Now you have a mini storage facility near me. Congratulations! You’ve got an extra closet, but it doesn’t judge your hoarding. The fun part is now packing efficiently. Here are some tips to help you pack like a Tetris master.

Plan first. Plans can be exciting, but this is not the case. Plan out your storage and stacking of items. This will prevent you from having to move boxes around later.

The boxes will be your best friends. Boxes of similar size are best. The boxes fit together like Lego blocks, and nothing will fall over with the slightest touch. Label them, too! The future-you will be grateful to the past-you for not having to go through each and every box in search of that elusive item.

We’ll now discuss heavy and light things, a classic conundrum. Placing heavier items at bottom and lighter items on top is a good rule of thumb. It’s just basic physics – unless you want to create a cardboard snowball.

It is important to note that bubble wrap does not only work for popping (although this is an effective therapy in its own right). Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap, or even newspaper, before you box them up. This will prevent any future heartbreak.

Avoid heartbreaks by not stuffing everything into your suitcase. Keep some breathing space between stacks to allow air to circulate, and thus prevent mildew and mold from taking up residence.

Think vertically. Use the height of your unit to stack upwards, rather than spread outwards. Invest in sturdy shelves if necessary. They are a great way to maximize your space while maintaining accessibility.

If you’re doing this, make sure to create pathways so that you are able to reach back items without having perform Cirque du Soleil-worthy acrobatics.

Remember those old, dusty blankets? You can use them to protect furniture or appliances during storage by padding.

You should also consider moisture control. No one wants their items to smell like they lived under water for months. If humidity is a guest uninvited, you can always throw in some silica packets or moisture-absorbing absorbers.

Last, but certainly not least–and it might sound silly—-keep an inventory list posted outside your unit’s door or stored digitally anywhere accessible at any time because, let’s be honest—-memory isn’t always reliable–especially when you’re dealing with mountains of molehills (or mountains) to remember!