Longterm Storage Solutions

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Nearly 1 in 10 American families rents space at a self-storage facility. Whether your family needs to store precious items for a few months during a home renovation or you need extra space to store surplus products for your home business, self-storage rentals give you secure storage space for a reasonable price.

Here's a quick guide to help you maintain your items in a self-storage unit for an extended period:

Boxing Tips

Long term storage requires sturdy storage equipment. If you're storing fragile and/or valuable items for extended periods, stuffing everything into cardboard boxes can be a big mistake. Not only can cardboard boxes warp, particularly when stacked, but the boxes are also susceptible to moisture and can be difficult seal. The better storage solution is opting for plastic storage bins.

Color: Because most storage units are windowless, you can choose clear plastic storage bins. Choosing clear plastic bins can make it easier to locate and inventory items quickly.

Type: Some cheaper plastic storage bins are manufactured using number 4 or 7 plastic. These less expensive plastic bins may not be worth the money in the end, as they are weaker than bins manufactured from number 5 plastic. You can locate this number on the bottom of the bin.

Lid: Choose plastic storage bins with some sort of locking mechanism. This is important, as lids that simply "fit" onto the bin can pop loose if the contents in the bin bow out the sides of the bin over time.

Storage Tips

Over an extended period, moisture, vermin, and dust can wreak havoc on your storage items. Even if you store items in plastic bins (as suggested in the last section), your items may still be vulnerable.

Storage bags: Placing items in vacuum-sealed storage bags can help you compress them and also protect them from a host potentially damaging factors. Because vacuum-sealed storage bags can't be easily opened, this storage solution is only for items that you won't need to access frequently.

Cedar: One of Mother Nature's greatest insect repellents comes in the form of cedar wood. Whether you're using a few short lengths of wood in each bin or you choose small bags of cedar wood shavings, cedar will naturally repel moths and other insects that can infest and consume organic materials like cotton, paper, and wood products.

Tape: If you know that you're not going to need to access certain items in storage, consider taping the storage bins containing these items shut. By taping them shut, you will provide an additional barrier between the items and any dust particles that might settle on the bin during an extended stay.

Sorting Tips

How you choose to organize your storage items can help you maximize your storage space, allowing you to rent a smaller space, which can reduce your monthly rental fee. The key to making the most out of your storage space is organizing items before you move them into your storage space.

Sorting: Sort items into two categories: 1) items you may need to access and 2) items you probably won't need to access. Once you've sorted your item into these two categories, store them in similar storage bins.

Placement: Place storage bins contain items that you won't need to access in furthest recesses of your storage unit (back corners, etc.). You can also stack storage bins containing items you may need to access on top of these storage bins.

C Shape: Arrange your items so that you create a C-shape walkway through your storage unit. This C shape should provide a clear path that parallels the sides and back of your storage unit.   

For more tips, contact a company like Sutters Fort Self Storage LLC.

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8 March 2017

protecting your cherished items in storage

Storage units make it possible for us to hold onto the things that we aren't quite ready to let go of. Whether you have moved into a smaller home, or your collection has simply outgrown the house you are in, a storage unit can make it possible to keep the things that you love. If you pack and store things properly, you don't have to worry about pests, heat, cold and moisture damaging the things that you have stored. This blog will show you how to protect your belongings by teaching you how to pack and store things in a way that will protect them.