No Matter What The Season, Moving Is A Tough Job. If You Are Moving Your Belongings Into Self Storage, It’s Important To Be Prepared, Especially When The Area Is In The Grip Of A Record-Setting Cold Spell! Are You Prepared? Here Are Several Ways To Winterize Your Belongings To Keep Them Protected.
- First, think about what kind of storage you need. Do you need a climate controlled unit? Here’s what to consider: Take into account the belongings you plan to store. furniture, musical instruments, computers, cameras, TVs, photos, antiques, paintings, papers, books and collectibles, liquids, and chemicals are items that might be at risk in cold temperatures. These items will fare better in a heated unit. For items that you want to keep safe, such as files or items that hold sentimental value, a heated storage unit will give them an extra layer of protection.
- The cold air can make glass and some plastics very brittle. Items such as antiques, and items that have liquids or chemicals in them such as batteries have a higher chance of damage. Wrap these kinds of items in lots of newspaper for added insulation. Packing peanuts are also great for insulation and cushioning. Choose your peanuts wisely! Peanuts made of cornstarch is biodegradable and will decompose if in contact with water/liquid. Choose peanuts made of polystyrene. They literally take hundreds of years to decompose!
- Mowers, weed eaters, and sports equipment, all of these should do just fine in a non-climate controlled unit. Make sure to empty the gas tank in all your small engine equipment due to the ethanol found in gas today.
- Beach items are another great choice for self-storage. There’s no reason to clutter up space in your home for a whole year. Not to mention, seeing your surf boards, boogey boards, beach chairs, etc when the snow is falling and temps are brutal, is only going to make it seem like summer will never get here. Don’t torture yourself! Dry surf boards with a towel to remove all moisture before storing, and strip away any wax. If you have a board bag, store your board in a bag, which offers a layer of protection from any scuffs and scratches while in storage.
- Last but not least, if you have any questions about what to store and how, that are not listed here, call us! Our staff is very knowledgeable when it comes to self-storage. We’ve been doing this for a loooong time!