• Boxes without labels can become impossible to identify.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  The task of moving or placing items in storage may not be a pleasant one, but it can be necessary at times. While moving your items only means you need to keep them packed for a short length of time, you'll still want to keep them safe and know where they are when you unpack in a new location. Likewise, placing items into storage can mean losing access to them unless you take care while packing.
  
  

Make an Inventory

• The only way to keep track of the items you pack to move or store is by producing an inventory kept separate from the items themselves. An inventory can serve as an invitation to robbery if you keep it with your boxes, where passersby can see it and decide whether your possessions are worth targeting. However, an inventory at home can help you make sure all your items arrive safely, or prevent an unnecessary trip to the storage facility to look for something that isn't there.
  
  

Consider Weight

• Keeping boxes at a reasonable weight will make them easier to carry and also prevent them from bursting open. As you pack each box, lift it several times to check its weight. When it becomes heavy, add lightweight filler such as foam peanuts or crushed paper to keep the contents from moving during transport.
  
  

Pack Media Carefully

• Large media collections, including books, video tapes, CDs and DVDs, can occupy a great deal of space during a move or in storage. These items are also easy to damage. Water is disastrous for books, while strong magnetic fields can erase the data on video tapes or computer hard drives. Take the environment into account when packing your media. Place books in sturdy boxes with their spines against the bottom of the box to prevent the glue releasing. CDs and DVDs will stand the best chance of survival if you store them standing up and use a soft material, such as bubble wrap or crushed paper, to surround them.
  
  

Use Labels or Transparent Packaging

• You'll be able to find your items much more quickly if you know where to look. Cardboard boxes are easy to label with a marker, and adding a strip of clear tape over the label will prevent the ink from running or smearing. When you need to pack many boxes, use a computer to print out label templates with spaces for noting which room a box belongs in or whose items it includes. If your items will be in your possession the entire time, use clear plastic bags of transparent plastic containers. These will give you a window into the contents and can make it easy to tell similar boxes apart.