Living in a technological era, we have become more and more comfortable and dependent on technology. Laptops and smartphones give us access to the internet and provide large amounts of storage to keep documents on record without thousands of sheets of paper. However, even electronic devices aren’t indestructible. The batteries can fizzle out or, if they are unused for long periods, can lose their electrical charge. If you are planning on storing your electronic items, here are some ways to ensure that they are left in the best possible condition for when you need them again.

Save and Backup any Data

When you’re putting an electronic device into storage, make sure that you have saved any data that you might want onto a hard drive so that you can access it when you need to. As some electronics aren’t meant to lay unused for long periods of time, their batteries might give out. It’s better to be on the safe side and backup everything before storing it away. Some devices such as Apple have their own online storage applications built into your account. This way you can access your documents from whatever device you decide on getting next, provided that it is an Apple device. If your device doesn’t have these features, an external hard drive works just as well and will store a substantial amount of personal photos, videos and documents.

Clean your devices

Even though this task seems menial, don’t skip this step! Dust can accumulate and end up clogging keys or blocking device fans and ports, causing them to overheat and lag in their activity. Think about investing in a compressed air duster to blow away all the dust and other particles that block and hinder your device activity. Wipe off any surface dust and grease that might have accumulated from frequent contact with skin oils.

Take Out the Battery

Removing the battery is crucial. Keeping the battery inside the device can actually drain the battery life, causing it to have less active time in the long run. It can also damage the battery container due to excess stagnation or leaking battery acid. Cleaning up battery acid is quite a hassle due to its high toxicity. The device will also have to be cleaned thoroughly to prevent issues during future use. It’s best to avoid this situation by removing the battery.

Packing your Device Away

If you have managed to keep your original packaging stored away, it is ideal to repackage your dormant device. These packages were specifically designed for storing your device, as they have to be kept in warehouses and pallet storage for long periods of time. If you no longer have the original packaging, then protective cases or bubble wrap are good substitutes. Make sure that it is static-free so that more delicate electrical components don’t get fried. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also get specialist bubble wrap which can be a good investment in the long run as it is reusable.  

Controlling the climate

It’s a well known fact that electronics and water don’t really mix well. There are some devices that are waterproof, however for those that aren’t, you run the risk of injuring both the device and yourself when you take it out of storage. Make sure the environment that you are going to store it in is a dry place that isn’t too hot or cold. Humidity is a huge negative for electronic devices so make sure that your space isn’t affected by it. Also be careful about windows as they can alter the temperature and moisture levels of your space if left open for long periods of time.

Larger items

Their size presents a bit of an issue when it comes to moving them in and out of storage. Devices such as televisions and refrigerators can be included in this category and each have their own ways of storage. Televisions should be wrapped up with professional packing materials in order to reduce risk of any circuits frying. Make sure that the materials used to wrap the television are soft in order to avoid scratches. With fridges, make sure that there is no food inside, that the freezer has defrosted and that the interior surfaces are wiped clean before storing it away with the doors open in order to avoid mould growth.

Smaller items

You can store these a little differently from your larger items. Tightly seal the bottom of the box and line it with scrunched up packing paper so that it absorbs the shock every time the box moves. Then you can move all your small electronic devices into the box with the heavier ones on the bottom. Be careful not to add too many devices as you could end up breaking the box. Test the weight as you add your devices and make sure that the box maintains its shape.

Self storage units are one of the spaces that you can utilise for storing away your electronics, whether it be during a house move or if you’re just making room for more updated models. Spacer has many storage units to choose from, and you can find one in your local area!