How to Store Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard boxes have many useful purposes; according to the American Forest and Paper Association, 95% of products in the United States alone are packaged and transported in cardboard containers. When unused, however, cardboard boxes have a way of piling up and consuming a lot of storage space. Fortunately, cardboard boxes are easily dismantled. Store your cardboard boxes flat and tied in bundles for optimum storage in minimal space. Store your boxes in dry places, such as in a garage or an attic, to avoid water damage.

Storing Standard Cardboard Boxes

• 1

  Cut the taped ends of a box open by sliding a utility knife or scissors through the tape, separating the box flaps. Pull open the box flaps that were previously taped. Push the box together along the box corner creases, folding the box flat.

• 2

  Stack boxes of the same or similar size together. Measure the width of the largest box on the stack. Multiply this measurement by two. Add 20 inches to the measurement. Cut a piece of twine to this measurement. Measure the length of the longest box. Multiply this measurement by two. Add 20 inches to the measurement. Cut a piece of twine to this measurement.

• 3

  Wrap the width twine around the width of the boxes. Tie the twine in a knot. Trim excess twine with scissors if desired. Wrap the length twine around the length of the boxes. Tie the twine in a knot. Cut any excess twine with scissors if desired.

• 4

  Store the boxes upright behind something, such as a workbench in the garage, or slide them flat onto a shelf or attic floor.

Storing "Bank Box" or Computer Paper Style Cardboard Boxes

• 1

  Pull the tabs of the box lid corners from the corner flaps. Box lids are purchased flat and then constructed by sliding taps into slots or folds to create corners, making the box three-dimensional. Once the flaps are pulled free, the box lid will fold flat.

• 2

  Grasp the center of the interior box bottom and pull up. The box will fold in on itself with the bottom flaps standing vertically within the box. If the box has been taped, cut or remove the tape before attempting to fold the box flat.

• 3

  Stack the flat box lid on top of the flattened box. Store as a pair or stack identical or similar in size flattened boxes on top of each other.

• 4

  Measure the width of the largest box on the stack. Multiply this measurement by two. Add 20 inches to the measurement. Cut a piece of twine to this measurement. Measure the length of the longest box. Multiply this measurement by two. Add 20 inches to the measurement. Cut a piece of twine to this measurement. There may be excess twine, for instance, if you are only securing one flattened lid and box, and you will need to trim away the excess twine after tying your knot.

• 5

  Store grouped and tied boxes with other like bundles upright behind something, such as a workbench in the garage, or slide them flat onto a shelf or attic floor. Boxes may be tied to a hook inserted into the ceiling joist in a garage to utilize wasted overhead space and reduce surface space storage.