to keep your storage organized

Write as much information as possible

Whenever you label storage boxes, try to include as much information as you can. We’ve all had moments when we had to go rummaging through our stored boxes in a struggle to find something you need. If you go into more detail about what’s in your boxes, though, that wouldn’t really need to happen.

Of course, you can’t write down every single descriptor for every item. Nevertheless, you should try to find room for a few pieces of information, like:

Mark
Model
Current condition
Purpose

If you’re labeling boxes for moving purposes, this will be just as useful a tip. Not only will it help you navigate the boxes, but the movers in Rockwall TX that you hire will have a better idea of how to handle them (assuming Rockwall is relevant to you).

Add handling instructions when you label your items in storage

Some items need special care when handling or carrying. Maybe they can’t stand on a particular side or they break easily. Maybe they weigh a ton, or perhaps they have some sort of liquid in them or are flammable. Mishandling these objects can damage them or, heaven forbid, hurt someone.

Those scenarios are easily avoidable, luckily enough, if you label items for storage in more detail. Simply write down any instructions for how to handle any given box. Whether it’s “fragile,” “this side up,” or whatever else, it’s fine as long as you know what it means and will know in the future (so don’t write any silly joke you’ll forget in a few months).

Crate with "fragile" written on it — Write “fragile” on boxes containing more sensitive belongings

Write on tape when using plastic boxes

Plastic containers are pretty neat. You can reuse them many times, and most of them are sturdy enough to carry heavier things or have multiple boxes stacked on top of them. They’re so good that even plenty of seasoned residential movers Texas has in its roster use them. So ruining them with sharpies is kind of a shame.

But there’s a way to label your plastic boxes without indelibly doodling on them. If you put some duct tape on the box, it will provide a surface on which you can freely write. It’s as simple as that! Oftentimes, the simplest labeling tips for storage are the best ones. Of course, you should make sure that your marker or sharpie can leave a mark on the tape material. Otherwise, you’ll just have a box with a random piece of tape on it.

If you don’t want to waste tape, though, there are other ways to label boxes for storage. For one, name tag holders are a simple way to get the job done if you can attach them. Document pockets also present a neat alternative.

Write in big letters and on the sides of boxes

The biggest hassle we have with storage is when they need to get something back from it. For the most part, this is due to us struggling to navigate the organizational mess we’ve made. For those who suffer this pain, there is one easy fix to remove much of the stress.

Whenever you label your items in storage, you ought to write in big letters and on the side of the box. The first tip guarantees that you can read everything for afar. As for the second one, many people tend to label boxes on the top and then stack other boxes over that label. A lateral label, if you will, sidesteps that issue (pun intended) by leaving the writing plainly visible even with stacked boxes.

large letters on a wooden surface, showing an effective way to label your items in storage — This would be a fine example of how you can label your items in storage

Label your items in storage like a pro with these tips!

Labeling sounds like a chore, but it’s a real time saver when the time comes to un-store something. But that’s only true if you do it properly. Luckily, the tips you’ve just read through will help you do just that. Not only will it now be easy for you to label your items in storage, but you and your long-distance or local movers Texas graced you with will have an easier time moving.