Tips for Storing in Cooler Weather

Winter is quickly approaching, are you ready? Here are 5 ways to prepare your stored belongings in colder weather. Don’t let winter’s weather sneak up on you before you’re done winterizing everything!

  1. Understand what you are storing. Give each item a quick inspection. Make note of any fragile items and take the necessary steps to protect those areas on whatever you are storing. Also note the condition of the items being stored at the time to make sure they are being properly stored to prevent further damage to your valuables.
  2. Is there anything with a higher risk for damage from the cold? Items such as fragile antiques and items that have liquids or chemicals in them such as batteries have a higher chance of damage. The cold air can make glass and even some plastics very brittle. Wrap them up in a lot of newspaper for insulation.
  3. To prevent oxidation, polish metal furnishings made from brass, silver or nickel. Wrap the items in plastic sheeting or shrink wrap to protect them from uncontrollable climate conditions. Keep precious metals like gold and silver out of the cold air and store in plastic to help preserve them.
  4.  Summer is at an end and so are your boating days until spring. Do forget to winterize your boat! There are many types of boats out there. If you have a smaller boat, consider storing it at your local self-storage facility. This will help save space in your driveway and help you avoid backing your car into it. A good starting point to winterizing your boat is removing everything from your boat. Scrub down the boats interior with gentle detergent, removing any stains. Use lemon oil on any wood to keep it from drying out and to prevent cracking. Use bottom cleaner on the bottom of your boat to remove the scum that builds up on it to keep your boat looking nice. Remove the gasoline from the fuel tank before storing because of the ethanol in gasoline will destroy the carburetor. Make sure all pumps and hoses are open to release any extra water in there that could freeze and cause damage. If your boat is on blocks, check stands and blocking periodically during storage to make sure your boat is not being damaged by any of the blocks.
  5.  As temperatures begin to plunge it’s time to prepare your summer clothes for storage. Storage units provide an excellent opportunity to save some space in your home. When preparing your clothes for storage, make sure each item is washed and clean before. Stains will become permanent over time. Store clothes in a plastic bin. Pack them in tight so no air can circulate. A good trick to make you clothes smell good when you need them again is to put a drier sheet in each container. Make sure no moisture is present in your plastic bins