How to Store a Plasma TV in Self Storage

At one point, plasma TVs were the peak of home entertainment. And while modern flat-screen televisions like LED TVs and OLED TVs have replaced Plasmas in terms of status, they still hold a special place for many enthusiasts, collectors, and anyone who simply hasn’t upgraded yet. 

And even if you have upgraded to 4K LEDs and liquid crystal displays, it makes sense to keep your Plasma TVs in storage as a spare or an extra.

That said, anyone who owns a plasma TV knows how fragile it is. 

The unique technology behind plasma screens demands special attention when it comes to storage. Unlike their CRT TV predecessors, Plasma TVs are known for their weight and delicate screens and electronic components.

This helpful guide will walk you through every step of proper plasma TV storage. We’ll review the cleaning and preparation process and packing techniques. 

We’ll also reveal how our Storage.com search tool can help you find a climate-controlled storage unit near you so you can store your television without worrying about pests, moisture, and weather damage or theft and vandalism. 

Clean Your Plasma TV Before Storing It

Even when a flat-screen television sits in a living room, it collects dust. So imagine how grimy it’ll get in storage. In fact, the dust build-up can get so dense that it scratches the screen. 

But while thoroughly cleaning the outside of your plasma TV before storage is important, cleaning it incorrectly can cause just as much damage. 

• Plasma TV manufacturers often advise against using standard household glass cleaners or window sprays like Windex, which all interfere with the delicate anti-glare coatings on plasma screens. 
• They also suggest refraining from using any abrasive materials like paper towels, napkins, or rough cotton towels, which cause micro-scratches on the screen’s surface. 

We suggest following the manufacturer’s specific cleaning recommendations outlined in your instruction manual. The general rule of thumb is to stick to a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth for basic dust and smudge removal. 

If the grime is stubborn, lightly dampen the microfiber cloth with a small amount of distilled water. Be sure the cloth is just damp, not wet, and never spray liquid directly onto the screen. 

For hard-to-reach areas like vents or connection ports, a compressed air duster can knock the dust off without physical contact. 

Plasma TV Packing Tips

Packing a plasma TV is a detailed and delicate process. You can’t just shove your plasma in a box–it’s a complex assembly of sensitive electronic components and a fragile screen that also carries some serious weight.

Common TV packing risks include:

• Scratches and Cracks: The most visible and often immediate risk is damage to the screen itself. Contact with other objects, or course cleaning, or packing materials can all cause scratches to the front glass panel display. More severe impacts or pressure can lead to cracks, which destroy the display for good.
• Internal Damage: Your plasma TV is stuffed with intricate electronic components, many of which can be damaged by vibrations and impacts during transport. A plasma TV is heavier than modern TVs, which means it shakes and rattles more if it’s not snug during transport. And if you lay your TV flat, there’s even less support against movement and vibration.
• Environmental Factors: Beyond physical damage, environmental factors such as excessive moisture, extreme temperatures, pests, and dirt can severely damage a plasma TV and shorten its lifespan. High relative humidity can lead to corrosion of internal circuitry, while temperature extremes can cause components to expand or contract excessively, leading to stress and failure. Storing your Plasma in a climate-controlled storage environment is as important as your packing technique.

Now that we know what risks to avoid, let’s take a look at the packing techniques that can help you avoid them.

How to Pack Your Plasma TV

Your Plasma TV packing strategy needs to consider screen protection, shock absorption, and maintaining the correct position. And if you’re preparing for long-term storage, you’ve got the environmental factors to defend against as well. 

Given their weight and the delicate nature of plasma screens, we suggest multiple layers of protection that use the recommended packing supplies–especially considering the declining repair ability of older plasma models.

The primary three packing techniques used to store plasma TVs are the bag method, the plywood method, and storing your plasma in the TV box it came in. Let’s review the steps involved in each method. 

How To Store a Plasma TV in a Bag

The bag method of Plasma TV storage means more than just sliding your TV into a large plastic bag. The protective bag is usually an outer layer, not the primary protection. The bag method is best for short-term storage, as it doesn’t offer the long-term protection a Plasma TV requires.

For large plasma flat-screen televisions, you want to use specialized flat-screen TV covers or mover’s wrap to act as a protective layer. Then, put all the cables, the remote control, and any detachable stands or accessories in a large, sturdy plastic bag or a sealed bag like a 1–5-gallon Ziplock.

These preliminary defenses provide a shield against dust and minor abrasions. From there, you’ll want to take more precautions. You can support the bag method with materials like:

• Plastic Wrap or Mover’s Wrap: Once you’ve cleaned the TV with a microfiber cloth, wrap the TV in plastic wrap, mover’s wrap, or a flat screen TV cover.
• Packing Tape: Heavy-duty packing tape, like paper packing tape or reinforced tape, is needed to hold the wrap in place.
• Bubble Wrap: A generous amount of heavy-duty bubble wrap for cushioning.
• Foam Corners: For protecting the delicate corners of the TV, which are often the first points of contact during handling.
• Moving Blankets / Packing Blankets / Furniture Pad: To provide an extra layer of padding around the TV once it’s wrapped. A quilted blanket or thick furniture pad protects against bumps and scrapes during transit and storage.
• Plastic Bags: For organizing cables and accessories.
• Sealed TV Bag: The final layer of protection, where the bag method takes its name from.

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Bag Method:

1. Initial Screen Protection: Gently wipe the screen with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove any dust or fingerprints. If using any cleaning solution, ensure it’s specifically designed for
   plasma screens and apply it sparingly to the cloth, never directly to the screen.
2. Apply First Protective Layer: Cover the screen with a layer of plastic wrap or a Flat Screen TV Cover. Avoid taping directly onto the screen itself; instead, secure the wrap around the edges or the back of the TV.
3. Add Edge Protection: Attach foam corners to all four corners of the wrapped TV.
4. The Bubble Wrap Method: Carefully wrap the entire Plasma TV in multiple layers of bubble wrap. Make sure the coverage is generous, especially around the edges and corners. Use ample packing tape to secure the bubble wrap firmly in place. The goal here is to create a thick barrier that’s cushioned enough to absorb impact.
5. Wrap in Moving Blankets: Wrap the bubble wrap-covered TV in one or two moving blankets, packing blankets, or a thick furniture pad. Secure these blankets with packing tape to prevent them from shifting.
6. Place in TV Bag: Carefully slide the padded TV into its designated TV bag. You want it to fit snug, so add extra Styrofoam inserts or crumpled paper/packing material to fill any extra space, so it doesn’t shift around during transit.
7. Seal the Box: Seal the TV bag thoroughly with packing tape.
8. Label Clearly: Mark the box with “FRAGILE,” “THIS SIDE UP,” and “PLASMA TV” in large, clear lettering.

How to Store a Plasma TV Using the Plywood Method

The plywood method offers extra protection for your plasma TV. This technique involves creating a layer of plywood armor around the television that can withstand more pressure and impact than a TV bag can.

After you have completed the initial packing steps, including cleaning, wrapping in bubble wrap, applying foam corners, and covering with moving blankets, it’s time to prep the plywood board.

You can even use the entire bag method described above and just add the plywood layer at the end. Here’s how:

1. Obtain a thin but sturdy sheet of plywood cut to the exact dimensions of your TV’s front and back panels.
2. Carefully position the fully padded TV onto one piece of the cut plywood board.
3. Place the second plywood board on top of the padded TV, sandwiching the TV between the plywood pieces.
4. Use strong packing tape to secure the two plywood sheets together.

The plywood structure provides an unyielding barrier against external forces that could otherwise lead to screen flexing or glass breaking.

The plywood method also shields the TV from accidental punctures and crushing, making it ideal when you’re putting your flat-screen television in long-term storage.

How to Store a Plasma TV in a TV Box

Utilizing a suitable TV box is a cornerstone of safely storing a Plasma TV. The goal is to create a secure, protected environment that guards against physical impact, dust, and environmental fluctuations. While the original packaging is always ideal, several aftermarket options can provide equivalent protection.

If you don’t have the original packaging, invest in a double-walled cardboard plasma TV box or professional-grade TV boxes specifically designed for flat-screen televisions. These boxes are engineered to offer more protection. They sometimes include internal supports or come with additional padding.

A U-Haul TV Moving Box, for example, comes with everything you need for safe TV moving and storage. But you’ll need to make sure the box is the correct size for your TV–too big and the TV will shift, too small and you won’t be able to add the protective layers of wrap and padding.

Once you’ve selected the appropriate TV box, here’s how to store your television using the box method:

• Store your Television Upright: First things first—never store your plasma TV in any other position besides upright (or a slight tilt from upright). Even if it’s sitting on top of another piece of furniture in your storage unit, do not lay it flat. Plasma screens are constructed with glass panel displays and internal components that are far more susceptible to damage, vibrations, and screen flexing when laid horizontally. The TV’s weight distribution is displaced when it’s laid flat, and that can cause the glass breaking.
• Add Padding: Before placing the TV in the box, it must be thoroughly padded. Begin with a clean screen covered by a microfiber cloth or a protective film. Then, wrap the entire TV generously with bubble wrap. Add foam corners to all edges. Further cushion the TV by wrapping it in moving blankets, packing blankets, or a thick furniture pad. The goal is to create a buffer zone between the TV and the box.
• Fill All Voids: Once the padded TV is placed inside the TV box, fill any remaining empty space with Styrofoam inserts, crumpled paper, foam peanuts, or additional padding material. The TV should be snug and unable to move within the box.
• Seal Securely: Use strong packing tape to seal all seams and flaps of the TV box. Double-tape the edges for added security.
• Label Clearly: Once again, mark the box prominently with “FRAGILE,” “PLASMA TV,” and “THIS SIDE UP.” This visual cue is critical for anyone handling the box, reinforcing the need for careful movement and upright storage.

Now you have a pretty good idea of how to pack your plasma TV for storage. But where you store your television is equally as critical to its lifespan. Let’s take a look at where to store a plasma TV.

Opt for a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit at a Secure Facility

In most cases, people who are moving a plasma TV into a self-storage unit are storing other furniture or belongings as well, which means the storage unit size needed will vary on an individual basis. However, one thing that all plasma TV storage seekers need is a climate-controlled storage unit at a facility with strong security features.

A climate-controlled storage unit is a non-negotiable for storing any sensitive electronics, especially older flat-screen televisions like plasma models.

Environmental factors like temperature extremes and high relative humidity can destroy electronic components. In a non-climate-controlled unit, temperatures can rise in the summer and crash in the winter.

• Prolonged exposure to heat can cause components to degrade, solder joints to weaken, and plastics to warp.
• And extreme cold can make the plastic and electrical materials brittle and impact the plasma technology.
• And when the relative humidity levels are fluctuating, corrosion on circuit boards and connectors can cause short circuits and eventual failure. And that’s not to mention mold and mildew growth.

A climate-controlled storage unit offers more than just consistent temperatures, but also constant humidity monitoring and control.

The temperatures in a climate-controlled unit sit between 55-80°F (13 °C and 29°C). And you’re looking at levels of around 30-50% regardless of what’s going on with the weather outside. In short, climate control maintains the integrity of both the plasma screen’s internal gas mixture and all the delicate electronic components inside.

Theft and security are also valid concerns when you’re putting an expensive or classic TV in an off-site storage unit for an extended period. More and more storage facilities offer enhanced security measures like 24/7 surveillance, coded gate-controlled access, motion detectors, and on-site security personnel and managers.

But how do you find a storage unit in your area that has climate control and enhanced security features while also being close enough for you to grab your extra plasma TV and throw it in the guest room when you’ve got company staying over? Don’t worry, Storage.com is here to help.

How To Store a Plasma TV Using Storage.com

By now, you should have a pretty good idea of how to store your plasma TV. We reviewed how to clean and prepare your TV for storage, and offered some plasma TV packing tips for the various methods of TV storage. 

We also covered why the storage space where you keep your plasma is as important as proper storage techniques. Now it’s time to find the ideal storage space. 

Whether you’re looking to store your plasma TV in a small 5×5 storage unit or you need a larger storage unit size for your classic flat-screen television, Storage.com lets you browse and compare self-storage units using amenity and size filters that isolate the storage facilities in your area with all the ideal TV storage features.

Just punch your zip code into our handy Storage.com search tool, and you’ll see what we mean. We’ll filter through the thousands of local storage facilities for you, making it easy to find the storage unit that best fits your specific plasma TV storage needs. 

Again, for TV storage, we suggest a storage unit with climate control, which also controls humidity monitoring and management. 

But if you decide that features like alarms, 24-hour access, drive-up access, or security cameras are also important, we can help with that, too. 

Once you know what you want, Storage.com makes the process quick and painless. All you have to do is choose a storage unit and your move-in date, and we’ll take care of the rest.