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Top Tips on Using Self Storage over the Winter

Winter is an ideal time to put summer items into storage. All those bulky items you only use during the warmer months need to be put away somewhere, and self-storage facilities can be a better alternative than trying to find room for them at home.

Cramming them into your garage can mean there is no space for your car, and you can easily end up regularly having to defrost the windscreen on cold winter mornings. Garden sheds don’t always have much room either.

At Hamiltons Removals we offer a range of self storage options for people in Suffolk and Norfolk. Here we look at the kinds of items commonly put into self-storage, how to wrap them up, and how our Safe N Stored facilities will give you peace of mind and a good deal more room.

Items to Put into Winter Storage

The average family has a lot of items it only uses during the summer months. Your garden furniture and barbecues are prime candidates for putting into a self storage facility; you are unlikely to be cooking outdoors in the middle of winter, and outdoor seats can easily be blown about if you leave them outside, particularly if they are made of plastic.

Some sports and activities need a lot of bulky equipment. If you or your children play cricket or tennis, then putting pads, bats and rackets into storage can free up a lot of space in cupboards. If you enjoy water sports, you will know that canoes, kayaks and boats can also be quite valuable as well as large. The same applies to motorbikes, if you don’t want to risk using it in winter. Using a self storage facility will keep them more secure than they would be at home.

Another advantage of having a self storage facility is that it is like having an extra room all the year round. So all your winter-only items like skis and snowboards, Christmas decorations, electric heaters and winter clothing can be brought out of storage and replaced with your summer ones.

Prepare Everything Properly

Before you put any items into self-storage, it is worth taking some basic precautions. If it is a mechanical item like a lawn mower, then give it a thorough clean and test, and make any repairs now, not later.

Clothing should be washed, and dry cleaned if appropriate, before it is stored away. Put the items either in clear plastic containers so you can find them again easily, or use wardrobe boxes if the item is normally hung up. Lavender can be used to keep them smelling fresh.

All your possessions earmarked for self-storage should be wiped down thoroughly and dried out. This means there is less chance of being them becoming infested with mould and bacteria over the next few months.

Store all items at ground level and not stacked one on top of another, to minimise the risk of damage from falls. Where possible, put a cover underneath the item as well to prevent any damage to the underside. Putting dust covers on top of furniture is also a good idea.

Following these simple precautions mean you should be able to use them straight after you take them out of storage. You won’t want to spend valuable time repairing lawn mowers and other mechanical items.

Pack Items Carefully

Smaller items can be packed in cardboard boxes or cartons. Don’t put too many items into one box, as it can quickly become too heavy to carry. Equally, don’t put in just one or two items, as they can easily move around and suffer damage during transportation. If you are packing any fragile goods then consider using bubble wrap.

Try to make sure that similar items are packed together, and that all boxes are clearly marked so you know what it inside each one. And make sure you leave plenty of room inside your storage room or unit so you can get to everything easily.

Safe N Stored

Hamiltons Removals operate Safe N Stored facilities at two sites, in Harleston and Aldeby. Both are ideal for people needing self storage in Suffolk and Norfolk, particularly from Diss, Halesworth and Stradbroke.

Our Harleston site offers complete rooms with top-of-the-range security features including around-the-clock CCTV and an alarm system which is linked to Norfolk Police. There is also an on-site shop which sells a range of items, including cartons, tape and bubble wrap, to help you with your packing.

At our Aldeby premises you can store items in a range of differently-sized containers, from 35 square feet to 150 square feet. They are also protected by CCTV cameras and are also easily accessible, meaning you can drive your van or car right up to them. The site includes boat and caravan storage facilities. If you would like to know more about our self storage facilities, click on the link above.