As the colder months start approaching, it’s time to start thinking about placing seasonal items in storage for the winter. Many families and individuals opt to place seasonal-use items such as sporting equipment, patio furniture, camping gear, lawn care supplies, and more into storage throughout the winter to keep these items safe as well as free up storage in and around their homes. If you’re planning on placing items into storage for the winter, here are several things you should make sure to complete before heading to your storage unit.
Clean Items Thoroughly
The most important thing to do before placing items in storage is to make sure all items are clean and dry. This drastically reduces the risk of mold and mildew issues, and will also make the entire process much more pleasant when it comes time to take out these items again in the spring. For materials like plastic, vinyl, aluminum, and metal, you can use hot water, soap, and a sponge. If you have wicker patio furniture, soap should not be used, however, water and a little bit of oil are effective.
Treat Delicate Materials
For delicate or fragile materials such as leather, applying a protective solution can slow degradation and keep your items looking good-as-new until the spring. Leather on baseball mitts, cleats, bike seats, or other items can be treated with a leather agent, and furniture-grade paste wax can be applied to wicker, metal, and wood. Protect your canvas patio furniture through the winter by using a professional upholstery cleaning solution.
Cover Things Up
Once your items are clean and dry, make sure they’re covered up for maximum protection. Place small or flexible items in a breathable, moisture-free bag– avoid airtight options like Ziplocs as this can trap moisture and lead to mold or mildew damage. Sheets, tarps, or moving blankets can be used to cover up large objects like patio furniture or lawnmowers to prevent dings, scratches, and other damage during transport as well as keep dust and other debris off of surfaces.
Use Wall Space
Maximize the size of your storage space by storing things off the ground and on the walls. Hooks can be great options for hanging shovels, rakes, and other gardening tools. Hanging a bike on the wall is also preferred whenever possible because it takes the pressure off the tires, reducing the risk of damage to the bike because of the weight resting on the rims of deflated tires.
Find a Safe Location
No matter what or how many items you’re looking to put in storage for the winter, you want to make sure they’re safe and secured from damage and theft. Finding a professional storage facility with space available for your items can give you peace of mind that your belongings will be safe and accounted for throughout the winter months until you’re ready to use them again.
Secure Storage in Cedar City, Utah
No matter what time of year you need storage space, Airtight Storage is your solution for safe and secure storage in southern Utah. With locations in both Cedar City and Enoch, Airtight Storage has been providing southern Utah residents with affordable and trustworthy storage facilities since 1992. We offer outdoor and airtight storage options to meet your storage needs and keep your belongings protected from theft, water, weather, dust, and pests. Contact us today for more information.
