The fall season is one of the best times to deep-clean your home and store your valuable items for the winter. Winter, with its shorter days and freezing temperatures, is approaching. A complete autumn cleaning helps you organize your space and decide what to keep or let go of.
And, of course, storage, preferably climate-controlled storage, should be a top priority as you move forward.
Procrastination is Not Your Friend
The initial step is most often the hardest. Delays have a way of piling up to sheer abandon. Many storage-related chores become more difficult once the winter season arrives. Trips across town become harder. Finding buddies to help lift heavier goods becomes increasingly tricky. So, whenever the mood hits, act!
In this article, we’ll be discussing four essential tips for getting your stuff where it should be during the fall, so you don’t have to do much when winter comes. Keep reading!
1. Give Things Away
When taking inventory of the goods you want to store, decide what is worth retaining and what should be donated or discarded. Throw away everything that is damaged, ripped, cracked, or completely rusty.
If it’s merely dusty, faded, or rusted, consider if you want to spend the effort cleaning, painting, or reupholstering it. If the answer is no, donate it; if yes, put it on your list of things to keep.
2. Clean Everything Before Storing It
Nobody likes to take a box out of storage and open it to see a filthy, unorganized mess. It may make finding desired items nearly impossible -, and that’s terrible news.
So take the time to do the little things, like arranging similar goods with items, washing off mud and grime, coiling wires and cables, and so on. Often, this does not need much work. What takes only a few seconds upfront might save you a lot of trouble later on.
3. Don’t Forget the Outdoor Furniture
Although you may not feel ready to store your patio furniture, the truth is that temperatures can fall to zero at any time, and unexpected snowfalls might derail your preparations. Make sure to clean and store your patio furniture in a dry and secure location.
If you don’t have enough space in your garage or yard, storing your patio furniture in a self-storage facility can keep it safe. Even if your furniture is in a storage container, make sure you cover everything to avoid dust accumulation. Furniture drop cloths are an easy way to keep your furniture dust-free and to look brand new, requiring less effort to get it back in your house come springtime.
4. Keep Your Gardening Hoses and Turn Off Outdoor Water
Ensure your home’s external water connection is turned off for the winter before cold temperatures arrive. Also, drain the lines as much as possible. This would substantially reduce the likelihood of pipes bursting over the winter, which may be an expensive repair.
When you’re doing your fall garage storage preparations, don’t forget about your garden hoses. Garden hoses should always be coiled and unkinked to extend their life and avoid breaking and leaks.
Final Reminders Before Storing Items in a Self Storage Unit
When storing seasonal goods, such as a barbecue, leftover food on the grill might attract rats to your storage facility. Before storage, clean everything with soap and water, and put the grills through the dishwasher.
Propane tanks should be left outdoors and at home. Most storage units won’t risk them on their premises.
Conclusion
Storing your summer items in a self-storage unit is an excellent way to keep them intact the whole winter season. Climate-controlled storage units are the way to go, especially if you’re storing temperature-sensitive items like electronics, antiques, fluid-filled engines, etc.
As long as you take advantage of the fall season to get everything in order, you should be able to relax and enjoy the winter.
Be one step ahead by choosing climate-controlled storage units in Birmingham, AL, to store your summer items! At Jefferson Storage, we offer convenient climate-controlled self-storage, so you don’t have to worry about your precious summer items freezing over. To see our available units and reserve one, contact us today at (205) 946-0645!
Recent Comments