One reason that you box our possessions up and take the time to stash them in a storage unit is that you plan to access and use them again at some point in the future. To ensure that you can locate what you need with a minimum of effort you will need to plan a labeling system for your boxes.
The obvious choice for labeling is a fat tipped, black, permanent marker. The markings made with this won't fade or bleed and can be made on almost any type of surface. If you are using recycled boxes you might want to print your label on a large white or yellow sticker rather than writing directly on the box. This will make the label stand out from the printing that you inherited with the box.
Think about how you are going to stack and arrange the boxes in your unit and how you will be searching for what you need. We recommend placing a label on the top of each box, one on the short side of the box and one on the wider side as well. This way you can rearrange your stacks and be able to see a label no matter what direction the box is facing.
Pick a consistent spot on the boxes to write or paste your label (such as the upper left corner.) As you place and stack your boxes just eyeball them to make sure that they have a label showing.
Of course be sure to print your labels clearly. Give each box a "title" or a main label and then be sure to add any pertinent details. This can be important 6 - 8 months down the road when you've forgotten what you've packed in each box.
Taking the time to label your storage boxes properly will save you time and aggravation down the road! Look for more tips on storing your stuff from Beaver Storage and Beaver Lake Storage!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Clean Out Your Garage!
The weather is beautiful right now in the Ozarks and it's the perfect time to start getting the garage cleared out so it's more usable this winter - when the weather isn't so beautiful. Beaver Storage in Avoca, AR and Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs, AR can help you reclaim the extra garage space that you need!
Start by getting rid of all the trash. This includes items that you planned to repair 2 or 3 years ago but just haven't gotten around to. Scrap metal is at an all time high right now so if you have a recycling location that buys metal near you, round up everything you can find and take it in!
Look at your items carefully and decide what you want to keep and what you can get rid of. Things that you no longer need could be sold at a garage sale or on www.craiglist.com - a free online garage sale (check it out!) Or heck, give the stuff away. Trust me, you'll be better off for it.
The next step is to categorize the things you want to keep. Of course the items that you use regularly will stay in the garage. Try to hang things neatly on the wall, or box them on shelves so they are off the floor and out of the way. Label everything well: on the top of each box and on at least 2 sides. This way if the box gets shifted or put back on the shelf by someone else, everyone can still identify what's inside.
Now pack the items to put in storage. Seasonal things (e.g. Christmas decorations, garden tools, soccer equipment, etc.) get boxed together and labeled clearly. The key to having a usable storage unit is to know what you have and keep things accessible. To keep things handy, don't pack your boxes or tubs too heavy.
Eyeball what you'll be storing so you can determine the unit size you'll need. If things are packed so they can be stacked you can get by with a smaller unit. You'll need to plan ahead for this. To stack boxes in a unit you will either need to use plastic tubs or very strong boxes. Most boxes will not stand up to much weight; especially with the humidity in our area. At Beaver Storage in Avoca we have units as small as 5' X 10'. In Eureka Springs at Beaver Lake Storage our smallest unit is 8' X 10'.
When you arrange your stuff in storage, be sure to leave a walkway so you can get clear to the back of the unit. Trust me, this is important. Position the boxes or tubs so that the labels face the walkway and are readable. Just keep thinking "future access." You want to be able to get to the stuff you have in storage. We recommend setting out rodent bait and roach traps to protect your belongings from pests. (See my post on 7/21/08)
Now the only thing left to do is go home and park in your clean garage!
Start by getting rid of all the trash. This includes items that you planned to repair 2 or 3 years ago but just haven't gotten around to. Scrap metal is at an all time high right now so if you have a recycling location that buys metal near you, round up everything you can find and take it in!
Look at your items carefully and decide what you want to keep and what you can get rid of. Things that you no longer need could be sold at a garage sale or on www.craiglist.com - a free online garage sale (check it out!) Or heck, give the stuff away. Trust me, you'll be better off for it.
The next step is to categorize the things you want to keep. Of course the items that you use regularly will stay in the garage. Try to hang things neatly on the wall, or box them on shelves so they are off the floor and out of the way. Label everything well: on the top of each box and on at least 2 sides. This way if the box gets shifted or put back on the shelf by someone else, everyone can still identify what's inside.
Now pack the items to put in storage. Seasonal things (e.g. Christmas decorations, garden tools, soccer equipment, etc.) get boxed together and labeled clearly. The key to having a usable storage unit is to know what you have and keep things accessible. To keep things handy, don't pack your boxes or tubs too heavy.
Eyeball what you'll be storing so you can determine the unit size you'll need. If things are packed so they can be stacked you can get by with a smaller unit. You'll need to plan ahead for this. To stack boxes in a unit you will either need to use plastic tubs or very strong boxes. Most boxes will not stand up to much weight; especially with the humidity in our area. At Beaver Storage in Avoca we have units as small as 5' X 10'. In Eureka Springs at Beaver Lake Storage our smallest unit is 8' X 10'.
When you arrange your stuff in storage, be sure to leave a walkway so you can get clear to the back of the unit. Trust me, this is important. Position the boxes or tubs so that the labels face the walkway and are readable. Just keep thinking "future access." You want to be able to get to the stuff you have in storage. We recommend setting out rodent bait and roach traps to protect your belongings from pests. (See my post on 7/21/08)
Now the only thing left to do is go home and park in your clean garage!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Beat the Heat
It's hot, hot, hot in Northwest Arkansas so exercise caution when you are accessing your self storage unit! Most units have insulated ceilings and that does help to keep the heat down a bit but inside your unit the airflow will be restricted and temperatures can rise pretty high.
- Arrive early in the morning and finish before 11:00 am to beat the worst of the heat. Figure out if your unit gets morning or afternoon shade. If the sun is beating down on your entrance during the first part of the day, you might actually do better working in your unit in the evening.
- Bring plenty of water. . . and keep drinking it. It doesn't have to be ice cold to be effective. Don't slug down lots of sugary or caffeine filled beverages (including so called "sports drinks.") When you are fighting dehydration and heat you need clean, clear water.
- Take frequent breaks. If you are inside the unit for very long, step out to get fresh air occassionally. Even a light breeze will cool you down.
- Wear light colored, cotton clothing. These will absorb less heat from the sun.
Most of all, exercise good common sense. Don't push yourself too much in this sort of heat. Stay cool out there!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Pest Control
Even if the storage facility takes measures to control pests, you want to be sure that your unit and possessions are free of rodents and insects. These critters can ruin the contents of a storage unit faster than can be imagined.
The first step to insuring that you don't encounter problems of this sort is to never store food in a storage unit! Don't keep food in a boat or RV that is in storage either. You can be guaranteed that bugs and mice are looking for things to eat and will find a way to get it if it's in your unit
Next, keep your unit clean and tidy. Sweep the floor once in awhile so there is little or no nesting material or debris that might otherwise interest pests. Sweeping will help break up cobwebs and chase off other bugs considering taking up residence. If items in the unit are stacked neatly, it's easier to spot a problem while it's still small.
Last but not least, place packets of mouse poison and roach traps in your unit or RV. I'm not one to use a lot of pesticides and poisons, but this is the best way to limit damage; especially if you are storing things for more than a couple of months. Remember to change the bug traps out after they expire. These don't stay potent forever.
The first step to insuring that you don't encounter problems of this sort is to never store food in a storage unit! Don't keep food in a boat or RV that is in storage either. You can be guaranteed that bugs and mice are looking for things to eat and will find a way to get it if it's in your unit
Next, keep your unit clean and tidy. Sweep the floor once in awhile so there is little or no nesting material or debris that might otherwise interest pests. Sweeping will help break up cobwebs and chase off other bugs considering taking up residence. If items in the unit are stacked neatly, it's easier to spot a problem while it's still small.
Last but not least, place packets of mouse poison and roach traps in your unit or RV. I'm not one to use a lot of pesticides and poisons, but this is the best way to limit damage; especially if you are storing things for more than a couple of months. Remember to change the bug traps out after they expire. These don't stay potent forever.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Storing Mattresses
One thing you discover after being around a lot of self storage units is that almost everyone has a mattress stashed in their unit. It seems to be a standard that if you rent a self storage unit you are required to put a mattress in it. Before you follow the leaders in this area though you need to take a careful look at that mattress and ask yourself:
"Is this really something that I will use at some point again in the future?"
"Will I really want to sleep on this thing again?"
"Would I want any of my friends or family to sleep on this mattress?"
If you answer "no" to any of the above questions then you just need to throw that mattress away! Of course I'd be happy to rent a unit to you and store it for the next 5 years, but chances are it's going to end up in a landfill before it ever gets used again. Just pay the money and take it to the dump. You'll be ahead in the long run.
If you answered "yes" to any of the above mattress questions then the next step is to consider how you are going to store your mattress.
The first and most important step is to get a mattress bag. If you are tempted to skip this step then you might as well procede as if you answered no to all of the questions and throw the mattress away! If you store a mattress in a self storage unit without a mattress bag, it will collect more dust than you ever thought possible and be ruined for future use. Any dampness from the concrete floor will be absorbed by the mattress. It's also an easy target for any vermine. So, buy a mattress bag or save one from a new mattress. Slip it over the mattress and tape it up with packing tape. If the bag rips in transport, tape that opening up as well. You can buy these bags at your storage facility or a moving/packing supplier and they run around $5.00 or less depending on the size.
The next step is to consider pest control. Most storage unit doors open to the great out of doors and it is possible that critters could get in through the cracks and crannies around your unit. A tray of rodent pellets should keep the mice and rats away. Some roach traps or feeders would be a good idea although they are less likely to make it through a well sealed mattress bag. Remember that these need to be replaced periodically. If spiders are a problem, the best solution we've found is to set off a spider bomb in the unit although this would permeate any items that are not sealed in plastic.
The final step is to check your unit occassionally. This is the best way to make sure that your mattress and other valuables are in good condition and not deteriorating while in storage. These same tips of course apply to a matching box springs! Good luck with your mattress and all your storage needs!
"Is this really something that I will use at some point again in the future?"
"Will I really want to sleep on this thing again?"
"Would I want any of my friends or family to sleep on this mattress?"
If you answer "no" to any of the above questions then you just need to throw that mattress away! Of course I'd be happy to rent a unit to you and store it for the next 5 years, but chances are it's going to end up in a landfill before it ever gets used again. Just pay the money and take it to the dump. You'll be ahead in the long run.
If you answered "yes" to any of the above mattress questions then the next step is to consider how you are going to store your mattress.
The first and most important step is to get a mattress bag. If you are tempted to skip this step then you might as well procede as if you answered no to all of the questions and throw the mattress away! If you store a mattress in a self storage unit without a mattress bag, it will collect more dust than you ever thought possible and be ruined for future use. Any dampness from the concrete floor will be absorbed by the mattress. It's also an easy target for any vermine. So, buy a mattress bag or save one from a new mattress. Slip it over the mattress and tape it up with packing tape. If the bag rips in transport, tape that opening up as well. You can buy these bags at your storage facility or a moving/packing supplier and they run around $5.00 or less depending on the size.
The next step is to consider pest control. Most storage unit doors open to the great out of doors and it is possible that critters could get in through the cracks and crannies around your unit. A tray of rodent pellets should keep the mice and rats away. Some roach traps or feeders would be a good idea although they are less likely to make it through a well sealed mattress bag. Remember that these need to be replaced periodically. If spiders are a problem, the best solution we've found is to set off a spider bomb in the unit although this would permeate any items that are not sealed in plastic.
The final step is to check your unit occassionally. This is the best way to make sure that your mattress and other valuables are in good condition and not deteriorating while in storage. These same tips of course apply to a matching box springs! Good luck with your mattress and all your storage needs!
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