The doors of all appliances should be completely removed in order to protect the appliances from developing musty smells, mold, or mildew. If they cannot be removed, then they should be securely set ajar by several inches so that the door cannot move in either direction. This will also prevent the accidental entrapment of any children. If the door of an appliance is removed, any screws or other hardware should be sealed in a plastic bag that is labeled with the name of the appliance and any necessary instructions such as where the different sizes of screws belong. The bag of parts should be securely taped to the appliance in a place where it will not get knocked off and lost. The electrical cord of each appliance going into storage should be bundled up and secured so that it is not a tripping or entanglement hazard to the people around it. Taping the bundled electrical cord securely to the appliance is also recommended because it will help protect the plug from getting damaged.

After the appliances are positioned in the self storage unit, wrapping them with fitted moving covers or draping them with cloth or plastic sheets will protect them from gathering dust. It is especially important to be sure that the motor area is covered because that is the part of appliances that is the most susceptible to damage when dust gets into it.