Using Your Storage Unit Throughout the Year

When you live in a place like Martinsville, VA, you have the pleasure of enjoying all four seasons every year. As amazing as it is to have such a variety of experiences, the constant change in weather can amount to an enormous collection of seasonal items.

Huge ranges in temperature mean you’re going to need the clothing and supplies to live comfortably at each period. Unfortunately when you’re not in a certain season, your items for it are rendered useless.

Why Do You Need Year-Round Storage Options?

You have enough belongings in your home as it is. There’s no need to trip over items you won’t even use for months. This is where self-storage comes in handy.

When you opt for a long-term storage unit rental you have the ability to put boxes in and take others out as you please. If you have a collection of items that you don’t plan on using for a certain period of time, you can put them into storage until it’s time to use them. That way, they aren’t cluttering up your home or getting in the way of what you need.

Benefits of Seasonal Storage

Investing in a storage unit is a huge commitment, but there are a lot of benefits to it in the long run. If you live in a smaller home or apartment, it is extremely helpful having the extra space to store seasonal items.

Not only will decluttering your home make it cleaner, it also allows you to maximize your living space. By getting rid of temporarily unusable items, you leave more room for enjoyment.

If you’re someone who owns loads of clothing, organizing them into seasonal wear can help with wardrobe management. There’s no need to dig through your closet or spend hours trying to find something to wear when all the non-plausible options are put away.

Lastly, keeping your seasonal items in storage can better protect them from daily wear-and-tear. Busy households are prone to accidents, but the items you keep in storage will remain untouched and unharmed until you yourself go and get them.

What Should Your Store for Each Season?

When you experience four seasons a year, that’s four seasons of various different items to go through. While most of your belongings are good year round, there are a few that have no need being out 24/7.

Here are a few season-specific belongings that can go in storage once the weather changes:

Summer

• Warm weather clothing (bathing suits, shorts, dresses)
• Water sports equipment (paddle boards, kayaks, boogie boards)
• Beach or pool gear (buckets, umbrellas, chairs)
• Outdoor gear (trail bike, camping equipment)
• Lawn supplies (lawn mower, weed eater, pruners)

Fall

• Warm clothing (sweaters, jeans, flannels)
• Fall lawn supplies (rakes, leaf blower)

Winter

• Cold weather clothing (heavy coats, gloves, hats)
• Winter sports equipment (snowboard, skis, poles)
• Snow gear (sleds, snow suits)
• Holiday-specific decorations (ornaments, lights, Christmas tree, Menorah)

Spring

• Garden Supplies (shovels, soil, seeds)

In addition to these specific items, most homeowners will also have a collection of seasonal decorations to spruce up their home’s appearance. For example, your home may be all decked out with pumpkins and the color orange in October, but come May you’ll want pastel pinks and flowers lining the walls and windows.

Tips for Storing Clothing

Outfits are always something that go in and out of season. So long as you organize yours correctly, you can also keep your season-specific clothing in storage and bring them out when you need them.

Here are a few tips to prepare and protect your clothing for seasonal storage:

1. Wash your clothes before packing them. This will prevent dirt from settling in and staining the fabric.
2. Use the right storage containers. Plastic storage containers are more sturdy than cardboard boxes, but they can also trap moisture. Suitcases, totes and wardrobe boxes are great alternatives.
3. Hang clothing and fabric that need it. Suits, fancy dresses and more will need to hang so they don’t get wrinkled and ruined. Garment bags can be put around them to protect the material from exposure.
4. Fold clothing that needs it. Some materials like knitted wool, silk and more can get stretched or misshapen from hangers, so it’s better to fold them.
5. Keep lids and tops sealed tight. If you overstuff your boxes or bins with clothing, you run the risk of a loose lid. Gaps and spaces can leave room for nasty pests to get into the containers and ruin your clothes.
6. Label everything. If you’re organizing your clothes by season, make sure the outside of your containers are labeled so you know exactly what’s inside. You don’t want to take a box of sweaters home when you need bathing suits.

Self-Storage in Martinsville All Year ’Round

When you’ve decided to declutter your home by moving your seasonal items to another location, you’ll need a storage solution you trust.

Storage Center has several indoor and outdoor storage facilities in Martinsville, VA that are great for housing seasonal belongings. Our climate-controlled units will provide a consistent temperature that does not ruin material or compromise your possessions. As the weather changes with the season, your unit will remain the same.

With 24/7 access to your unit, you are able to retrieve your items whenever you want – whether you feel like decorating on a weekend or a chilly night prompts you to get your sweaters.

Contact us to learn more about our storage units and see what’s available.