As a college student, you know that moving and summer storage don't just involve clothes and furniture - lots of specialized items like jewelry and makeup need careful consideration. After all, your accessories make the outfit, so it's important to ensure they remain pristine during any move or storage period. But don't worry - we've got you covered! We've put together this guide to help you properly care for your jewelry, makeup, and personal products this summer. From easy hacks for keeping pieces organized to pro tips, we'll ensure your possessions and products stay safe throughout your big transition periods. With our advice, you'll keep your items safe, protected, and ready for unpacking in the fall.

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Jewelry

Separate it for summer:

First, what do you plan on keeping for the summer, and what will you need to store? Summer tends to be a time when less is best! You might consider skipping the accessories for summer. A pair of sunglasses and some flip-flops could be all you really need. If you don't have a summer internship where you must dress presentably, consider storing all of your jewelry for summer. There is no need to lug it around for four months only to return it to college in the fall. Keep it safe in storage. 

Pro-tip: We only suggest storing your costume jewelry in storage. Family heirlooms, precious jewelry, or anything with sentimental value should never be kept at a storage facility, no matter how secure. 

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Get savvy in your packaging:

Dollar store bins are an excellent place for finding innovative packaging ideas and are equally great on your wallet! Pill containers make perfect earring or ring holders. Zippered jewelry pouches or containers are a great place to keep a lot of jewelry in a compact space. Climate-controlled storage is crucial for jewelry to avoid the discoloration of gemstones and tarnishing. Add some padding or bubble wrap for an extra layer of protection. 

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Clean it:

It's a good idea to clean your jewelry before storing it–especially if it's slightly tarnished already or dirty; it could worsen with time. Clean it, ensure it is dry, and separate it by type of metal. Mixing metals is another way to cause it to tarnish faster. Use warm water, mild soap, and a cleaning cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals because they can wear away your metals or platings. 

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Prevent necklace knots:

Necklaces and bracelets are notorious for getting knotted while traveling. From delicate chains to thick beaded necklaces, clumped jewelry is always a pain to deal with. There's only one way to avoid the tangles: the straw trick! Grab a package of straws (paper ones work just as well) and thread your necklace chain through the straw, then clasp the necklace together outside the straw. If your necklace doesn't have a clasp, you can slice the straw open lengthwise and wrap it around the chain to keep it secure. For bracelets, simply cut the size of the straw to fit. Use toilet paper or paper towel tubes instead if your necklace is too large to fit inside a straw. You can store multiple necklaces inside a single paper towel tube. 

Insure the valuable stuff:

If you decide not to store your valuable jewelry, consider insuring it anyway. Traveling with expensive jewelry can be as risky as storing it in a unit for summer. Weigh your options and see what you're most comfortable with. If traveling by airplane, keep the jewelry on you at all times rather than putting it inside your checked baggage until you reach your destination. Call your insurance company (homeowners or rental) to see what kind of insurance they offer for your valuables. It might give you peace of mind knowing that it's insured. At Storage Scholars, we offer $100 worth of insurance on each box or item you store with us, and if you think your jewelry is worth more than what we provide, you can always add more to it. 

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Makeup & Products 

Purge first:

If you have products you don't use, do yourself a favor and eliminate them. There's no sense in hauling them to storage or home for summer. Ask your dormmates if anyone needs the products you plan to toss. You may be able to find them a new home first. On the same note, check the expiration dates of the products you use because if your products are expired, you'll need to purge those too.

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Prep for leakage:

This is a step you don't want to skip! Tighten the lids and tops on all of your makeup items and products. Then tighten again. Nail polish, shampoo, foundation, lotions…nothing says mess quite like a good product spill. Aside from replacing your products, you risk damaging other belongings. If you store any of these items, you might not notice a spill until the end of summer, making the cleanup even worse (think moisture, mildew, and mold!). If you travel by airplane, one tiny product can cause a massive mess in your luggage. So be smart–tighten those tops and embrace the power of Ziploc Bags! Individually wrap each product in a travel-friendly or Ziploc bag, then double bag the messier items for added protection. 

Pro-tip: After tightening the lids and tops, secure further with a sturdy piece of tape over the cover before wrapping the bottle or jar. This will give it an even more secure hold. 

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Protect your powders:

If bounced around too abruptly, delicate powders can crack or break. Add a cotton pad to the tops of powders to keep them in place and minimize the chance of breaking. 

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Consider compacting:

For products with more oversized packaging, like shampoos, lotions, etc, consider transferring products into smaller containers for traveling. Chances are you won't be storing these items but taking them with you for the summer. You'll still need to pack them away while traveling. Making them as compact as possible will help save you a lot of room in your suitcase. You can find travel containers at the dollar store or in any travel section of a store. Specialized bottles are designed with travel in mind, so you won't need to worry as much about leaks or spills. 

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Traveling by air:

If your mode of transportation is an airplane, you should research bringing liquids like lotions and makeup aboard. According to tsa.gov, "you are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item." It's always a good idea to use clear or see-through containers and label your products in case you are stopped by airport security. 

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We already know that looking our best can be work! Unfortunately, it takes even more work when you're moving. Especially if you want your makeup and jewelry to stay in perfect condition during your move. But worry not, because following these planning tips will ensure that your makeup, jewelry, and all of those skin products you've got stay in tip-top shape so you can pick up right where you left off when you unpack. 

Thankfully Storage Scholars can help you out too. While we can't pick your color palettes or tell you which earrings match your outfit (ok, some of our student interns probably know a thing or two about fashion), we can promise you a stress-free move-out. If you pack it up properly, we'll take over from there and handle the hard part. We'll ensure that every last item makes its way safely into storage for the summer and then back to your dorm at the end of summer. Our climate-controlled facilities will keep everything at the right temperature and protected from the elements. So if you still need to make your summer plans, be sure to give us a call or visit our website to secure a spot now for your summer move. 

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Sources:

https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/storage/how-to-store-jewelry/

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