Appliance Storage in Lawton

A spare fridge, an extra washer, the laundry pair that doesn't fit the new place — appliances are bulky, heavy, and easy to ruin in storage if you don't prep them right. A drive-up unit makes the move easy, and a couple of hours of prep keeps them ready to plug in later.

Most appliance storage in Lawton comes from one of three situations. A remodel that takes the kitchen or laundry room offline for weeks. A move where the new place doesn't have room for both the old and new appliances. Or a transition where you're holding onto a spare set for the next house, the kids, or a rental property. Drive-up storage at either of our locations handles all three.

What people usually store

• Refrigerators (full-size, mini, and chest freezers)
• Washers and dryers
• Dishwashers (during a kitchen remodel)
• Stand-alone freezers
• Spare ovens and ranges
• Microwave ovens, especially built-in models during a remodel
• Window AC units in the offseason

The single most important thing: dry, dry, dry

Appliances ruined in storage are usually ruined by water that was inside them when they got stored. A fridge sealed up with a little moisture inside grows mold. A washer with water in the hoses stinks of mildew within weeks. A dishwasher closed wet does the same. Dry, dry, dry is the single most important prep step.

Refrigerators and freezers

• Empty everything out — food, ice trays, water filter (drain water lines)
• Unplug and let the freezer defrost completely (a couple of hours)
• Wipe everything down with a mild cleaner
• Dry every surface, especially gaskets and seal channels
• Prop the door open an inch with a towel, a fridge prop, or a sock so air circulates
• Disconnect the ice maker water line if it has one

Washers

• Run an empty rinse cycle to clear soap residue
• Disconnect the water hoses with a bucket ready — water will spill
• Open the lid or door and let the drum dry completely (overnight)
• Wipe down the gasket on front-loaders — mildew loves that rubber
• Coil the hoses and tape them to the back of the machine
• Leave the door propped open in the unit so the drum keeps airflow

Dryers

• Clean out the lint trap and the duct behind it
• Disconnect power (and gas, if applicable — only if you know what you're doing, otherwise hire a pro)
• Coil the cord and tape it to the back
• Tape the door shut so it doesn't swing open in the unit

Always store upright

This is the rule that gets ignored most often. Refrigerators and freezers have compressors that depend on the orientation. Lay them on their side for transport and you can damage internal components — sometimes immediately, sometimes a month after you plug it back in and it won't cool. Washers and dryers have weights and motors that don't appreciate being tipped either. Upright in the truck, upright in the unit.

Drive-up matters here

Appliances are heavy. A typical fridge runs 200–300 pounds. A washer is 150–250. A range can be 200+. Moving them through hallways and up elevators is the kind of work that ends with a hole in a wall or a scratched appliance. Drive-up at either location means you back the truck up, roll the appliance down a ramp on a dolly, and you're in the unit in five minutes.

Common questions