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How to Properly Organize a Storage Unit

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:25:09 GMT

How to Properly Organize a Storage Unit

Putting your items into a storage unit is a great way to free up some space in your home. However, when moving items into a storage unit, you need to make sure that you've properly packed all of your items so that they are protected against any physical damage. You also need to make sure that your items are stored in such a way that they are unlikely to shift, fall over or otherwise cause damage to other items in your unit.

Thankfully, the process of organizing a storage unit is fairly simple, and putting in just a little bit of effort while moving your items into the unit can save you much more time and effort later on.

Packing Your Boxes

When packing your items into boxes to move into a storage unit, the most important thing that you have to remember is to keep your boxes at a reasonable weight. This makes it much easier for you to move them into the unit and means that organization won't require a great deal of strength to accomplish.

Within the boxes themselves, you'll want to stack the heaviest items on the bottom and the lightest ones on top. Obviously, this will prevent lighter objects from becoming squashed, but it also makes it easier for these boxes to balance and makes tipping and shifting much less likely.

Be sure to wrap all fragile items in bubble wrap, moving paper or any other form of cushioning. You'll also want to use bubble wrap or other cushioning to fill up empty space within the boxes. This keeps all of your items securely in place within the box, adding further stability to your items.

Finally, remember to label each box to identify the contents. This makes keeping your storage unit organized a breeze. You may also want to have a list of all of the items that you put into storage, especially if you are storing important documents or items that you may need at a later date.

Protecting Large Items

You’ll want to disassemble larger items that cannot be broken down and fit into boxes, such as appliances and pieces of furniture, to make them easy to handle. You'll also want to wrap them completely in bubble wrap or moving blankets, secured with moving tape, to prevent them from becoming damaged while in transit or if things shift and fall over in the storage unit.

Proper Organization Techniques

Once all of your belongings have been properly prepared to be put into a storage unit, you can begin actually loading up your unit. Identify the boxes that you may need to take out early or relatively often, and put them aside to be loaded in last; the items that you aren't likely to use should go in first.

Place large items, like furniture and appliances, in the unit first. Because of their large size and weight, you can place other boxes and lighter items on top of them without having to worry about damage.

Furthermore, you should make an effort to lay pallets down in aisles down the length of your storage unit. These pallets will keep boxes off the ground, protecting them from moisture damage and potential pest infestation. Keeping the pallets in aisles can help keep your items organized, since you'll be able to easily walk to the back of the unit if necessary.

Finally, be sure to keep your stacks of boxes to a minimum height where they aren't likely to fall over. The optimal height will depend on the size of your boxes, but as a general rule of thumb, keeping stacks around waist height is generally fairly safe. Of course, keep heavier boxes on the bottom, and lighter boxes on the top.

For all of your self-storage needs, contact All Secure Storage today.

Christmas Storage: Effective Use of Storage Units for Holiday Items

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:21:40 GMT

Christmas Storage: Effective Use of Storage Units for Holiday Items

The final two months of the year bring on huge changes for holiday lovers. Houses are transformed both inside and out to celebrate the festive nature of the holidays. During this time and the other ten months out of the year, you want to have a place to properly store your items and make sure they are ready when you need them.

A storage unit rental can provide you with the right amount of space and accommodations to ensure that your holiday items are protected year in and year out. Learning multiple ways to use the storage space can help you make the most out of your rental and help make your annual holiday setup as easy as possible.

Wreaths and Trees

A hanging wreath can last for years if it is properly taken care of. A storage unit can give you an open space to properly hang the wreaths instead of laying them flat. A coat rack can hold multiple wreaths while non-damaging wall hooks are ideal for individual ones.

If you own an artificial tree, then a storage unit is an ideal place to store it. Using a larger vehicle, you can transport the tree in one or two pieces and leave it fully assembled inside of a storage unit. Keeping the tree assembled will prevent any damage or problems in the future.

Christmas Lights and Decorations

A tangled ball of Christmas lights creates a mess that no one wants to deal with, which is why a storage unit is optimal for organizing lights. Large hooks can be used to leave lights hanging in an organized manner.

A storage unit also makes it easier to separate different strings of lights from one another. Along with lights, a storage unit can hold other holiday decorations like Christmas village pieces, small table statues or lawn decorations.

A climate-controlled storage unit is more ideal than a basement or attic for protecting and keeping your decorations in the best condition.

Post-Christmas Clearance

Once Christmas has passed, there are a few weeks when items start to go on clearance. This is an ideal time to stock up on decorations and supplies for the following year.

Using a storage unit, you can store wrapping paper, Christmas ornaments, decorations and other items like stockings and cards. By placing all of your decorations in a single location, it will be easy to come back to the following year when you're ready to decorate again.

Christmas Presents and Package Deliveries

There are only so many years where you can get away with keeping presents hidden in the closet or under the bed. If you like to shop for presents in the multiple months leading up to Christmas, then a storage unit provides an ideal location to keep them hidden.

Packages, boxes and other items can remain secure and safe inside a storage unit. You can even set up a small table to create a wrapping station inside of the unit, allowing you to keep the presents wrapped and ready until they are given out on Christmas day.

Dinnerware

The holiday season is an ideal time for families to pull out special dinnerware. This includes plates, cups and silverware that everyone may be using for festivities like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

If you have a special set of dinnerware, then you will want to keep it safe and protected during the times it's not being used. This is where a storage unit can help. Durable storage bins can be filled with the protectively wrapped dinnerware and provide a safe spot for your items.

Find out more information about storage units from All Secure Storage. The services and features can more than accommodate your holiday storage needs.

Packing and Storage Tips for Fragile Items

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:50:12 GMT

Packing and Storage Tips for Fragile Items

When moving or simply rearranging your home, most of the items you pack are easy to care for. You simply arrange items from large to small in a box, label it, then set it aside and move on to the next task.

Fragile items, such as collectibles, dishes, and vases are another packing story. You have to take special care to ensure breakables remains intact while packing, in transit, and finally, are placed in more permanent care in a storage facility.

This guide shows you how to pack delicate and fragile belongings professionally. You will also learn travel and storage tips so that your fragile items remain secure.

Packing

Each item should be individually wrapped in bubble wrap, newspaper, or packing paper then secured with packing tape. Place each packed item in a box lined with bubble wrap or filled with packing peanuts. In a pinch, non-buttered popcorn can work as filler.

Only place breakable items in a box that you can easily carry when full, as a box that is too heavy can fall apart while moving, or be too difficult to move on your own. Any air or open space left in packing boxes should be filled with balled up newspaper or other type of packing filler to prevent movement while in transit.

Transporting

As long as you have each box filled tightly with carefully wrapped breakables, transportation should be simple. Before placing packed boxes of fragile items in your car, give each container a small shake to test for movement. You should hear and feel nothing within the boxes, ensuring each item is tightly secured and ready to travel.

Place boxes on the floor of your car or in the bottom of your trunk to prevent them falling over when you turn corners or come to a halt. Do not stack boxes on top of one another; it's better to take multiple trips to the storage unit than risk damaging fragile plates or other items by placing boxes on top of each other.

If some of your packing boxes are small, you can line them next to one another on the seats of your car, securing them in place with a seat belt. Make sure the boxes are tall enough to be supported by the shoulder strap of your vehicle's seat belts.

Storage

A simple rule for storing items is that items you won't access anytime soon go in the back of the unit while breakables you will retrieve sooner go in the front. Another option is to rent a storage unit that is larger than you need so you can simply line up items along either wall with a pathway in the middle. This method of organization allows for easier access to everything you have in storage.

Do not stack breakable items on top of one another as boxes may crush one another or tip over. Invest in a shelving unit for stacking boxes on instead. If space is an issue, rent two units side-by-side or opt for a larger unit.

Some fragile items are temperature-sensitive, including original artwork and photos. Ask your storage unit representative for a climate-controlled unit so you can keep your items safe.

As long as you pack your fragile belongings responsibly, you should have little issue transporting them to your storage unit and leaving them there for as long as you need to. Choose a storage facility that has constant surveillance and other types of security so that you know your belongings are safe from accidental damage or theft.

All Secure Storage is able to meet all your self-storage needs. Contact our facility today to discuss the type of unit you need and any packing or storing concerns you have.

Cardboard or Plastic? Choosing Storage Containers

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:38:37 GMT

Cardboard or Plastic? Choosing Storage Containers

Storage units can help you clean, declutter, and organize your space and belongings. However, whenever you place your items in storage for a significant length of time, you must consider the conditions they will experience throughout the storage period.

The majority of property damage that occurs during storage happens due to choosing the wrong conditions for keeping specific items. One of the most important factors to consider as you pack your items for storage is the type of containers you put them in.

The two most common storage container options are cardboard boxes and plastic bins. In this blog, we discuss the uses of each of these container types to help you make informed decisions about your belongings.

When to Use Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard boxes are often the default container for moving or storage purposes. This universality exists for a good reason: cardboard boxes are highly versatile and come in almost any size you could possibly need.

Cardboard boxes can be a smart choice for you if your storage needs have any of the following characteristics:

Climate control . Cardboard performs best in spaces with consistent temperature and humidity. If you know your unit is climate controlled, you can save money by opting for cardboard containers.
Heavy items . If you plan to pack up many particularly heavy items, consider choosing cardboard over another type of container. Look for smaller boxes that you can fill up completely without making them too heavy to lift.
Short-term storage . While cardboard can deteriorate over long periods of time, this type of container is ideal for single-use, short-term storage needs. You can simply recycle the boxes once you retrieve your items from the unit.
Storage on shelves . If you have shelves in place or plan to put your boxed items into bookshelves, cardboard boxes provide the ability to fit as many boxes as possible into a shelf while controlling the overall weight and spacing of the containers.
Transportation and storage . Cardboard boxes can easily be shipped through the mail. If you need to transport your belongings before or after storage, consider cardboard containers.
You should not use cardboard boxes if you think there is any risk of moisture intrusion or pest infestations in your storage space since these hazards go right through cardboard.

When to Use Plastic Bins

While more expensive to purchase than cardboard boxes, plastic bins can sometimes be a wiser investment when you need storage containers. Choose plastic over paper when your storage needs have the following characteristics:

Inconsistent weight loads . Cardboard boxes can fall through when weight isn't evenly distributed. Plastic bins are more versatile when it comes to holding oddly shaped or specifically packed items.
Long-term storage . Over long periods of time, plastic bins keep dust, insects, and moisture out of your stored items better than any other container.
Necessary organization . Plastic bins allow for numerous levels of organization, such as color coding for holidays. For extra organization, choose clear bins so you can see the contents.
Numerous stacks . Plastic bins of the same size tend to have divots in the lids so that they fit together. This design prevents the bins from warping or the stacks wobbling due to heavier items being placed on top, unlike stacks of cardboard boxes.
Tight timeline . Cardboard boxes require assembly so bins can be a better option when you're short on time.

You should avoid plastic bins when packing up any items that might be damp or that might need air circulation since plastic bins are often close to airtight and can therefore encourage mold growth.

Use these guidelines to ensure that your belongings are protected from the potential pitfalls of incorrect storage containers, no matter how long you need to keep those items in storage.

Looking for a storage facility? All Secure Storage has the right units for all of your short- and long-term storage needs. Call us today.

Items in Your Garage That Should Be in Storage

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:26:43 GMT

Items in Your Garage That Should Be in Storage

You likely use your garage as your at-home storage unit where you can conveniently place winter-wear or other seasonal clothing, lawn equipment, and other unused items where you can get to them in case you need them. However, your garage isn't the best place to store everything.

The unpredictable temperatures, easy access for rodents, and lack of space in your garage can make housing certain household items less convenient. Here are items you store in your garage that should be in selfstorage instead and why renting a storage unit is beneficial.

Clothing

Your garage isn't the best place to store clothing. The other common items you keep in the garage, such as car parts and lubricants, paint supplies, and pesticides, all leave behind odors and fumes that can get on clothing. Even if you store clothes in airtight bins or containers, your seasonal wear items can still become susceptible to damage from other garage items, particularly sensitive materials such as lace, leather, fur, or satin.

Instead, store all clothing in a climate-controlled storage unit. House all clothing items in an air-tight plastic bin with a lid, and stack bins on pallets to keep them off the ground. Label all clothing bins with sizes, gender, and type of season they are to be worn to help keep these items organized.

Valuables

Your garage is not as secure as a self-storage unit as far as keeping out moisture, heat, and pests. This means anything you consider to be of value - including photographs CDs, jewelry, electronics, scrapbooks, and family mementos - are at risk for damage if you leave them in the garage.

All valuables should either be kept in the home inside an attic or closet area or placed in storage. A self-storage unit is your best option, as it allows you to save space in the home and keep your valuables protected. Let your home insurance company know what you have in storage and add storage insurance to your policy if needed.

Tires

Heat makes tires go flat, so your garage is not an ideal location for bicycles, ATVs, dirt bikes, and other wheeled equipment in the summertime. Unless you use these items on a regular basis throughout the year, keep all wheeled equipment in a climate-controlled storage unit to preserve the tires. Spare and unused car tires should be placed in storage as well.

Before placing any tires in storage, air all tires according to manufacturer instructions. This way, the tires should be full and able to use when you take your wheeled equipment out of storage.

Seasonal Decor

One of the most common garage items are seasonal decorations: Christmas lights, blow-up lawn decorations, and other items get shoved in the garage to be forgotten about until the next holiday they're needed.

Your garage is not ideal for seasonal decor for a few reasons: insects and rodents can get into wired decorations and destroy them or moisture can get into your garage and cover holiday pieces in mildew and mold.

To preserve your holiday accents, place them in a storage unit that you can drive up to for easy access. When you need to remove one holiday box, simply drive up to your unit and remove what you need, then replace one season's decor with another to keep decorations organized.

It's fine to keep car-related items, yard equipment, and other household necessities in the garage, but many things you place in this part of your property should be in storage instead. To find out what size and style of storage unit you need, talk to our specialists at All Secure Storage today. We offer a variety of units to meet your needs and help you keep your belongings safe.

How to Pack Your Closet Quickly and Easily

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:17:46 GMT

How to Pack Your Closet Quickly and Easily

Your bedroom closets can be some of the busiest and most full storage areas of the home. That makes them hard to pack up when you need to move to a new home. How can you make packing easier and more successful no matter how long you'll be on the move? Here are a few steps to take.

Purge First

Before you pack anything, look through the closet. Are there things you haven't worn or used in a long time? This is the time to sort through and get rid of things that you know shouldn't make the trip.

A number of methods exist for sorting through closets, from the currently popular KonMari method of determining what sparks joy in your life to opting for the one year rule where you discard things you haven't used in a full set of seasons. The specific method doesn't matter as much as that you do take this step before packing everything into boxes to lug around.

Keep Out a Suitcase

Before placing everything into boxes, pack a suitcase of clothing and accessories you'll need for the final week or so before and after the move. This suitcase should be everything you need to survive for at least a few days, but possibly longer - depending on your moving schedule and potential delays.

Pack Off-Season Items

You can generally safely pack up clothing, shoes, and accessories that are out of season. This easy step will lighten your load considerably. Winter clothing and shoes are likely the bulkiest items you have in a closet, so get them out first when possible. Use heavy winter coats to cushion the other accessories and shoes, zipping or buttoning the coats securely around other goods.

Bundle Clothing

Don't waste your time taking everything off hangers, folding them, and then unfolding and rehanging them. Instead, bundle hanging clothing together into categories - perhaps all your blouses or work jackets, for instance.

Place up to ten hanging items together and tie the hangers themselves with twine or zip ties. Place a yard-size garbage bag under the whole bundle and slide it up to the top. Secure the bag around the hanger tops by its own ties.

Use the Right Boxes

Many people prefer to use wardrobe boxes for clothing and shoes, which are specifically designed to mimic a closet with a hanging bar at the top. This will keep things more wrinkle-free and all together. Wardrobe boxes also allow you to pack up closets you still use until the last day of the moving process. If using wardrobe boxes, get at least one box per closet and label it for each bedroom.

Wardrobe boxes can be unwieldy, though, and they usually cost more. If you want something more manageable, you can carefully fold your bundled clothing in half and place them in regular moving boxes.

Be careful to use medium-sized boxes, though, and not to overpack them. Fill extra space with lightweight items like scarves and hats. If you pack a lot of clothing and shoes together, you'll likely end up with an unmovable (or broken) box.

Pack Accessories Together

One of the big dangers in packing up a closet is getting things unorganized and separated. Keep together everything that should go together. Shoes should only be packed in pairs. Belts should be packed with other belts and scarves with other scarves. Have a variety of boxes of different sizes so that you can avoid the temptation to mix and match closet items with other boxes or other rooms.

Packing up your closet can seem like an insurmountable task when you start. But, by sorting through items, packing them the right way, and keeping things organized, you'll have the task done in no time. At Almond Tree Mini Storage , we provide storage solutions for all types and lengths of needs. Call today to learn more from our packing and moving experts.