Self-storage can be helpful, particularly if you’re relocating, attending college, downsizing, preparing for deployment, decluttering, or remodeling your house. However, it’s useful for more than just short-term storage—seasonal storage enables year-round use of self-storage! Here are some tips on how to use storage during each season: spring, summer, fall, and winter. In this article, you will learn about the 5 tips to use a storage unit for every season.
Many people think that storage units are only useful for large objects like boats or for keeping things while you move and don’t have the time or space to organize all of your possessions. Storage units, however, are one of the extraordinary ways to declutter and keep the things you don’t need on a daily basis somewhere safe without clogging up your space for many people with limited storage space at home.
Here are the 5 Tips To Use A Storage Unit For Every Season:
1. Spring Storage
It’s time to switch out winter decorations and holiday gear as soon as the weather warms up and everything starts to thaw. Regardless of whether you engage in annual spring cleaning, it’s critical to have a strategy in place for your spring storage requirements. You might think about storing the following things in the spring:
Considerations for Spring Storage Features:
- Consider renting covered vehicle storage if you have any vehicles that might need to be shielded from wind or hail damage during spring storms.
- Dehumidified Storage: This option is perfect for southern American cities that experience high levels of humidity once summer arrives.
- Drive-Up Access Storage: Renting drive-up storage is helpful for keeping big holiday decorations like Christmas trees and bulky winter equipment. You can safely transport these items from your car to the storage unit by parking next to it.
2. Summer Storage
Summer is a great time to have storage because it is a busy time for moving, summer vacations, outdoor recreation, and kids being out of school.
Considerations for Summer Storage Features-
- Renting climate control, which includes dehumidified and air-cooled storage, can help protect goods from heat damage. You should rely on the top self-storage companies.
- Drive-In Building: Customers can move and store items in their storage unit while being shielded from the sun and heat by storage facilities with drive-in buildings.
- Do you own a boat, camper, jet ski, or another type of recreational vehicle? Storage companies in Laporte Indiana provide secure vehicle storage to free up space in your driveway when you’re not using them.
3. Fall Storage
Making the transition from summer to winter easier can be achieved by using fall storage for things like patio furniture. This is mainly the time of year to winterize vehicles like boats, RVs, motorcycles, and jet skis for storage in many parts of the United States. The best self-storage companies are mainly in the USA.
Qualities to Think About for Fall Storage-
- Climate-Controlled Storage: If you live in the area that experiences drastic temperature swings throughout the season, this practical feature is a great way to help safeguard the items in your storage unit.
- Drive-Up Access: Drive-up access storage allows you to pull your car up to the unit for simple loading and unloading, making it a great choice for storing smaller watercraft or heavy items.
- Boats and jet skis that need to be stored once the weather turns chilly may opt for outdoor vehicle storage. The largest self-storage companies in the U.S are well established.
4. Winter Storage
Winter means lower temperatures, reducing the need for grills, yard tools, and fall decorations. Although not everywhere experiences freezing temperatures or snowfall, it is still a good idea to store outdoor appliances, furniture, and recreational vehicles.
Considerations for Winter Storage Features-
- Heated storage units: In areas with extreme cold and snow during the winter, this practical storage feature helps keep items vulnerable to temperature change safe.
- Smaller vehicles, such as motorcycles and vintage cars, can be kept safe from the elements inside indoor drive-up storage units.
- RV Storage: Outdoor uncovered and covered parking areas offer plenty of room for big vehicles and a secure location away from your driveway, making them perfect for long-term RV storage.
Pack your belongings for a lengthy storage stay.
Whatever the length of time they spend in your storage unit, properly packing your items will help keep them in great condition.
To help you prepare your items and your unit for packing, consider the following advice:
Purchase dependable moving boxes. Flimsy cardboard is insufficient for long-term storage. You need cardboard that is heavy-duty and has a long lifespan rating. Even plastic bins might be an upgrade you want to make. Make sure your plastic containers have a tiny opening or two to promote airflow, as plastic can trap water. To maximize space and stackability, make sure they are all the same size.
Don’t use plastic bags. You might feel tempted to put some things in plastic bags. Resist! Plastic can trap water, as we already mentioned, and since plastic packaging leaves no room for air, water may end up touching objects it shouldn’t. Make a map of your own space and label all of your boxes. You might lose track of where you put something after a few months (or years).
Labeling your boxes and creating a small map to put at the front of your unit can save time and effort. Before storing, clean the appliances. Use a specialized cleaning solution (often a small amount of bleach and/or baking soda) to scrub down your appliances. This will assist in getting rid of residue that might cause mold or mildew.
Leave the doors of your appliances slightly ajar when putting them in storage to promote airflow. Put a canvas tarp or sheet down on the floor of your storage unit. Large objects and stacks of boxes should be placed on top of a plastic sheet or canvas tarp to prevent them from contacting any moisture on the floor.
Additionally, these sheets will aid in enhancing airflow in your unit. Any furniture pieces should be vacuumed, cleaned, and/or polished. Cleaning the dust and dirt off of your furniture will help prevent the growth of mold and/or mildew. Add a layer of polish to any wooden items after cleaning them to seal the wood and further impede mold growth. Use white cotton sheets to cover the furniture.