Our Company Blog
What’s Safe To Store In The Winter?
Oftentimes, with a new year comes some new inspiration. For many, this means going through drawers, closets, and cupboards to clear out all that old stuff you rarely use. What do you do with the stuff you want to hang onto? If you have a lot of things that you want to keep, but don’t often use, then explore our storage options! The team at The Mobile Attic would be happy to help you every step of the way.
Not sure where to start or what’s safe to store in cooler weather? We’ve got some guidelines below, and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Holiday Decor
Once Christmas has officially come and gone, most homeowners find themselves anxious to tear down decor and replace it with something else. But where can all this stuff be stashed? Why not put it in a storage unit?
Holiday decor is safe to store in cooler temperatures. By locking these items away in an outside storage facility, you save yourself space throughout your attic, basement, and garage. There’s also less risk of any breakable items becoming damaged throughout the year.
This is also ideal because Christmas decorations are only used for around 4-6 weeks out of the entire year. Why use up valuable space, when you could be using these areas of your home for things you use on a regular basis? Trust us – these items are ones you’ll be happy to have out of your home.
Warm Weather Clothing
Is your closet jam-packed with tank-tops, sundresses, sandals, and all kinds of other clothing items meant for fairer weather? There’s no point in having these take up a bunch of extra space when they are only put to use half the year. Instead, store them in your secure storage container. You’ll be amazed at how much room you can make. Plus, it will give you a good excuse to go shopping for some great new items.
Some tips for clothes storage include rolling the items to avoid creases, using sturdy hangers that won’t discolor clothing, and investing in good fabric bags, rather than the cheaper plastic ones. Also, be sure to label everything! This is one step that could save you a lot of hassle when digging through later.
Lawn Mowers, Weed Wackers, & Other Outdoor Equipment
Winter weather and heavy snowfall mean trading out the lawnmower for the snowblower and the weedwhacker for a shovel. Many wonder what the safest way to store a lawnmower is, and we’re here to help. Some good tips to follow include: emptying the gas tank, replacing your old oil with fresh oil, replacing the spark plug, removing the blades, cleaning the undercarriage, and changing the air filter.
It’s also wise to keep any gardening supplies together and stored away, so you know exactly where to find it come spring. Rather than digging through your garage looking for gloves, shovels, and hoes, you can simply grab all of this stuff when picking up your lawnmower and other equipment. With one easy trip, you can be ready to care for the lawn again.
What NOT To Store
While there are a lot of things that can easily be stored in colder weather, there are also many things that should never be left to the elements. These are a few of the more common things people have tried to store in the winter, only to be frustrated with the end results.
Canned/jarred foods: If you have canned goods or fruits and veggies stored in airtight jars, it is highly recommended to keep them stored away in a pantry or cupboard, rather than a storage unit that could face a wide range of temperature fluctuations. Freezing days could cause the seals to pop and your food to spoil.
Electronics: Laptops, televisions, phones, and anything else in this category should always be kept in a temperature-controlled area, as extra cold weather can permanently damage the hardware.
Leather furniture: Leather is very sensitive to cold weather, and by putting leather chairs, couches, ottomans, and the like into your storage unit you run the risk of them cracking and becoming damaged.
Paint: When left in extreme colds, paints will separate and spoil, making them unusable down the line. You’re much better off keeping any paint in a closet or basement area – and be sure to label it!
Need Some Help?
Not sure where to start when it comes to keeping your items safely stored away year-round? Depend on The Mobile Attic for it all! We’ll make it easy for you. We can deliver one of our containers to your home and let you fill it. Then, we drive it back. You can chose from different size options as well, so you aren’t left paying for more than you need. Our team is happy to do everything we can to work with your busy schedule.
Ready to get started? Reach out now. We’re eager to work with you soon!
How To Store Your Holiday Decorations
It’s that time of year again! Many are finding themselves eager to take out their Christmas decorations and get their home looking festive for the holidays. Unfortunately, it’s all too common for that excitement to turn to frustration as you find yourself forced to untangle lights and rummage through broken ornaments. If you are sick of facing the same issues every year when unpacking holiday decor, then it’s time to take some extra precautions this year to ensure Christmas of 2020 isn’t the same way.
Here at The Mobile Attic, we know about storage, and we’d love to offer some tips to make next year as smooth as possible. Follow our guidelines below!
Tangle-Free Lights
Now, one of the biggest problems we hear homeowners dealing with this time of year is Christmas lights that are all messed up and tangled together. Well, there’s actually an easy fix to this, and all it takes is some extra cardboard from all those gifts and packages you’ve received over the last few weeks! Just cut out a few small rectangles, then wrap your lights around them – it’s that easy!
We also recommend writing down what size they are and where you used them. You can easily jot a few notes on the piece you wrapped the strand around, so that next year you’ll be able to string them up in no time.
Better Organized Ornaments
If you find yourself with broken ornaments every year, then finding something soft to wrap them in for next year is a must. Old newspapers or even a roll of paper towels can make all the difference in preventing a broken mess the following year. Simply wrap them individually, then place them in a small storage container with a lid. You’ll be all set in no time!
Do you use ball-shaped ornaments? There are multiple easy solutions for that! Many place them in the separators used for hauling beverages, then stack those in a big storage bin. They’ll stay in-tact and organized all year long! Or, if they’re shatterproof, simply store similar-sized trinkets together in shoe boxes, small storage bins, or plastic bags. You can even use egg cartons, beverage trays, or small unused boxes for the smaller trinkets!
An Efficiently Stored Tree
Have an artificial tree that you use every year? Those bulky branches can take up a lot of room in your storage space, and knowing the best way to stash it without causing damage can be a challenge. Well, why not try shrink-wrapping it? It may seem a bit unconventional, but wrapping your tree in cling wrap is an easy way to keep it together and protected throughout months in storage.
Another tip is to invest in a sturdy tree-storage bag or simply make your own from dust sheets or something similar. All in all, trying to fit it back in the original container is typically a no-go, and using that old cardboard box usually isn’t the best bet anyway. You want something that will keep it as safe as possible, so cover it well, then keep it in a temperature-controlled environment to guarantee many more years of use.
Hang Your Wreaths
If you’re the type that puts up multiple wreaths around your home every year, then you may find yourself struggling to find a place to put them all once the holidays adjourn. One suggestion we love is to invest in a cheap clothing rack, then hang your wreaths on that! If you have a big room for storage, you can simply stash this in the back of it, or utilize some space in your garage or shed – easy peasy!
Solutions For Garland, Beads & Tinsel
Garland, long strings of bead, and tinsel all seem to fall into the same category when it comes to decor. They’re all long, hard to manage, and they can easily become damaged or tangled when not appropriately handled. If you find yourself throwing these like items all in the same box and hoping for the best, then we suggest taking a different route when the holidays end this year.
First of all, garland should have its own storage bin in which it can be gently placed to avoid damage. Simply lay it in there as carefully as possible, then put a lid on it – good to go! Beaded strings have a simple solution, as well. Just drop them into an empty, clean pop bottle! It may seem like they would easily become tangled, but most report being able to simply pour them out the following year with no problems.
For tinsel, we recommend wrapping it around pieces of cardboard or even old cereal or cracker boxes! Just tape the ends and you’ll be good to go. Trust us – this time next year, you’ll be thanking yourself for taking a bit of extra time to get the job done right.
Out Of Room?
Now, even the most organized and put-together holiday tubs are no good without someplace to store them. If you have everything nicely packed away, but have no extra room in your home for any extra containers or bins, then it’s time to call on The Mobile Attic for some effective storage solutions!
We can deliver an appropriately-sized storage container based upon your specific needs, then once it’s packed up, we can bring it back to our secure facility, where it will safely sit until you need it next year. It’s never been this simple!
Have questions? No problem. Give us a call today, and we’d be happy to help. The care you deserve is just a phone call away!