The Benefits of Seasonal Storage Solutions
If you find yourself in a house where closets, crawlspaces, outdoors sheds, garages, and attics are packed to the brim with seasonal belongings, you need to take measures to conserve some space, and fast. One of the best ways to do so is to store your seasonal belongings at a storage facility like Mini-Entrepôts Sauvegarde. This way, you can save 3/4 of the space you have allocated for seasonal equipment by rotating it throughout the year. You’ll also sleep well knowing that by doing so, you’ll have ensured that your belongings are safe and secure. Oftentimes, embarking on these types of seasonal storage solutions can be a tad daunting at first, and tricky at best. To help you along the way, Mini-Entrepôts Sauvegarde has put together the following guide to seasonal storage!
Organization is Key in Seasonal Storage Solutions
Before we dive into our seasonal storage solutions guide, there are some general storage tips within the realm of organization you should be familiar with.
First and foremost, regardless of the season, you should always pack your items in clear plastic bins. This will help you identify their contents more easily. Additionally, you should label each container with stickers, keeping the headings as simple or as detailed as you wish (i.e. “holiday decorations” vs “Christmas tree ornaments, lights, and figurines”). Of course, you should also keep a separate and more detailed master list of what’s in your plastic containers and storage unit, so you can find items easily and quickly.
Also when placing your items, it’s a good idea to leave walking paths within the unit for easier access. Consider buying shelving, and using the back/side walls as shelving storage spaces. If you have to stack containers or boxes, make sure the heaviest ones are at the bottom, to minimize possible tipping or crushing and unwanted damage.
If you are storing clothing, be sure the items are cleaned before you place them into boxes. Also, you may want to include cedar chips or mothballs to keep bugs out. If storing sensitive items, like wooden furniture, antiques, paper documents, or electronics, consider a climate-controlled storage unit for optimal protection.
Finally, you should store the most frequently used or cross-seasonal items at the front of the unit, so access is facilitated.
Autumn Storage Solutions
Our seasonal storage solutions guide starts with autumn, a time when the dying days of summer give way to chilly nights by an outdoor fire in heavy sweaters, hats, and gloves.
Aside from taking warmer clothes out of storage to accommodate the change in temperature, you may also wish to liberate school supplies, autumn sports gear, Halloween decorations (and costumes), and some gardening equipment like rakes, pails, and garbage cans from their storage unit hideouts. Of course, if you’re anticipating some early snowfalls, you may want to grab a shovel or two, as well as some bags of salt or your winter tires!
On top of preparing for colder weather and raking leaves in your backyard, the main focus of seasonal storage solutions in autumn is the storage and protection of outdoor summer accessories and furniture. Things like barbecues, outdoor furniture, and gardening and pool equipment should be gathered and covered with protective sheathing to preserve their condition and longevity. If you have a pool, remember to remove and use the cover for the months it will not be in use. And finally, despite some outdoor furniture tags that claim them to be resistant to the elements, covering lawn chairs, tables, and sofas and placing them in storage will only help to keep them in pristine condition.
Winter Storage Solutions
As falling leaves give way to bare trees, temperatures become colder, and light snowfalls begin to make their presence known, it’s time to make the switch from autumn to winter in our seasonal storage solutions guide.
First off, any warmer clothes not evacuated from your storage unit in the autumn should be done now, including heavier jackets, boots, and winter apparel (i.e. hats, gloves, scarves). You’ll also want to take out snow removal equipment like shovels, ice breakers, sacks of salt, and snowblowers in preparation for the first snowfall, as well as any holiday/Christmas decorations you need to adorn the interior and exterior of your home.
Next, returning your lawnmower and the rakes you used to clean up autumn leaves to the storage unit is easy enough. However, storing vehicles like motorcycles, boats, campers and sports cars isn’t.
You should allot for the space these vehicles will take in your initial storage plan and then prep them for a few months of sleep in your unit. Prepping should include a thorough cleaning and maintenance check, as well as individual preparations for the specific vehicle you have (i.e. leaving a boat’s gas tank almost full with a mix of antifreeze/fuel stabilizer before you place it in storage).
Of course, once the holiday season is over, you’ll want to return your decorations to storage. Although you can wait until spring to do so, having a storage unit handy means you don’t have to! Pack it up and get it out of the way!
Spring Storage Solutions
As the snows melt, days get longer, and buds begin to appear on trees and shrubs, it’s time to move from winter to spring in our seasonal storage solutions guide.
Before we get into actually moving items in and out of your storage unit, it’s prudent to begin this new season with a little “spring cleaning.” Get rid of unwanted clothes, appliances, dish ware and other household items by donating, selling, or throwing them out. This will free up more space in your house and your storage unit, instead of just moving clutter from the house to the unit and back.
Once that’s done you can begin to collect your winter clothing, sports equipment, and seasonal maintenance items to place into storage. That means placing things like snow blowers, shovels, skis, skates, and snowboards into the unit, but also, removing things like lawnmowers, bicycles, and garden tools for imminent use. As with winter clothing, make sure all sports equipment is clean and dry before you place it in storage. This is to avoid humidity, bacteria buildup, and the potential development of fungi and mold.
Summer Storage Solutions
As the temperature climbs and foliage comes into full bloom, it’s time to move from spring to summer in our seasonal storage solutions guide.
Now is the time to store any remaining winter clothing you may have lying around, but the crux of summer storage is emptying out the unit of outdoor appliances and furniture. That means bringing out the barbecue, pool equipment, remaining garden tools, and patio furniture.
Children’s outdoor play items like wading pools, plastic playhouses, and minicars should be removed as well, in addition to any summer sports equipment like skateboards, frisbees or basketballs, to name a few.
Now is also the perfect time to take out summer recreational vehicles like boats, motorcycles, and sports cars. Before you take the vehicle for an extended trip, it’s advisable to do a thorough check on its systems. This includes a visual inspection of the vehicle, especially its fuel systems, and a small test trip.
Once the summer ends, you can refer to the beginning of this article for autumn storage solutions!
For more information on seasonal storage solutions or to book a unit today, contact Mini-Entrepôts Sauvegarde.