When it comes to public storage – and by public storage we mean renting a storage unit in a storage facility – we often think about storing large items like furniture, large boxes containing belongings like books and clothing, office equipment or even cars.
Thing is, though, public storage facilities are also great options to store jewellery and other valuables like antiques, paintings and artwork.
In other words, this is a great way to store anything worth storing, whether it’s something as small as a ring or large as a truck.
When it comes to keeping your rings and jewellery in public storage, obviously you want to work with a reputable company that won’t fold with your valuables under their care; a company that guarantees you security of your items irrespective of how long you plan on renting the space.
Once you’ve got the provider sorted out, the onus is on you to pack your jewellery in the best way to keep it in mint condition. While the storage company is responsible for the conditions in the facility, the burden of responsibility with regard to the actual packing of the valuables falls on you.
To that end, here are some practical tips to keep in mind when putting your rings and other jewellery away in public storage.
Clean your Jewellery before Storage
It’s storage best practice to always clean whatever items you plan to keep in a storage unit before stowing them away. Jewellery is not exempt from that party rule.
While the method of cleaning will depend on the type of jewellery and its material, here are some cleaning titbits you may find useful depending on what items you plan on storing:
- Cleaning silver
There are many ways to clean silver. We recommend a good seal and polish which come in either liquid form or convenient wipes, although you can always opt for alternative cleaners like a mix of water and baking soda, dish soap or even toothpaste.
- Cleaning gold
Some warm water mixed with a few drops of dish soap can be used to effectively clean gold earrings, bracelets, chains and other items.
Soak for approximately five minutes, and then use a clean toothbrush to scrub them softly, before buff-drying your gold pieces using a soft cloth.
- Cleaning gemstones
Cleaning gemstones is similar to cleaning gold, but use seltzer water in place of regular warm water. You can use a toothbrush to gently scrub your gemstones to regain that sparkle.
Best Way to Pack
When packing your jewellery, it’s a good idea to wrap each piece in tissue paper or packing paper first before placing the same in their original box or a cotton-filled jewellery box if you don’t have the original.
However, if you have the original boxes, those should work a treat and reduce the prep work.
Otherwise, for:
- Necklaces and bracelets – The idea when preparing necklaces and bracelets for packing is to prevent tangling. If you have the original casings, you’re laughing. Otherwise, you can place your necklaces in small individual zip lock bags, then place them inside a larger bag. Cloth pouches work great too.
- Earrings – Tangling and keeping each pair coupled up are the two concerns to think about when packing earrings. A sheet of foam can solve the puzzle for you. Simply pierce the rings into the foam and use the earring back or small piece of tape to secure it. Next, wrap the foam in sheets of paper before placing it in a box.
- Rings – Rings are the easiest to pack. If you don’t have a ring box, you can use a pill organiser or hard sunglasses case to keep your rings organised.
Document your Jewellery
After the cleaning and packing, the next thing you need to do is document and inventory every individual piece you’ll be putting in public storage for accountability and easy retrieval.
Choosing the Best Storage Unit
While we did allude to some of the things to look for in a good public storage provider, there are other important considerations to factor in when it comes to keeping your jewellery in storage units.
For one, a climate-controlled environment would work best as it regulates temperature and humidity throughout.
Second, some jewellery can cost a fortune and you want a facility with top-level security at all times, including features such as key code access, around-the-clock video surveillance and onsite management.
Lastly, you might also want to consider getting third-party jewellery insurance if the option provided by the storage company is not sufficient for the kind of valuables you’re storing.