Blogs

5 Steps to a More Organized Basement

Self Storage Tips, Furniture Storage Basements often serve as a storage location for seasonal items, family keepsakes and other personal belongings. These excess items can accumulate over time and quickly turn into clutter. Without proper organization, your possessions are more likely to get misplaced or damaged amid the mess. Here are five steps to organize your basement, reduce clutter, and optimize the space for storage and recreational activities. 1. Evaluate Basement Conditions Before moving your valuables downstairs, consider the layout of your basement and identify any problems that could potentially damage your belongings. Basements tend to be cooler and prone to flooding, which could damage wood or leather furniture and metal appliances among other items. Identify potential problem areas, such as near windows or on a damp floor, and keep your valuables away from those spots. If you already store items in your basement, take this opportunity to move them to a safer location such as your attic, closets, or a self-storage unit. Consider storing vertically by installing shelves or cubbies to stay organized, optimize space and protect valuables from water damage. Vertical storage systems provide several benefits, including: Better organization. Group similar items together in a designated space (e.g., gardening tools, seasonal decorations or kitchenware). Increased floor space. Create more room for recreational use or to move around when browsing through storage. Limited exposure to water. Keep belongings off the ground to protect against water exposure in case of flooding. Strategically placed items. Position the most frequently used items in easy-to-access locations and the heaviest items low to avoid injury. 2. Sort Your Belongings Start with a clean slate by categorizing items based on what you would like to donate, keep, sell, store or throw away: Donate gently used clothing, furniture and books that you no longer use, but could still be valuable to others. Sell valuable possessions that are in good shape, but serve no purpose to you. Throw away any possession that holds no value to you and would not be ...

Norm Kotoch
September 16th, 2020

Start with Clean: How to Prepare Your Furniture for Self-Storage

Furniture Storage

Furniture Storage While it may seem silly or tedious to give your items a thorough clean only to store them away, doing so can ensure proper preservation. You may be thinking—what’s the worst that could happen? Furniture that is simply left alone may contain bacteria or other elements that make these items more prone to mold or mildew accumulation during long-term storage. To avoid this from happening, give your furniture a proper clean. Below, we outline common cleaning techniques for three types of furniture pieces: upholstered, wooden and plastic. 1. Protect Upholstered Items Upholstered furniture pieces are those that contain stuffing, springs and cushions, with fabric that covers it all. To clean, consider the following steps: Know your fabric. It’s important to note that different fabrics will react differently toward certain chemicals and processes. Knowing the fabric type can help guide you toward the best way to clean and protect. Brush the dust off. Use your vacuum or a duster to eliminate particles or moveable materials from your furniture. Remove cushions, and look for spare change, food particles or other objects that may have fallen between the cracks. Work in a cleanser. With a smooth surface and knowledge of your furniture fabric ready, select a cleaner that pairs well with the fabric type. Then, wash your fabric with a fabric cleaning brush. After applying the cleaning solution, let the piece sit and soak in the cleaning chemicals for a few minutes—longer if you are working with tough stains. Wash the cushions separate. Let it sit. After your work is complete, let it dry completely before reassembling the furniture pieces. 2. Sustain Wooden Objects A great piece of wooden furniture can be a real showstopper—an item that pulls a room together with an air of sophistication. You’ll want to keep it that way. Cleaning methods can be dangerous to temperamental wood, and the wrong method can ruin the entire piece. Select a cleanser of your choice and test a small area before committing to cleaning the whole object. As with upholstered items, four main steps apply to clean: Know the wood ...

Norm Kotoch
March 29th, 2019

Couch Considerations: 4 Reminders for Self Storage

Furniture Storage

Furniture Storage One of the most common household items, couches, can be found in living rooms across the country and around the world. In a variety of shapes, styles and sizes, these pieces can really pull together a room. No matter how long you may need to store your couch, keep the following quick tips in mind to protect and preserve. 1. Clean and Prep for Short or Long-term Storage The first step will be to get your couch ready for storage, and this means giving it a proper clean. Regardless of its term in storage, a clean start improves the likelihood that your couch will preserve itself well against threats of mold, mildew, and wear and tear. When caring for any piece of furniture, pay attention to material type and adjust your cleaning technique appropriately. Incorrect cleaning methods can ruin the look and feel of your item indefinitely, so it’s important to get it right. Once you’ve identified the material type, keep the following tips in mind. Leather: Dust and clean with soap and water. Should you find existing stains already on the piece, cleanse further with a mix of water and white vinegar. Cotton: Dust and clean with water and bleach-free detergent. Spot clean hard-to-tackle areas further with a mix of water and white vinegar. Linen: Find a cleanser that notes specific use for linens, and be sure to consult your couch’s care tag. This will give you your best chance at treating it right. Wool: Read the label attached to your couch for care instructions. Wool is commonly cleaned with water, solvent or a combination of the two. Silk: Be extra careful with this material, as it’s easy to leave unintentional marks. Test possible cleaning options on small areas to be sure desired results occur. Clean with a cold water and mild detergent solution, or consider consulting a professional. After cleaning, cover with a secure, yet breathable, furniture cover. 2. Invest in Furniture Sliders, and Move with Ease If the thought of moving a couch yourself is enough to pick up the phone and ...

Norm Kotoch
February 8th, 2019

4 Steps for Long-Term Furniture Storage and Preservation

Furniture Storage

From antiques that don’t quite fit your décor, to items you’re saving for your children, it’s easy for furniture to create clutter. Instead of having these precious pieces take up valuable space in yourhome, it may be time to move those in good condition to a home of their own. Self storage provides you with the room you need to keep the furniture you love, while you simultaneously remove clutter from your home. Below, we highlight four key steps to successfully prepare and protect your furniture items for long-term self storage. 1. Clean and Prep Before you store your furniture, give each item a thorough clean. Begin by wiping down your pieces with a fresh cloth. Then, use an appropriate cleaner for the type of material (metal, wood, glass, etc.), and wipe down once more for an added layer of protection. As a final step, let the item breathe in a well-ventilated area and dry completely. This will ensure no patches of trapped moisture can reside on your item as you cover and pack the piece for storage. Patches of trapped moisture left alone can damage your item over time, and create marks of discoloration. 2. Disassemble for Easy Transport For larger items, such as dressers, beds, tables and couches, prep for smoother transportation. Dismember pieces before the big trip to the storage unit to lighten your load. For example, remove legs from tables and sofas, take out drawers from dressers and cushions from couches, and remove planks from bedframes. Group, wrap and label these pieces together to stay organized. 3. Cover and Protect After you’ve prepped your furniture for long-term storage, protect it with the right materials. Bubble wrap can be useful to wrap items that easily break, such as framed pictures, mirrors, lamps or blunt parts like chairs and table legs. As a general rule, avoid plastic package materials when possible, as it can suffocate certain materials like wood and fabrics. This can lead to condensation or unpleasant smells in your unit. Instead, use drop cloths or covers, sheets or blankets to keep dust away and allow air to circulate. Additionally, remember that not all furniture pieces will have the same needs for ...

Norm Kotoch
November 28th, 2018

How to Store Furniture

Furniture Storage

As needs, seasons and trends change, individuals and businesses alike can find themselves with excess furniture. Whether you are a homeowner going through a move, or a restaurant requiring storage for patio furniture during the winter, self storage can provide both short- and long-term options for reducing clutter and saving time. Benefits of Storing Furniture Residential users and business owners can both experience key benefits from furniture storage. They include: Maximize space for items you use more regularly. Reduce space needed to store seasonal furniture. Help protect furniture that is not in use from humidity and temperature fluctuations that might occur in an attic or warehouse space. Effectively stage homes to sell by storing excess furniture. Staging a Home by Storing Furniture Many homeowners selling their residences strive to make rooms look larger and more organized by reducing clutter – this includes furniture. By removing large or clunky furniture and keeping it in a self-storage unit, you can better stage each room for a successful selling process. Materials Needed for Furniture Storage Before prepping your furniture for storage, gather the following materials: Bubble wrap Markers Old blankets, sheets or towels Packing paper Plastic covers for furniture and mattresses Sealing tape Preparing Furniture for Storage Prior to placing your items in your storage unit, complete the following steps to help prolong the life of your furniture and maximize space: Disassemble parts, and carefully wrap them in packing paper or bubble wrap. Store together and label them so you easily locate them for reassembly later. Protect furniture legs by individually wrapping in bubble wrap to prevent scratches. Ensure safety of glass surfaces with packing paper, or a sheet, towel or blanket to avoid nicks and scratches. Cover couches, mattresses and other cushioned or fabric furniture with a plastic cover to prevent dust and tears in the material. If your unit is not carpeted, lay down blankets, sheets or towels underneath furniture, especially when face down. Keep in mind that furniture with drawer space can also be utilized for storage, and can help open up additional space in your unit for other items. The Importance of Climate Control Like clothing, electronics and documents, furniture should always be stored in a climate-controlled storage unit, even for short-term storage. Exposure to humidity in conventional ...

Norm Kotoch
March 30th, 2017

How to Cover Furniture for Self-Storage

Furniture Storage

There are many reasons you might decide to store your furniture. Perhaps your pieces no longer fit with your décor or you’ve downsized your space. By utilizing a self-storage unit, you can welcome an alternative to keep these treasures as your own until you’re ready to use them again. However, furniture requires special considerations to store correctly. This includes selecting the right furniture cover to keep dirt, dust and unwanted elements off the main fabric. Keep the below tips top of mind to best preserve your furniture. 1. Bubble Wrap Breakable Parts Your furniture is composed of parts, and some are more fragile than others, such as brittle table legs, fragile bedposts and flimsy chair spindles. These parts require extra care to avoid unwelcome nicks, chips or scratches as you move the piece from your home to a self-storage unit. Additionally, wrap each part in sturdy bubble wrap for an extra layer of protection. 2. Avoid Plastic Covers Thick plastic covers may initially seem like a great idea to cover your items, with their ability to repel away liquid spills, and seal out dirt and dust. The downfall with plastic material is that it isn’t breathable—and your furniture needs to breathe! The plastic will suffocate your furniture’s natural materials, leading to condensation and damage. In place of plastic, pick cotton covers, sheets or blankets, which give your items breathing room. 3. Pick Covers Made to Fit Covers that are too tight will hurt the breathability of the piece, while covers that are too loose can leave room for dirt or dust to gather. Length is also an important consideration, as too long of covers can also create tripping hazards in your unit. Home stores, like Bed Bath & Beyond, Pottery Barn and Kohls, sell custom-fit covers for a variety of furniture pieces, such as beds, couches and end tables. Do a little digging, and be sure to test the fit of the covers you select on their respective items. Additional Tips to Store Furniture with Care You will need to plan ahead to properly preserve furniture during its self storage stay. Give the following a read to ...

Norm Kotoch
March 2nd, 2017

How Long Can Furniture Stay in Self-Storage?

Furniture Storage

You want to preserve furniture items for as long as you can, but worry what might happen to them as they move out of sight, out of mind and into a storage unit. Good news—much of the control is in your hands! How long a furniture item can be stored and remain in its current condition depends on two main factors—protection and selection: Item protection with the proper preservation techniques. Unit selection to match items with their best-fit environment. Below find a few of our favorite posts from the Security Self Storage blog archives. Each highlights some of our best tips and tricks to protect, preserve and select as you prepare furniture items for their long-term storage stay. Protect Furniture Pieces with Proper Preservation Give your items a little TLC before you store. Clean pieces at start to avoid leaving residue or trapped moisture behind. How to protect and preserve a variety of material types, including upholstery, wood, plastic, leather, wool and silk: Start with Clean: How to Prepare Furniture Items for Self-Storage: Detailed cleaning methods to preserve and sustain upholstery, wood and plastic pieces for long-term storage. 4 Steps for Long-Term Furniture Storage and Preservation: A fan favorite! Why? It contains all the tips you need to clean and prepare, move and strategically store your valued treasures. Couch Considerations: Reminders for Self-Storage: Let’s face it. When we think furniture, a couch is probably one of the first items that comes to mind. Bulky in nature and large in stature, these pieces can be hard to manage. Prep, clean and make moving these items a breeze with our quick tips. Select Your Unit for Storage Success You know what you need to store, and it’s ready for its move to a temporary home. The next step is selecting a storage facility that meets the needs of your collection. Keep an eye out for the features and conditions your items need to remain safe and in good condition: How to Select the Right Storage Facility for You: So many choices—what do you decide?! Items to keep in mind as you search ...

Norm Kotoch
June 29th, 2014

Furniture: What to Put in Storage and What to Sell

Furniture Storage

When cleaning and organizing different areas of your home, you’re bound to come across pieces of furniture that you may not have room for, or don’t currently have a need for. Because furniture items are typically large and take up a lot of space, it can be difficult to decide their fate, especially if they are still in good condition. Modern self storage has given consumers the convenience of storage space, without actually limiting space at their residence. And, with the added benefits of climate control, furniture pieces can better maintain their condition over time. Now, you can realistically consider holding onto large items, even if you lack the storage space at home. Store or Sell? Ask yourself the following questions to help decide whether to store or sell your unused furniture: Is it a family heirloom or antique that I want to pass down, but just don’t currently have the room at home to store it?Just because something has been passed down to you doesn’t necessarily mean that you must put it on display, especially if you don’t have the room for it. With that being said, if you have grown attached to something for sentimental reasons and don’t want to part ways with it, or plan to pass an item down in your family in the future, consider holding onto it. Can I see myself using this piece in my house again if I rearrange the furniture in a room, or if I move?There are times that a furniture piece you previously invested in can seem out of place if a room has been redesigned, painted or updated. For instance, an expensive, dark-wooded coffee table or leather couch that you purchased when you first moved in might not quite match your living room’s newly painted lemon walls and bright décor. Or, if you’ve moved into a new space, this kind of piece might simply be too large or too small.If you’re the type of person that enjoys frequent redecorating, store these furniture items for ...

Norm Kotoch
February 23rd, 2014