Tag Archive for: storage

Christmas decoration storage

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Decorating your house for the holiday season is a fun activity for all families, but if you’re not organised when packing the decorations back up again, it can feel more of a chore to sort through all the mess the following year. Here are some of my favourite ways to organise Christmas decoration storage at home.

Christmas decoration storage for ornaments

Ornaments come in all shapes and sizes, so there are many options for storage. Throwing all your ornaments in a one compartment box can cause damage and can possibly destroy some precious childhood memories. Many baubles and ornaments are made of glass or ceramic, these ornaments would benefit from being wrapped in tissue paper or kitchen roll to protect each one before storage.

Kitchen Boxes with dividers are useful for organising colours and styles of ornaments so you’re ready to choose your colour scheme or theme each year. For the small ornaments, use recycled egg cartons for storage as they keep each ornament from knocking together. Recycled pringle tins are also useful for collating a few precious ornaments.

If you’ve kept the original boxes that you bought your ornaments in, that’s a bonus.

Christmas decoration storage for a wreath

A Christmas wreath can be delicate. Squishing it in a box will not protect its finer details. Tie your wreath onto a sturdy coat hanger and slip it into a garment bag to hang in your wardrobe for storage.

Christmas decoration storage for lights

Who doesn’t love the Lobethal Lights at Christmas time? We can only imagine how long it would take over 700 homes and businesses to set up a house and garden full of Christmas lights. Back to basics though, everyone needs at least one set of lights for the Christmas tree. To save yourself a tangled mess, wrap your Christmas lights around a coat hanger. Another option could be to cut out a decent sized rectangle from a used 2ply cardboard box and wrap your lights around. For added protection, wrap some butchers paper or kitchen roll around the lights for padding.

Christmas wrapping paper storage

Keep all your wrapping paper together for every occasion. This means you don’t buy more each year when you don’t need to. Get another trusty coat hanger and garment bag and place all your wrapping paper inside hanging next to your Christmas wreath.

Declutter Christmas decorations before storage

If you find yourself running out of storage room, take some time to declutter when the time comes to take down your Christmas tree and pack up all your decorations. If you’ve got any broken Christmas lights, odd unused baubles or ratty tinsel just get rid of it. It will make a fun activity for the family to get some fresh Christmas decorations next year.

Need any boxes?

Head over to our Box Shop for kitchen boxes with dividers, storage boxes, butchers paper, bubble wrap and more. Perfect to help you organise Christmas decorations this year.

Vehicle storage options

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There are many different options available when looking for vehicle storage. Choosing the best vehicle storage option depends on budget, the length of time the vehicle will be in storage and the value of the vehicle to mention a few. Below is a description of options available to help you make the right decision.

Outdoor Vehicle Storage

Outdoor Vehicle Storage is the cheapest storage option. This is typically a secure car park area containing designated parking bays.

Security features vary from facility to facility, PIN coded gates and security cameras will offer the best protection for your vehicle. PIN coded gates leave a record of who is in the facility; particularly important in shared areas. In addition, some facilities have removable or fold down bollards that are locked for added protection.

Another important aspect of outdoor vehicle storage is the area. Ensure there are no hazards that may cause damage to the vehicle, including falling debris from large trees, poor lighting, adequate drainage and damaged surfaces. Bitchumised areas are better. This prevents the possibility of being bogged or flooded in. The area will need to be large enough for large vehicles to get in and out of easily, with multiple entry and exit points a bonus.

If storing your vehicle outdoors, cover your vehicle to prevent rust and corrosion and to protect it from the elements. Consequently your vehicle will keep clean as well as protected. Ensure that windows, doors and sunroofs close and seals intact.

Undercover Vehicle Storage

Undercover vehicle storage comes in many different forms. The type of undercover vehicle storage will determine the price. These include carports or lean-to’s, warehouses, garages and shipping containers. All of these options offer protection against the elements in varying degrees.

Carports or lean-to’s offer a roof over your vehicle. Large warehouses offer a fully enclosed area. These options are secure and in a shared area. The same considerations need to be taken into account as the outdoor vehicle storage as mentioned above.

Fully enclosed garages offer maximum protection. These can be in the form of a shipping container or a specifically designed garage. These are individual and allow you to put your own lock on the door, with vehicles protected against the elements and other vehicles. The added benefit with this option is the there is usually room to store other small belongings around the vehicle.

General Tips

It is important to make some general checks before storing. Lock all doors and do not leave any valuables in the vehicle. For long term vehicle storage consider disconnecting the battery. If storing a caravan, ensure you have secured it properly to prevent it from theft. Wheel clamps and coupling locks are great deterrents.

Also, talk to the staff at the facility. There may be some additional services available to help. Some storage facilities provide a motorised jockey wheel mover to make parking caravans easier. If storing the vehicle long term they may offer a car washing service. Ask if there are jumper leads available or a battery charger just in case it needs a little help starting when you pick your vehicle up.

Storing Couches – Clean, protect and store

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Storing furniture and household goods are a good option when moving or renovating. Usually the most bulky item is your couch. There are some steps that need to be taken when storing couches to ensure it is protected. To ensure it comes out of storage as in good condition as it was before you locked it away, consider these 3 easy tips for couch storage.

Tips for Storing Couches

Clean before storage

Before storing furniture, you should clean the item thoroughly prior to storing to prevent deterioration. The same goes when storing couches. The best option would be to get your couch professionally cleaned, however this can be expensive. You can easily achieve the same result yourself with rubber gloves, good cleaning products and a little elbow grease.

With fabric couches check the fabric tag. It will tell you what fabric the couch is so you can clean it with appropriate cleaners. Most fabric couches can be cleaned with water based detergents or can be dry cleaned quite easily. I found Alexis Rohlins’ blog How to clean a couch without professional cleaning a good step by step guide to getting your couch clean and ready for storage.

Leather couches, however, can be polished using a microfibre cloth and leather polish which can be purchased at most supermarkets. Alternatively consider using a natural approach when cleaning leather with white vinegar or olive oil.

Most importantly, ensure your couch is completely dry after cleaning and storing. Moisture leads to mold which will ruin your couch.

Transporting and Storing Couches

Once cleaned cover your couch to protect it from scuffs, marks and dust. If possible dissemble your couch by removing cushions and feet for easier transportation and storage.

For the feet, consider covering in bubble wrap. If they are removable, once wrapped in bubble wrap place them in a bag. Attach the bag inside the couch so you can easily find them when you need to put them back on. Cushions can be wrapped in either plastic or fabric. For short term storage, plastic bags are fine to store the cushions and plastic couch covers can be used to cover your couch. Drop clothes or quilted pads are recommended for long term storage as they allow the air to circulate and prevent mildew forming.

For best protection against moisture you can place a Dry sac in the bag with your cushions and in the couch cover. Dry sacs work like silica gel and are designed to protect leather and furniture by absorbing any moisture.

Bubble wrap, plastic covers, quilted pads and Dry sacs can be purchased on the Store UR Stuff website. Store UR Stuff will deliver or you can visit in store to pick up.

Your storage unit

Ensure your unit is large enough. It is not always ideal to flip a couch on its side if it is going to be in there long term as this can warp the frame of your couch. It is also wise not to stack large or heavy items on your couch. Ensure there is space between items so items are not leaning and possibly indenting your couch. This will also improve air flow in your unit again reducing the risk of mildew forming.

For any couches that are precious such as heirlooms or collectables, climate controlled units are best. But for those that are moving house and need something short term the unit does not need to be climate controlled as long as it is clean and secure.

It is best to stand your couch off the unit floor – consider using pallets, blocks of wood or bricks. This goes for all items stored in a unit. It is always best to be safe than sorry, as much as storage facilities do their best to provide secure and clean units, accidents can happen. A spill from an adjoining storer could seep into your unit.

For further reading:

www.topcleaningsecrets.com/house/how-to-clean-a-leather-sofa-at-home.html

www.homeguides.sfgate.com/clean-couch-professional-cleaning-28846.html

 

Tips for coffee storage

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Calling all the coffee lovers out there… I may know a thing or two about self storage but I work in a busy office with people who love coffee. Most of them rely on their morning coffee to kick start their day so I decided to educate myself on how to store coffee beans to keep them fresh for every cup.  After some research, I found some of my favourite essential tips on coffee storage.

Coffee Storage locations

Coffee beans are picked from plants and then processed. Once roasted, they have a short shelf life, but correct coffee bean storage will extend it. Coffee beans start to lose freshness as soon as you open the bag. Store your coffee beans in an airtight container suitable for the quantity of your coffee beans unless the bag is resealable. If you reuse a container, make sure you clean and dry it properly to ensure there is no moisture or lasting smells that may affect the quality of your coffee. Purchase your coffee beans in smaller amounts, more often to ensure your coffee stays fresh.

Coffee storage you should avoid

You should avoid storing your coffee beans in the fridge. Moisture inside your fridge will kill the flavour of the coffee bean. There are conflicting opinions about freezing coffee beans. The air in the freezer is dry, not moist. According to Kevin Sinnott who is a nationally recognized coffee expert in America, freezing coffee beans is a good way of maintaining freshness. He also states “If you do freeze the beans, make sure they are in a freezer-safe bag. And when it comes time to grind the beans, put them directly in the grinder, do not defrost them.”

It is advised that you do not store your coffee beans in direct sunlight or locations particularly warm like near your oven or microwave. This will help to avoid the loss of their natural oils and flavours.

Hint: Cool, dark and dry places like your pantry or cupboards are ideal for coffee storage.

Whole Bean vs Ground coffee storage

Coffee beans start to oxidize as soon as they are grinded which will affect the flavour of each coffee. If you are lucky to have a grinder at home, grind your coffee beans only when you need. Coffee beans will eventually go stale so you should consume them within 2-4 weeks.

Hint: Shiny or oily coffee beans indicate that they are super fresh.

If you prefer convenience and like to save time, ground coffee is the next best thing. It’s advised that you buy a week’s worth at a time to get the best flavour in each cup of brewed coffee.

Learn more at Barista Training

Are you interested in learning more about coffee and perfecting your barista skills? HITsa Industry Training offers an affordable Barista course – Prepare and Serve Espresso Coffee at their newly renovated venue on level one above Store Ur Stuff.

A great tip from HITsa Industry Training professional, Vania – “Store your coffee beans away from strong smelling foods such as onions and garlic”

Did you know, International Coffee Day is on October 1st, 2017?

Further reading on coffee storage, check out these links:

https://www.publicstorage.com/blog/storage/how-to-store-coffee-freshly-brewed-tips/

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-store-coffee-765325

http://www.thekitchn.com/the-best-way-to-store-coffee-smart-coffee-regular-joes-217503

https://www.theroasterie.com/blog/should-i-buy-ground-coffee-beans-or-whole-coffee-beans/

http://www.seriouscoffee.com/about-us/our-coffee/proper-coffee-storage/

 

Tips to declutter clothing storage

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Why wait until Spring to declutter clothing storage?

Winter is almost over so it’s a great time to declutter clothing storage and make more room by putting your bulky winter items away for next year.

It may not be a one-day job, or even a one-person job, but imagine how much better you will feel looking at your immaculate wardrobe every day and on no occasion wasting time finding your favourite outfit.

Here are some top tips:

Remove everything out of storage and cupboards

It’s easier to start with a clean canvas and you’ll see how much storage space you’ve got in your wardrobe. Sort through each piece of clothing. Ask yourself, do you wear it anymore? Does it make you feel good? Is it just wasting space?
Neatly, fold all your loved items and put them back in their rightful place. If you are unsure about a piece of clothing, make another pile – you can always come back to it.

Take any of your partners, your kids or your winter warmers like coats or thick knitted cardigans that you won’t need anymore and store them in a suitcase for safe keeping until next winter. Keep a few cardigan’s handy just in case you need an outer layer before Summer arrives.

Handy hint- wash or dry clean your items before storing away as any dirt or stains can cause long term damage to your clothes.

Donate or find self storage!

Start a donation box and go through that “unsure” pile again. Nothing will feel better than donating perfectly wearable clothes to others in need. You won’t feel like you’ve wasted your money if it’s going to someone who will get lots of wear out of it. If it’s not suitable to donate, chuck it!

Organise your storage space

Every item needs a designated storage space. Organisation will help your time management. Keep your work clothes in one space and your t-shirts in another. Hang up your dresses or shirts because no one likes to iron. Keep your shoes together and while you’re there, sort through and let go of any worn out, unwearable pairs. If you’re lucky and have walk in or built in clothing storage, have one side for your partners clothes and one side for yours for extra organisation.

Organising family storage

A woman’s got to do, what a woman’s got to do! If you are decluttering your own clothes, you may as well help your partner or your kids (or both!!) while you’re at it. If your partner is unenthused about decluttering get him to sit down and answer a simple “yes or no” game. Hold up each shirt or pair of jeans in front of him and make quick decisions. Maybe promise him a beer when he’s finished.

As for kids, how many toys do they really need? Have they grown out of anything? Keep a few of your favourite items for sentimental reasons and donate the rest. If you don’t want to part with anything, store it all for when you have grandkids!

Don’t get distracted, stay focused on decluttering

Yes, it’s hard, but stay focused – the more you procrastinate, the more time it will take to achieve your goal and you’ll end up living in more mess than when you started. Make it a family joint effort or if you are working solo, grab a glass of wine and pop on your favourite music!

Take a step back and admire your decluttered clothing storage space.

I hope you found these tips helpful in your experience.

If you want to declutter clothing storage but don’t wish to throw items away, Store Ur Stuff can provide you with self-storage, book now.

Please share your feedback, tips or stories.

Related posts, articles

http://makinglemonadeblog.com/10-steps-decluttering-your-closet-clothing-konmari-method/

Useful uses for rubbish

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Using rubbish to organise your home

Every year the average Australian family produces enough rubbish to fill a three-bedroom house. This fact is not surprising considering most things made today are made to be disposable or short-lived. Consider the amount of packaging items come in, including our food these days. Fruit and vegetable come pre-cut, pre-washed and pre-packaged ready for consumption.[1]

Over the past decade, the total volume of waste generated in Australia has nearly doubled from 22.7 million tonnes in 96-97 to 43.8 million tonnes in 06-07.[2]

Before you throw what you think is rubbish in the bin, have a think to see if you can come up with another use for that item. 

Here are a few I have found while searching the net:

  • Empty light bulb packaging make great photo protectors – simply remove the interior cardboard and flatten the box and insert your photos for safe storage
  • Label your cords by using old plastic bread fasteners
  • Consider using an old shower cap to cover the soles of your shoes before packing them in a suitcase
  • Store plastic bags in empty tissue boxes – it works perfectly to disperse just one bag at a time
  • Use an empty lotion plastic bottle or wet one’s container (not see through) next time you are at the beach to store your keys, phone and money and to keep them hidden and safe
  • Empty plastic bottles make useful funnels – cut the bottom of the bottle off, fill it from that end, remove the lid and pour
  • Plastic bottles can also be used to seal packaging by cutting bottle part off – leaving the nozzle, lid and 10cm of the bottle part – threading the top of the packaging through and folding it over the bottle and reapplying the lid
  • Use an old sock as a coffee sleeve – cut the foot part off the sock and slip the top of the old sock around your cup
  • Old clothes can be used as dust rags around the home
  • Cardboard tubes – like the ones you find at the end of glad-wrap or paper towels – can be used to wrap scarves to prevent them from wrinkling. They also take up less room for storage this way
  • Wine corks make a great pin cushion!
  • Empty egg containers make great drawer dividers and because they are made to keep a fragile egg from breaking they are also the best thing to store Christmas ornaments
  • Empty Pringle cans can be used as spaghetti storage
  • Clear plastic lids can be placed under oil jars in the cupboard or aerosols in the bathroom to prevent oil or rust marks on your shelves

Protecting UR Self Storage – Security Features

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There are many reasons people use self-storage but one of the key reasons people put their stuff into self storage is to keep it clean, safe and secure. To keep your items safe and secure requires action by both the storer and the storage facility. Keep in mind that not all self storage facilities are created equal so it is important to ask the correct questions and make the right observations before you decide which facility is the best for you.

Choosing a Secure Self Storage Facility

Self storage is becoming a popular industry with most Australian states presenting several different options for consumers to choose from. It is important to look at all viable options presented when choosing a facility and comparing the security features they have to help you make up your mind. Security features should not only be present in the facility but also the grounds and surrounds of the facility. You need to ensure that not only your belongings are safe whilst they are there, but that you feel safe whilst you are at the facility.

Security features to check for:

Cameras

Ensure cameras are installed in and around the facility. When visiting a facility, try to locate a camera to ensure that it is not obstructed or covered and that there seems to be sufficient number of cameras so that you know your items are being monitored no matter where they are in the facility. Cameras may not stop criminal activity or thieves from breaking in, but they will assist if a break in does occur

Signs

Ensure there are signs in and around the facility advertising the security features of the facility. This may deter criminals from trying to break into a facility and gives customers the peace of mind that you know what is going on in the facility at all times

Security Monitored Alarms

This is different from just having an alarm in the facility. A monitored alarm is linked to a service that can summon appropriate help when activated. These days most alarms that go off are ignored by the general public, but by having it monitored the facility is paying someone to ensure a response is immediate when it is triggered. You may have to ask the storage facility if their alarm is monitored

Security gates

Ensure there are security gates at both the entry and exit points of the facility. This alone will not prevent criminals entering your site but will make it more difficult. Make sure there is adequate perimeter fencing that is strong, not damaged and high enough to keep intruders out. Fencing with barb wire at the top or gates with spikes on top will also ensure persons who do not have access do not gain access

Lights

Ensure that the facility and car park is well lit at night and that the lights are well positioned. Industrial level security lighting should be used both inside and out and a mixture of permanent and motion sensor lighting should be used. Ensure that the path from your car to your unit is well lit and the surrounding area is lit whilst using your unit

Access Control Systems

This requires customers to use traceable PIN numbers or security swipe cards to access the facility or their units and thus allows management to monitor “who’s inside”. These systems keep a log of all activity, including the date and time PIN numbers/swipe cards have been activated and how long individuals have been on the premise. Some facilities only give customers access when the office is manned, thus eliminating the need of access control systems but also restricting customer convenience

Individual Door Alarms

For optimal security some facilities have each individual unit alarmed so that is an unauthorised person tries to enter a unit an alarm will be triggered. You will need to check with the facility as to how these alarms are monitored

Fire and Smoke Alarms

Ensure fire and smoke alarms are present. You should be able to see the fire equipment around the facility. Ask facility staff to explain fire emergency procedures and ensure you are aware where your closest fire exit is from your unit. Also check to see if the facility is a smoke free environment, thus eliminating any potential risks of fire

Facility Audits

Facility audits should be a part of the facilities daily checklist. This audit can include lock integrity checks and will bring to your attention any signs of forced entering or tampering of locks immediately. It will ensure that if there was any criminal activity in the facility, management or the staff will be aware of it as soon as possible and action can be made immediately and security practices can be updated if needed. You may have to ask the facility manager if these are being carried out and how often

Padlock

Most self storage facilities require you to supply your own padlock. This is so you have total control over your storage and you are the only one who can access your storage unit. Most facilities will not hold any keys to your padlocks and therefore cannot enter or gain entry into your storage unit. At Store UR Stuff we say “It’s UR padlock, UR key and UR in control”.