Problems
1 You want to pack a fragile item (such as the mirror for a self-portrait mentioned in previous post).
2 You want to pack liquids such as a bottle of vodka for yourself or a present.
Where do you store packaging? How do you find it when you need it?
Why bother? Why not buy new?
Answers
First - why bother saving packaging?
1 If it's raining or snowing you'd rather fold, stack and store an item and its packaging than take a trip to the bin.
2 It takes time to visit the tip. Some councils charge for removing large items.
3 Have you seen the price of packaging!
4 Do your bit for recycling.
1 SAVE PACKAGING
Save the original packing for your fragile item.
2 CUT CLUTTER.
STORAGE
Keep packing boxes and bubble wrap from packages sent by Amazon stored out of the way.
Pick somewhere where nobody else more tidy-minded will find it and throw it away!
LOCATIONS FOR STORAGE
(In an old suitcase. High hat cupboard in hall. Your wardrobe. In America in a closet. Above a cupboard in kitchen, scullery, coat storage area. But if you are concerned about fire do not keep papers and plastics in the kitchen near the hob.
The attic. The basement. Consider all options.
If it's a high cupboard or attic up a ladder, will you or the person who needs it be able to retrieve it easily and safely?)
Always keep packaging in one place, the same place, such as a closet in the USA. (We had a walk in closet when we lived in Rockville Maryland.)
Later in a condo in Singapore we kept a small windowless box room for suitcases and packaging. If everybody knows where the suitcases and packaging are kept, you all know where to look when packing for a trip. If you employ a maid of cleaner and run out of things to do, get the suitcases and boxes out and the cupboard cleaned from insects, everything stacked like a pyramid, or nested like Russian dolls with a large label with big felt tip writing on the front, or all sides.
SUITABLE STORAGE SITES AND PREVENTING WATER DAMAGE
In another condo we had what in the UK in the old days would be called a scullery and back balcony. Unfortunately the scullery area (containing a second sink and overhead pulley for hanging washing) was open to the elements on one side. The cardboard boxes for large speakers were left on the window side on and below a shelf. During the spring thunderstorms, rain came in. Eventually the cardboard was waterlogged, mouldy, and warped.
The boxes had to be brought into the kitchen or front balcony in the sun, lifted off the floor, dried in the sun. Once dry, the sides were taped with duct tape for reinforcement. The boxes looked awful, but served the purpose for transporting damaged goods (old speakers overseas warped in humidity) for an estimate for repair or re-sale.
The morals are:
1 STORE Carefully.
Keep cardboard away from windows, leaking pipes, wash basins.
2 COVER Everything Including Covers!
Protect cardboard with protective plastic.
3 INSPECT regularly.
Check whether storage area is safe from damage by termites and mould. Remove insects. Change or start using plastic covering. Throw out packaging beyond repair. Dry out and repair items packaging needed for moving home or taking on trips.
3 MAKE A LABEL / SIGN.
It should be where you can find easily.
Make sure you know where packaging is kept. Write instructions in your diary for the date of your next pre-booked event or trip. For example, if you have gifts for Xmas, ski trips, summer camping, store in an obvious place. Put Xmas wrapping paper, or but Xmas advertisements from Xmas time magazines to use as labels or edging for labels or to wrap the box. Cut out seaside pictures for labels and tags, showing seaside scenes for a box or suitcase containing swimsuits, beach bags, electric fans for gifts.
For example, I buy a revolving magnifying mirror for only £1 from Tanna's chemist (called pharmacy and drug store for in America) in Hatch End, London, England. I save the box inside a suitcase. I have more than one suitcase.
STORAGE REMINDER LABEL
So I send myself an email called Where is it - magnifying mirror box - in small red suitcase labelled one of more of the following: 'For Xmas/Easter/Summer/ Ski trip/UK/USA/Canada/Russia/France/Spain/South Africa/Romania/Singapore/Hong Kong/Cambodia/camping/swimming/hiking/art holiday/'.
STORAGE REMINDER EMAIL MESSAGES
EMAIL
Email yourself a message.
CALENDAR
Mark your calendar with a packing and place where items are kept.
ALARM
Set a timer or alarm with the place to look. For example, for a week before your Xmas holiday trip.
DIARY
Note in a hand-written diary where items are kept and when to check them and retrieve them.
WARDROBE PACKING LIST
You can also keep a packing list on the back of the door of your wardrobe or closet.
A duplicate can be pasted inside your suitcase for packing to go on your holiday, and to check you have retrieved all items.
(Not left behind the skis on the balcony or behind the back door, nor swimsuits drying on a balcony, not clothes in the washing machine, baby items in the dishwasher, nor slippers under the bed, nor night clothes under the pillow, nor baby toys inside the borrowed cot, nor maps in the hire car.)
FRAGILE ITEMS
1 Cover with bubble wrap.
2 Double wrap all liquids with plastic or solid packaging.
3 Pack inside boots and shoes.
4 Pack against the reinforced edges of suitcases and boxes.
5 Keep liquids upright.
6 To avoid staining, store coloured goods in same colour wrapping. For example, water can be wrapped in a white towel or shirt or blanket. But brown rum needs to be wrapped in brown shoes, brown socks, and brown towels or blankets. Similarly, red juice or red nail varnish is better wrapped in red wrapping paper, red towels.
FOOD
Do not wrap items such as leftover vegetables inside a dark blue or black table napkin! Place immediately in a proper Tupperware brand or similar click shut box. For inexpensive and throw away at destination packaging, save Philadelphia cream cheese boxes.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
