Lightbulb Storage Tips

Of all the things in your home that will end up in a storage unit, you probably aren’t thinking of the lightbulbs. They may seem like an unusual item to put in a storage unit. But you never know when you’ll stock up on some bulbs after a good sale and then boom, you’re moving or you’ve run out of space. Lightbulbs can be very expensive, and throwing them out or leaving them behind in a move isn’t very cost effective–but don’t worry, self storage is a great option! Read on for our lightbulb storage tips so you can keep yours safe and sound for when you need them.

General Lightbulb Storage Tips

Package Lightbulbs Individually

Do not throw all your lightbulbs into a bin and call it a day! They can become damaged and break when they are piled up against each other. Instead, make sure you keep each bulbs separately wrapped or boxed so they stay safe individually. This will protect the glass and make sure they can be stored without being knocked around and damaged.

If you don’t have the original packaging for the bulbs, you can use several other options to help keep them separate. These common household things are potential options:

• plastic cups
• egg cartons
• Christmas ornament organizer

If you don’t have any of these containers, you can tape bubble wrap around each individual lightbulb to keep them safe. Lightbulbs also need to be protected against dust as it can damage your items in storage. To prevent your lightbulbs from getting dusty in storage, store them in a closed off plastic bin to keep the debris out.

Invest in Climate Controlled Lightbulb Storage

Lightbulbs must be kept cool and dry in storage so they are not damaged. Storing in a unit with fluxuating temperature and humidity can reduce the longevity of your lightbulbs or damage the components they’re made of. Investing in a climate-controlled storage will keep the temperature and humidity in check in your storage unit so you don’t have to worry about lightbulbs corroding in storage.

Store Away from Vibrations

One of the unique storage needs of lightbulbs is keeping them away from anything that will vibrate them in the storage unit. This vibration can damage filaments in certain bulbs and could also cause them to shift in storage and break. This may mean avoiding a storage unit that is next to train tracks or an airport, as the coming and going of these huge vehicles can cause vibrations in the storage unit. If you live in a place that is prone to earthquakes, make sure to package your lightbulbs extra securely and check on them frequently, especially after an earthquake.

Types of Lightbulbs

Incandescent Lightbulb Storage

Incandescent lightbulbs are the oldest and least energy efficient lightbulbs currently on the market. They work by passing an electrical current through a thin filament, which then heats up and produces light. The heat involved can increase risk of housefire and causes an increase in energy used to light these bulbs, and those with efficiency less than 45 lumens have been banned in the United States to save energy and money. Some people stocked up on them because incandescents can have a more gentle glow than fluorescents and some LED lights–if you are one of those people, you’re in luck! They can be kept in self storage. Like all bulbs they must be individually wrapped; but because of the filament, they must be stored upright so it does not break or warp while in storage.

Fluorescent Lightbulb Storage

Fluorescent lightbulbs contain gases that generate invisible UV light when excited by an electric current. This UV light then excites a fluorescent coating on the tube that emits visible light. Fluorescents are less efficient than LEDs, but more than our incandescent friends. Due to the presence of mercury in these bulbs, you should always be safe when moving them and store them properly in storage. Like other bulbs, they should be stored individually wrapped–however, the wrap will need to be tube shaped. Unlike incandescents, fluorescents should be stored horizontally to avoid breaking them.

LED Lightbulb Storage

LED (light emitting diode) lightbulbs do not use any gases or filaments. They rely on a microchip that illuminates the diodes when an electrical current is passed through it. These bulbs are the most energy efficient and last the longest out of all the options. They also last the longest in a storage unit because, unlike the other lightbulbs, they don’t contain gases and filaments that break down over time. An unused LED lightbulb can last decades in storage and still work if properly stored.