Winter Preparation: How Self-Storage Can Help

This blog post will explore how self-storage can be a valuable asset in your winter preparation strategy. We understand that finding space for seasonal items can be a real headache, and we're here to help. We'll be sharing practical tips and advice on how to use self-storage effectively, from storing summer furniture and garden equipment to creating space for winter coats, boots, and sports gear.

Using self-storage can help you reclaim valuable space in your home, protect your belongings from damage caused by harsh weather, and simplify your seasonal transitions. Whether you're a homeowner, renter, or simply looking for extra storage space, this guide will provide you with actionable insights and help you make informed decisions about using self-storage this winter with the aim of making your home life more organised and comfortable.

Protecting Seasonal Items 

As the leaves begin to fall and the nights draw in, it's time to think about protecting your seasonal items from the unpredictable British weather. From summer garden furniture to camping gear and outdoor toys, these items can quickly deteriorate if left exposed to the elements. Self-storage offers a convenient and secure solution to keep your belongings safe and in good condition until the warmer months return.

One of the biggest challenges in England is the combination of damp conditions and temperature fluctuations. These can wreak havoc on items stored outdoors or in poorly insulated sheds. Wooden furniture can rot, metal can rust, and fabrics can become mouldy. Self-storage units provide a dry and secure environment, protecting your items from these damaging conditions.

What to Store:

• Garden Furniture: Protect your rattan sets, wooden benches, and parasols from rain, frost, and snow. Cleaning them thoroughly before storing them is crucial. Use covers where possible, even inside the unit, for extra protection against dust.
• Barbecues and Outdoor Cooking Equipment: Clean your barbecue thoroughly to remove grease and food residue, preventing rust and attracting pests. Store it in a dry place to avoid further corrosion. Consider using a protective cover.
• Gardening Tools and Equipment: Clean and dry your tools to prevent rust. Sharpen blades and oil moving parts before storage. Store them in a toolbox or on a rack to keep them organised and prevent damage. Lawnmowers should be drained of fuel and have their blades cleaned.
• Camping Gear: Tents, sleeping bags, and camping furniture should be thoroughly cleaned and dried before storage to prevent mould and mildew. Air out sleeping bags and store them loosely rather than tightly packed.
• Outdoor Toys and Games: Children’s paddling pools, slides, and outdoor games should be cleaned and dried before storage to prevent mould and mildew. Store smaller items in boxes or containers to keep them organised.
• Bicycles and Sports Equipment: Bikes should be cleaned and ideally have their tyres partially deflated to prevent cracking. Other sports equipment, like cricket bats or fishing rods, should be cleaned and stored in protective cases or bags.
• Christmas Decorations: After the festive season, carefully pack away your decorations in sturdy boxes. Label them clearly to make unpacking next year easier and detangle your lights before you put them away. This keeps them safe from damage and frees up valuable space in your loft or cupboards.

Creating Extra Space at Home This Winter: Reclaim Your Living Areas

As winter settles over the UK, our homes become our sanctuaries. However, the change of season often brings a shift in how we use our living spaces, and suddenly, we might find ourselves needing more room. Self-storage offers a practical solution to create that much-needed extra space, enhancing your comfort and enjoyment of your home during the colder months.

One key reason for needing more space in winter is the change in social habits. With the weather turning colder and wetter, we tend to spend more time indoors, and often, we welcome more visitors. Whether it's family gatherings for Christmas and New Year or friends popping over for cosy evenings in, having extra space becomes essential. Clearing out clutter and storing away seasonal items allows you to create a more welcoming and comfortable environment for guests. You might want to create a dedicated space for guests to leave coats and shoes, or simply have more room for people to move around comfortably.

Another factor is the reduced use of outdoor space. During the summer, gardens and outdoor areas provide an extension of our living space. Children can play outside, and we can entertain guests on patios and in gardens. However, with shorter days and inclement weather, these spaces become less usable. This means that all activities shift indoors, placing greater demands on the space within our homes. Storing away garden toys, outdoor furniture, and barbecues not only protects these items but also frees up valuable storage space inside, making room for indoor play areas, games, or even a small home gym.

Winter also brings a change in our routines. We may need space for indoor hobbies or activities that we don't pursue during the warmer months. Perhaps you take up knitting or indoor painting during the winter. Storing away summer items can free up a corner or spare room to become a dedicated hobby space. This allows you to fully enjoy your winter activities without feeling cramped or overwhelmed by clutter.

By using self-storage, you are essentially extending the usable space of your home. You can create a more comfortable, organised, and welcoming environment for yourself, your family, and your guests during the winter months, making the most of the time spent indoors.

Storing Vehicles and Equipment: Protecting Your Investments

For many in the UK, winter means putting away seasonal vehicles and equipment. Whether it's a motorbike, classic car, caravan, or gardening machinery, proper storage is crucial to prevent damage and ensure they're ready for use when the weather improves. Self-storage offers a secure and convenient solution for protecting these valuable assets.

One of the primary concerns for vehicle storage is protection from the elements. Rain, snow, frost, and damp conditions can cause rust, corrosion, and deterioration of paintwork and interiors. Self-storage units provide a dry and secure environment, shielding your vehicles from these damaging conditions.

Before storing any vehicle, thorough preparation is essential. This includes:

• Cleaning: Wash and wax your vehicle to remove dirt, grime, and road salt. This prevents corrosion and protects the paintwork.
• Fluid Checks: Check and top up all fluids, including oil, coolant, and brake fluid. Consider adding fuel stabiliser to prevent fuel degradation during storage.
• Tyre Care: Inflate tyres to the recommended pressure and consider using tyre protectors to prevent flat spots.
• Battery Maintenance: Disconnect the battery or use a trickle charger to prevent it from draining during storage.

For equipment like lawnmowers, strimmers, and other gardening machinery, similar preparation is needed:

• Cleaning: Remove dirt, grass clippings, and debris.
• Fuel Drainage: Drain fuel from petrol-powered equipment to prevent fuel degradation and potential damage to the engine.
• Blade Care: Clean and sharpen blades on tools like lawnmowers and hedge trimmers.

By preparing your vehicles and equipment properly and storing them in a secure self-storage unit, you can protect your investments from the harsh winter weather and ensure they're ready for use when the seasons change. This saves you time, money, and potential headaches in the long run.

Tips for Preparing Items for Storage: Ensuring Safe Keeping

Proper preparation is key to ensuring your belongings remain in good condition while in storage. Whether you're storing seasonal clothing, furniture, or equipment, taking the time to prepare items correctly can prevent damage and make retrieval easier. Here are some essential tips for preparing your items for storage in the UK:

Cleaning and Drying:

• Clean thoroughly: Before storing anything, clean it thoroughly. This removes dirt, dust, and potential pests, preventing them from causing damage during storage. For fabrics, washing or dry cleaning ahead of packing is recommended.
• Dry completely: Moisture is a major enemy in storage. Ensure all items are completely dry before packing them away. This prevents mould, mildew, and corrosion. Allow items to air dry fully, especially after cleaning.

Packing and Protecting:

• Use appropriate containers: Use sturdy boxes, preferably plastic containers with airtight lids for long-term storage. Avoid using bin bags for anything other than soft items, as they offer little protection.
• Wrap fragile items: Wrap fragile items individually in bubble wrap, packing paper, or old blankets for protection.
• Disassemble furniture: Disassemble larger furniture items where possible to save space and prevent damage during transport and storage. Keep all screws and bolts in labelled bags and attach them to the furniture.
• Protect furniture: Cover furniture with dust sheets or furniture covers to protect it from dust and scratches.
• Vacuum-seal clothing and bedding: Vacuum-sealing bags are excellent for reducing the volume of clothing, bedding, and other soft items. This also protects them from dust mites and moisture.

Organising and Labelling:

• Create an inventory: Make a list of everything you're storing. This will make it much easier to find what you need when you retrieve your items.
• Label boxes clearly: Use clear labels to mark the contents of each box. This will save you time searching for specific items later. Consider using coloured labels or a numbering system for further organisation.
• Create a storage map: If you're storing a large number of items, create a simple map of your storage unit, noting the location of different categories of items.

Keep Your Valuables Safe and Sound

Even if you have valuable items to pack away, you don’t need to worry. Most reputable self-storage facilities offer security features such as surveillance cameras and gated access to ensure their customers’ belongings remain safe and sound.

Here are some tips for storing valuables in a self-storage facility:

• Choose a secure facility: When choosing a self-storage facility, make sure it has security features such as CCTV, gated access, and on-site security personnel. Go2Storage's gated access uses a keyless app for extra safety.
• Insure your belongings: Consider insuring your belongings in case they are damaged or lost.
• Keep your belongings out of sight: Don't leave valuables visible from the outside of your storage unit.
• Use a padlock: Use a high-quality padlock to secure your storage unit if it doesn’t have built-in security or look for built-in state-of-the-art secure locks like those we use at Go2Storage.
• Limit access to your storage unit: Only allow people you trust to have access to your storage unit. Our app lets you easily share access with others and remove it quickly. 

Winter Storage Tips: What to Keep and What to Discard

Before going ahead with your plan to move some of your belongings to self-storage, it's important to decide what to keep and what to discard. It makes sense to only pay for storing things you want to keep.

Here are some tips for deciding what to keep and what to discard:

• Ask yourself if you've used it in the past year: If you haven't used an item in the past year, it's likely that you don't need it.
• Consider the sentimental value: If an item has sentimental value, you may want to keep it. However, if it's taking up a lot of space, consider storing it in a smaller storage unit or finding a different way to store it.
• Think about the cost: If an item is expensive to replace, you may want to keep it. However, if it's not worth much, it may be better to get rid of it.
• Consider the condition: If an item is damaged or broken, it may not be worth storing.

Knowing what you want to keep and discarding what’s no longer of use to you, you’ll know exactly what size of storage unit you require. You won’t end up paying for a bigger unit than you need - or finding the unit you have is way too small!

A Winter Well-Prepared

Preparing for winter in the UK often means dealing with extra clutter and protecting seasonal items from the unpredictable weather. Self-storage offers a valuable solution, providing secure and convenient space for various needs.

By using self-storage, you can make winter easier and more enjoyable. Self-storage can help you declutter your home, store seasonal items and free up space for indoor entertaining. Not only can it help you save money by reducing the need for larger living spaces, but it also provides peace of mind knowing that your belongings are safe and secure.

Remember that thorough preparation of all stored items is key. This includes cleaning, drying, using appropriate containers, wrapping fragile items, disassembling furniture where possible, and creating an inventory with clear labelling. By following these tips, you can ensure your belongings remain safe and in good condition throughout the winter months.