Moving things to a storage unit seems straightforward, but many small details can trip you up. Whether doing it yourself or hiring help, a good plan can save you from headaches later. You might find the storage unit too small after you start moving things in, or your...
Storage Tips
10 Ways To Save Money on a Storage Rental
If you are thinking about getting a self-storage unit for your stuff, chances are you are wondering how you can make sure you get a good deal. Storage unit prices can vary widely depending on where you live, ranging as low as $22.54 a month for a 5x5 unit on average...
Sparkle & Shine: The Ultimate Guide to Jewelry Care & Storage (with Checklist!)
Have you ever rummaged through a tangled mess of necklaces, only to find your favorite one tarnished and dull? Proper jewelry storage is the secret to keeping your precious pieces sparkling and ready to wear. This guide will unveil the secrets to organizing, cleaning,...
How to Store Sentimental Items: Tips for Safely Preserving Keepsakes
It’s a typical Saturday, and you’re knee-deep in your child’s room, in what could only be described as a sea of tiny clothes, well-loved toys and countless drawings. Every corner is infused with memories and you have to decide their fate. Now, shift the scene. You’re...
What to Do If You Find Mold in Your Storage Unit
You’re excited to revisit cherished memories or check on your business stock, stored safely away. But as the storage unit door rolls up, you’re greeted by an unwelcome sight and stench — mold. Wondering how to keep a storage unit mold-free? From spotting mold on...
Storing Documents and Records in Storage Facilities
Every year, it’s a paperwork tsunami for businesses and healthcare providers — we’re talking about everything from invoices to patient files and even tax forms. Yet, something vital is still quite easy to miss: keeping those paper documents safe. This may sound like a...
Tips for Storing Your Camping Gear
So, you’ve invested in some quality camping gear, huh? Nice! But let’s get real: What’s the best way to store camping gear? A drenched tent or moldy sleeping bag is nobody’s idea of fun on a camping trip. And rummaging for that one utensil? Maddening! Camping storage...
The Collector’s Guide to Packing, Storing and Transporting Artwork
Got a painting that means the world to you? Or maybe a collection that is growing bigger by the day? You can’t just shove them in a closet and hope for the best. Storing artwork the wrong way is a ticket to heartbreak. So, how do you pack artwork for storage and how...
How to Organize and Store Your Electronic and Tech Devices
Beep, bop, boop! No, we aren’t talking to our robot friends, but those might be the sad sounds of your electronics if not properly packed and stored. In a world filled to the brim with gadgets and gizmos, figuring out how to organize electronics and understanding how...
How to Store Clothes Long Term: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wondered how to store clothes long term without compromising their quality and freshness? The answer lies in proper packing and storage. This, however, is no small feat — it is an art that, when mastered, can keep your wardrobe in pristine condition, season after...
Storage Units With Electricity: How to Find Storage With Power
When you need extra space for your belongings, a storage facility is a flexible, convenient storage solution. But what if you need extra space, and access to electricity? Then you need a storage unit with an electrical outlet. Do Storage Units Have Outlets?...
Proper Gun Storage: Tips for Safe and Secure Guns Storage
Gun ownership is an American pastime that can bring a sense of security, a source of sustenance, or simply a way to recreate outdoors with friends and family. But there are risks too. Responsible gun owners like you know the importance of educating yourself about the...
6 “Newbie” Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Your RV
Winterizing an RV can seem like a daunting task, although many new RV owners merely put the vehicle in a parking space and walk away. However, there’s a better way to preserve your vehicle to keep it around for years and avoid any RV storage mistakes. Based on a few...
How to Properly Pack & Store Your TV
Televisions are some of the trickiest items to store inside a self-storage unit. If you don’t know how to store a TV, this guide can help. The reason televisions are hard to store is because they are often the size of furniture and appliances, but they’re much less...
5 Smart Storage Systems for Organizing Your Garage
Garage organization is an important way to have enough room for your vehicle, tools, and other items, while still being able to find things when you need them. But if your garage is a little chaotic right now, and you haven't gone through it in a while, you might feel...
How to Store Your Outdoor Patio Cushions
Whether you're protecting your outdoor cushions from chilly winter weather or you want to keep them from being damaged by the summer sun, knowing how to store your cushions is essential. Proper storage will enhance the value of your patio furniture and won't add much...
Tiny House Storage Ideas to Maximize Space
Tiny House Storage Ideas Considering transitioning into a tiny home? If so, this can definitely be a major lifestyle change for people accustomed to life in a home with average floor space. One of the most challenging aspects of the change is making do with the space...
Best Way to Store Photos for Long-Term Preservation
Whether you are looking to box up your photo collection for a self-storage unit, put them away in a basement or attic, or box them up for a move, you want to make sure your photos will be properly preserved and protected from damage. From handling them with care to...
5 Things to Know When Picking the Right Container for Storing Your Clothes
When fall and winter are right around the corner, it means it’s almost time to break out those heavy coats and sweaters you squirreled away in March. Here’s hoping you stored them in the right container. Picking the right container to store your seasonal clothing can...
Storage Units vs. Storage Sheds: Which is Better?
It’s no secret. Americans have a lot of stuff. Whether you’re moving or need more room for your ever growing pile of possessions, there are times when finding some extra storage space is essential. You may drive past a storage facility every day on your way to work,...
The Best (And Worst) Kinds of Tape For Moving and Packing Boxes
As important as strong boxes and packing materials are to any move, choosing the wrong kind of tape for your move can be a disaster. Tape failure during transit, storage or packing can result in intense frustration, expensive breakage, lost time and money, compromised...
How to Store Books Long Term the Right Way
When it comes to all the things you might need to store, nothing is quite as precious, and extraordinarily delicate, as your book collection. A person’s book collection offers a glimpse into their soul. Many consider the tomes upon their bookshelf to be a deeply...
How to Properly Store Batteries
Batteries are unsung heroes. While we turn to them to power everything from flashlights to remote controls to cars, we think about them only when they need to be replaced. If you have batteries that you’re not using, you want to make sure that you know where they are...
How to Properly Store and Maintain Outdoor Furniture
There is nothing quite like having a large outdoor living space and filling it with outdoor furniture. Patio furniture creates a space for you to comfortably enjoy the natural sights and sounds of your own yard. But when winter weather hits, will your plastic...
The Right Way to Store a Mattress
Everybody needs a good night's sleep. If you plan to sleep well after your move, it is important that you store your mattress correctly. Improperly stored, your mattress can become lumpy and uncomfortable. Keep reading to learn how to store a mattress the correct way....
What Everyone Needs to Know About Self-Storage Contracts
Some self-storage contracts spell out terms in plain language while others might leave you utterly confused. It’s smart to brush up on lease agreements before you sign on the dotted line. “If a manager is doing his or her job, there shouldn’t be any surprises,” said...
How to Use Temporary Storage During a Move
Planning a move involves juggling a lot of tasks – and it’s not easy. “Almost 100 percent of customers that come to us reiterate that moving is really hard,” said Emma Gordon, storage specialist at Clutter, an on demand storage company. Storing some or all of your...
How to Store Your Wedding Dress for Years to Come
With all of the excitement surrounding your wedding day, it’s easy to get so caught up in the planning that you ignore one important post-wedding detail—what to do with the wedding gown after the big day. “The gown is a lovely keepsake and associated with a very...
How to Store Hats Correctly
Whether you’re wearing a hat to support your team, show off at a Kentucky Derby party or complement an everyday outfit, it’s important to store the hat properly after you take it off. While your clothes and shoes may hold up to some pretty harsh treatment, hats often...
21 Items You Should Never Store in Your Garage
Before you stash another box in your garage, think twice. That's because the extreme heat, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures in garages tend to wreak havoc on items. If you don't have space inside your house, you might take certain belongings to a storage unit...
How to Store Purses
Even though handbags play an important role in our daily lives, many people fail to store them correctly—whether at home between uses or in a self-storage unit for long-term storage. If the number of your handbags has grown from just a few to a full blown purse...
How to Store Comic Books: 6 Tips to Preserve Your Collection
Not only is comic book collecting fun for enthusiasts, there’s a robust market for used comic books on sites like eBay. However, if your comic books aren’t in good condition, you could be missing out on money, according to Robert Scott, owner of Comickaze Comics Books...
What Is Self-Storage?
If you’re like many Americans, all of your stuff doesn’t fit into your home. Whether you’re drowning in clothes, books or memorabilia, self-storage lets you keep your belongings without sacrificing the roominess of your home. With self-storage, you rent extra space,...
Where Can You Live Without Paying State Income Taxes?
You love paying income taxes, right? If you answer yes to that question, then you need to have your head examined. No one I know loves to see taxes deducted from their paychecks. No matter where you move in the U.S., there is no avoiding federal taxes. Unless you...
What Are Storage Condos?
A storage condo is pretty much exactly what it sounds like—it is a storage unit that you own. Just like a residential condominium, a storage condominium is a piece of real estate that you own. Each storage condo unit is part of a complex that has some shared...
Everything You Need to Know About Storing Shoes Long Term
If your shoe collection has been growing over the years, but your short-term storage is getting a little cramped, it may be time to consider some long-term shoe storage solutions. Here are some storage tips so you can give your collection of kicks the care and space...
How to Store and Care for Cast Iron Pans
There's a reason why so many Grandmas use cast iron cookware: they love you and they want to cook you the most delicious food possible. But if you've ever been scolded by someone for improperly handling their cast iron skillet, you may be reluctant to purchase one for...
How to Properly Store Halloween Costumes
For kids, the excitement of Halloween is often two-fold: they get to dress up and then go trick-or-treating. The aftermath, however, is often just as important. The right strategies will allow favorite Halloween costumes to be passed on to younger siblings, used in...
How to Cut Clutter Before Heading Back to College
If you’re like a lot of students who are packing up to return to college, you’re probably wondering how you accumulated so much stuff. Thinking of ignoring the issue? Just keep in mind that packing too much before you head off to school can set you up for some ongoing...
How to Protect Your Self-Storage Unit
Falling victim to a burglary is always devastating, but having your possessions stolen from a self-storage unit usually comes as a complete shock. But is self-storage burglary actually a big problem and are customers facing a greater crime risk than they were...
How to Store Wine Correctly: 5 Recommendations For Primo Vino
You’ve picked the perfect Bordeaux and you’ve let it age for a couple of years (or maybe just a couple of days—we’re not judging). But when you open the bottle of wine, you’re disappointed. The problem might have more to do with your wine storage technique than your...
Oh Baby! Storing Your Child’s Precious Pieces
The onesie he wore home from the hospital. The gown she was christened in. The baby blanket that soothed away the tears. Parents yearn to store baby clothing in the hopes that one day their little angel might have an angel of their own, or sometimes they may just want...
10 Tips For Organizing Your Kids’ Sports Equipment
If you’ve got kids who play sports, then you probably have lots of balls, pads, helmets, uniforms and other equipment that needs to be organized and stored. While you want to make sure that the gear doesn’t take over your home, you also want to eliminate the stress of...
How to Pest Proof Your Storage Unit
Nobody wants to roll open their storage unit door to find holes gnawed in Grandma's wedding dress, bed bugs infesting the sofa and cockroaches scuttling through boxes. Storage units full of cardboard, upholstery, cracks and crevices scream "home" for rodents and...
Should You Store Baby Gear For Your Next Kid?
When your first bundle of joy arrives, so does a bundle of stuff, from baby carriers to strollers to cute little booties. As your firstborn gets bigger, you have a decision to make: do you sock these goods away for baby number two? What if you aren't sure about having...
How to Move and Store a 6 Person Hot Tub
If you're getting ready to relocate and want to take your hot tub with you, you'll need to take certain steps to prevent damage. "Moving a hot tub of any size is no easy task," says Dustin Montgomery, digital marketing specialist for Shippers Supplies. Follow these...
10 Ways to Store and Organize K-Cups
So you have a Keurig coffee maker and all those wonderful little K-Cups. Seemingly hundreds of those little K-Cups. It's great, all those different flavors to enjoy – but how do you store the things? And how long will they keep? There are “best by” dates on the sides...
How to Store Taxidermy the Right Way
While displaying your trophy wall mounts can be a source of pride, a cross-country move or house renovation may lead to setting them aside for a period of time. To make sure you're storing the prized pieces in a safe way, use common sense, recommended Dale Manning,...
How to Store a Treadmill
Giving up on your New Year's resolution to run everyday already? That's okay we won't judge. There is always next year. In the meantime, you'll need to store your treadmill correctly to make sure it is in tip-top shape when you decide to get back on it (for real this...
How to Store Champagne The Right Way
You've jotted down your resolutions, rung in the new year and made your toasts. Now, learn how to store your extra bubbly so it will taste great when you pop the cork this year or beyond. Good storage practices will help your champagne stand the test of time, says...
Damage Control: Protecting Your Belongings in Hurricane-Prone Areas
Every year, the Atlantic hurricane season in the U.S. runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. And during every hurricane season, people who live in hurricane-prone places like Florida and Louisiana worry about how to keep their belongings safe. By taking...
What Self-Storage Tenants Need to Know During Hurricane Season
During hurricane season, it’s critical to know your rights as a self-storage consumer in case a storm hits. In hurricane-prone states, laws are in place to protect consumers from price gouging during emergency situations like hurricanes. These laws specifically apply...
How to Store Cassettes, VHS, CDs, Records and LaserDiscs
From records to cassette tapes, VHS cassettes, CDs and laserdiscs, the history of media is rich with a variety of forms used to produce music and videos. And some of those early forms are actually increasing in popularity. In 2015, nearly 12 million vinyl albums were...
Want to Run a Business Inside a Storage Unit? Read This First
Tenants nationwide use their storage units for the intended purpose: to store their excess belongings. But the rules breakers that ignore their lease agreements and operate businesses from their units provide the best stories in the industry. About 1 out of 5 storage...
How to Store Yard Tools Correctly
They’re often dirty, they’re all different sizes and you keep tripping over them. No, we’re not talking about your children – we’re talking about yard tools. And whether they’re piled in a messy corner of the garage, strewn across the back porch or stuffed in a shed,...
Rx for Organization: Declutter Your Medicine Cabinet
If it takes you several minutes—and maybe several expletives—to find the right pill to alleviate your ailment, it’s probably time to cut the clutter in your medicine cabinet. “When you aren’t feeling well, the last thing you should have to do is dig around for the...
How to Store a Guitar Correctly
In her song “Cherry,” the late Amy Winehouse paid homage to the love that many musicians feel for their guitars. While every musician may not be as eloquent as Winehouse was, most would do whatever it takes to keep their instruments in the best shape...
How to Properly Store and Handle Fireworks
Around the Fourth of July, we get a big bang out of fireworks. But without proper storage and handling of fireworks, your Independence Day fun could fizzle. In 2013, eight people died and an estimated 11,400 people were injured in fireworks-related incidents around...
Pantry Protocol: 7 Food Storage Hacks
Whether you’re prepping for an emergency or simply want to avoid a last-minute, pre-dinner trip to the store, the idea of a brimming pantry holds a great deal of appeal. It also can cut costs. “Proper food storage prevents waste and thereby saves money,” said Teri...
Unbreakable: 5 Packing Materials You Need to Protect Your Valuables
When it comes to your belongings, not every item can take a licking and keep on ticking. Some of your possessions, such as dishes, mirrors, pictures, vases and antiques, easily can be broken when you’re moving or storing them if you don’t take special precautions. To...
Don’t Give It a Break: 7 Tips for Storing Glassware
When it comes to storage, some things are more fragile than others. One of the most delicate—and sometimes valuable—objects you can store is glassware, which can easily crack, become scratched or even lose its color. Finding a safe place to store glassware that’s not...
Staying in Tune: 4 Tips for Storing Musical Instruments
Drummer Patrick Drohan and his four mates that make up a fast-rising Southern rock band liked honing their skills in a 10x15 storage unit in Columbia, SC so much, that they named their band after the street where they jammed: Atlas Road Crew. “It was an awesome...
Money Matters: 7 Tips for Storing Financial Documents
Whether you’re being audited, applying for a loan or simply looking to get a better handle on your day-to-day finances, you need an effective way to store financial documents so that you can achieve financial success. “If you don’t have a system, you become...
4 Factors to Consider When Renting a Storage Unit
When you’re shopping for a self-storage facility, you want to make sure your belongings will be in good hands. However, every self-storage costumer has his or her own list of priorities when it comes to renting a storage unit. Here are four factors you should weigh...
Getting in Gear: 9 Tips for Storing Exercise Equipment
Have you ever gotten on a health kick and bought a ton of exercise equipment, only to find that you had no place to put it? If so, there’s no need to choose between your fitness routine and your space. Instead, consider these storage solutions that you can use both...
Dishing Out Advice: How to Store Your Fine China
Whether it’s a set you received when you got married or a set you inherited from Grandma Lucy, china is precious and fragile. So, how do you store the dishes to ensure they don’t wind up in bits and pieces? First you want to place china in a protective wrap, ideally...
9 Crafty Ways to Store Your Holiday Decorations
Admit it: You love how your home looks when it’s decked out for the holidays, but you dread putting away the decorations. To make the job easier, we combed the Internet and found nine crafty ways to store your holiday decorations. Water Bottles Tip Junkie offers this...
3 Ways to Make Money From Your Unused Items
Let’s face it: We live in a packrat nation. According to a study by market research firm NPD Group, the average American home contains $7,000 worth of unused items. Multiply that by a storage unit or two, and you could be sitting on a first car for your teenager, a...
How to Store Your Tailgating Gear: 5 Tips From the Experts
Whether you’ve been tailgating veteran or a newcomer, it’s hard to deny the appeal of meeting up with friends, firing up the grill and getting psyched for the big game. As relaxing and exciting as tailgating is, it involves a fair amount of work—especially when it...
What Happens to a Storage Unit When the Renter Dies?
When the renter of a storage unit dies, the aftermath can be almost as messy as a Tom Cruise divorce. What happens to the contents of that storage unit depends on an array of factors. Typically, the contents of a dead tenant’s storage unit become part of the tenant’s...
Not Gone With the Wind: Protecting Your Belongings in Tornado-Prone Areas
Think your belongings will be protected during a tornado just because they’re locked up in a self-storage unit? Few buildings can withstand the 200 mph winds of an F4 tornado, but even lower-category tornado blasts can twist off roofs and blow your stuff around in...
Keeping Old Glory Glorious: How to Properly Store the American Flag
Flag Day is celebrated each June 14 to commemorate the adoption of the U.S. flag in 1777 and to remember the sacrifices that have been made to preserve the nation. Aging flags often become heirlooms and keepsakes that need to be stored carefully, said Richard R....
Tips From the Experts on How to Store Cigars
The proper care and storage of cigars is important, whether you like to puff on premium Montecristos or simply enjoy inexpensive stogies. “Cigars are living and breathing organisms,” said Patrick Ashby, editor in chief of StogieGuys.com, a website for cigar lovers....
Why Millions of Us Really Do Need Self-Storage
Self-storage has been taking it on the chin recently, and now it’s time to fight back. At the recent SXSW Eco conference in Austin, TX, environmentalist Adam Werbach, former president of the Sierra Club, was quoted on Twitter as proclaiming that self-storage “is a...
How to Organize Your Attic
[ by Nannette Richford, Next Door Storage ] Attics are notorious for being cluttered with half-filled boxes and piles of unused items that are simply too good to throw away, but still get in the way. Sometimes this includes family heirlooms or old documents that,...
SpareFoot’s Guide to Long-Term Bicycle Storage
There are a lot of reasons a bike gets put away for months or years--off-seasons, injuries, spare bikes that go unused. And whether you’re throwing the bike in a shed, garage, storage unit or spare bedroom, there’s a right way and a wrong way to store a bike. Ralph...
Organizing Your New Home: 12 Tips for Getting It Done
Buying a new home is daunting enough as it is, what with securing a mortgage, vacating your old place and moving your belongings. So it’s understandable if organizing your new home isn’t on the top of your mind. Yet experts say it’s the perfect time to organize—when...
10 Storage Auction Mistakes You Definitely Can Avoid
[ Tiana Bodine, StorageAuctionForums.com ] Like any job or hobby, auction-hunting takes practice. Some things can be learned only through experience; practice really can make perfect. Still, you can give yourself an advantage by avoiding some of the most obvious...
Understanding the Self-Storage Lien Process
Updated December 9, 2022 That self-storage rent seemed so affordable when you signed the lease. But now, past-due notices are stacking up, and the storage facility is threatening to auction off your belongings. Can a self-storage business really sell your stuff when...
Bidding at Storage Auctions
Everyone loves a treasure hunt, and a storage auction is a modern-day equivalent of that age-old pursuit of buried fortunes. Vying for the contents of an abandoned storage unit is an exciting concept, but prospective buyers always should learn the right strategies...
Negotiating Self-Storage Rates
Negotiation is a skill that Americans rarely get to utilize. Try as you might, haggling doesn’t really work in retail stores— prices are fixed and the employee taking payment typically has no control over those prices. The primary negotiating experience we deal with...
The Complete Guide to Storing Ties
When it comes to dress wear, we men seem to be starved of options. While women have an ostensibly infinite variety of dresses and gowns available for formal occasions, men have the suit. With such a constrained closet, how does a man express himself and differentiate...
It’s About Time: Our Guide to Storing Watches and Clocks
Our customers know that when it’s time to find storage, plugging SpareFoot.com into your address bar will let you compare facilities in your area in the blink of an eye and shave hours off of your storage search. In addition, we’ve written numerous times on...
9 Ways to Save Money on a Storage Unit
[ by Brian Spero, MoneyCrashers.com ] While extra storage space appeals to millions of Americans for a variety of reasons, it's an expense that needs to be justified, especially for people on tight budgets. To ensure you’re getting the biggest bang for the buck, try...
For Consumers, From Consumers: Self-Storage Advice
The SpareFoot blog is full of tips and tricks for getting the most out of your self-storage experience, from how to store furniture to how to avoid unexpected moving expenses. But being as close to the subject as we are, it’s not always possible for us to anticipate...
How to Completely Clean Out Your Storage Unit Step-by-Step
The task of cleaning out a storage unit you haven’t visited in awhile can be overwhelming, but experts have strategies in mind to help you attack the job. Professional organizer Julie Naylon of Los Angeles said many people rent units, fill them up with possessions and...