Whether you’re an aspiring musician or a passionate hobbyist, there may come a time when you might need to store your instrument(s) for a while. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just throwing your instrument back in its case and leaving it in a storage unit. But preparing your instrument for storage is still pretty easy! Here’s how to ensure your instrument will stay in great condition during a stint in storage:
Why Should I Prepare My Instrument for Storage?
With proper care, your instrument can last a really long time. And the cost of maintaining your instrument is way cheaper than having to buy a new one, so we’d say it’s worth it. There are some simple steps you can follow to ensure that your instrument will stay in pristine condition while in storage. And we promise it won’t take long to complete!
How to Prep Your Instrument for Storage
Typically, a musical instrument will come with manufacturer instructions that include tips on how to clean and store your instrument. But if you inherited or purchased it second-hand, you may not have those instructions on hand.
Don’t worry! We have some simple steps to help get you on the right track as far as care, but we also advise that you look up specific care instructions for your instrument online. In the meantime, here’s where to start:
1. Cleaning and Maintenance
Give your instrument a good cleaning (and polish, if that applies to you) before packing it away. Think about it—you wouldn’t store dirty clothes, so don’t store a greasy or dusty instrument!
2. Disassembly
Don’t let the word ‘disassembly’ scare you, to a certain extent, most instruments are designed to come apart. You should also remove any extra straps that you have attached to your instrument.
You can loosen certain aspects of an instrument that hold tension, like guitar strings or drumheads. Loosening these tension points will protect your instrument from warping or other unfortunate accidents from occurring.
If you have a woodwind or brass instrument, you already know to keep mouthpieces and reeds removed from your instrument before storage.
3. Packaging
As a rule of thumb, you should aim to keep your instrument in the case it originally came in. The manufacturer designs cases to fit and protect your instrument, so trust that it’ll do a great job at protecting your instrument! Inspect your case for any wear and tear, and ensure the inside is clean before placing your instrument in there long term.
4. Picking the Right Storage Option for You
When it comes to storing your instrument, we heavy encourage finding a climate-controlled option. This basically means that your storage unit will be kept at a temperature very similar to your home, keeping your items safe from various weather conditions.
In instances like this, we highly recommend finding a U-Haul storage facility near you. Here, you’ll find competitive rates, climate-controlled storage, and a wide variety of products and services at your disposal.
How to Unpack Your Instrument After Storage
The longer your instrument is in storage, the more care it’ll need when coming out of storage. You can expect it to be out of tune least, but also take time to inspect for any signs of damage, discoloration, or other signs of disrepair. If need be, take them into a repair shop to fix any problems before they become bigger (and more expensive) later.
Why Collegeboxes Will Be Music to Your Ears
Preparing your musical instrument for storage might come with a lot of steps but moving and storing with Collegeboxes doesn’t have to be! All you need to do is pack up your things, and we will handle the rest! From loading, to shipping, to unloading, Collegeboxes can do it all!
We can also store your items at a competitive price, charging per item rather than for an entire unit worth of space. We’ll keep your stuff safe near campus and deliver when you get to campus or just swing by and pick up everything when you are heading back to school. It really doesn’t get easier than that.
So, ready to jump into summer? Collegeboxes is here to help. Click the button below to sign up today!
