Preparing, moving, and storing your appliances properly is time-consuming, but it will protect and preserve them for future use. Here are some tips for proper appliance storage.
Clean Your Appliance the Right Way
The effort you put into cleaning now will ensure they’re ready to be used whenever you need them again.
No matter what you’re storing, you must give your appliance a good clean. The effort you put into cleaning now will ensure they’re ready to be used whenever you need them again. Here are some tips for each appliance:
- Dishwasher: Run a cycle through your empty dishwasher with a cup of bleach or vinegar. This will ensure it is free of soap scum and leftover food scraps. Next, clean the exterior of the machine, and then remove and rinse the water coil and let it air dry.
- Oven/Stove: If you leave burned-on food or crumbs on your oven or stove, you’ll be setting yourself up for a pest problem in storage. Wipe down the tops, sides, inside, and outside with a cloth to remove any initial food or dust. To remove grease, combine equal parts lemon juice and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the greasy areas, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe away with a wet cloth.
- Refrigerator: Thoroughly clean the inside of your fridge with a mild detergent, remove and rinse out all the drawers, and clean the interior shelves.
- Washer/Dryer: For your washer, run a cleaning cycle before you store it. An empty cycle with four cups of vinegar and the hottest water setting should remove any left-over detergent in your machine. To clean your dryer, remove the lint trap and wash it with soap and water. Then wipe it down to remove any dust, lint, or debris.
For all of your appliances, make sure they are completely dry inside and out before continuing with storage. If you don’t, you could trap moisture in your appliance, and that could breed mold and mildew.
Pack and Protect
It’s important to pack your appliances right so they stay safe during moving and storage. If your appliance has glass shelves or fragile parts, remove them and transport them separately. Doors should be taped shut while your transport them to avoid damaging the truck, the machine, or you. Once you’re at your storage unit, remove the tape on your appliances and prop the doors open. This will allow airflow and further deter any mold or mildew growth.
Storing Your Appliances
There are a few extra tips we have for better appliance storage. First, place your appliances towards the back of your unit, so it gives you ample space to access any smaller items you might be storing. Always store your appliances upright or you could risk damaging them. Covering them with a breathable sheet or tarp will help to shield them from dust while you’re away. And last but not least, to have fresh-smelling appliances when you pick them up again, place an opened box of baking soda inside each one.
If you need a place to store your appliances, we’d be happy to assist you with that!
EZ Appliance Storage with EZ Access Storage
We hope these tips help you with your appliance storage! If you need a place to store your appliances, we’d be happy to assist you with that. At EZ Access Storage, we have a wide variety of options available, so we’ve got all your storage needs covered. We are always here to make your storage experience as EZ as possible in East Wenatchee!
