The Lock Up Self Storage

How to Store Your Summer Toys

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:51:21 +0000

Labor Day is approaching, and that means the end of summer and the end of your summer toys (for now). Whether your toy of choice is your trusty bicycle, motorcycle or jet ski, make those last few rides count before summer runs out.

When you're ready to accept the imminent arrival of cold weather, take a look at these tips for storing your summer vehicles until the chirping sounds of spring.

For motorcycles and ATVs, change oil and filter
Run fuel stabilizer to prevent gasoline from gumming up and fill gas tank
Drain carburetor floats. For jet skis, be sure to drain any water from the engine
Wash, wax, leather-treat, remove algae, etc.
Lubricate chains, cables and other metal pieces
Remove batteries, watch water levels and charge once a month on a trickle charger
For motorcycles, lower tire pressure to 5-7 PSIs
Keep out of direct sunlight and cover to prevent dust from collecting
If possible, store the vehicle in a heated or climate-controlled storage area

Take extra care in storing your bicycles, motorcycles and jet skis, and you'll be ready to ride again at the first sight of spring.

Do you have any other summer vehicle storage tips and tricks? Share them here...

Wine Basics for the Unrefined Palette

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:34:07 +0000

I'll admit it, I am a beer drinker – a crappy, cheap, domestic beer drinker at that. But every now and again, I do enjoy a glass of wine. If you're anything like me, the world of wine can be a little intimidating and overwhelming, so here are a few basics to get you oriented.

Where is the best place to buy wine?

You can buy wine at nearly any grocery store, liquor store or convenience store, but the best places to go if you're not an expert are local wine shops and larger spirits specialty stores like Binny's. These stores usually offer regular tastings, often free, so you can learn more about different types of wine and try them before you buy a bottle. The staff at these stores are also more knowledgeable and are great about asking you the right questions and finding the right bottle for you.

How much should I spend on a bottle of wine?

It's generally accepted that older wines taste better (though not always true) so they typically cost more, but younger wines are just fine and more affordable. Some of my favorite bottles cost just about $10 per bottle. Some stores also offer case discounts which make it easier to stock up on your favorite wine.

How should I store this wine?

In order to preserve your wine's aroma and flavor, storing the bottles at a temperature of 55 degrees is ideal. Beyond 75 degrees and wine will begin to oxidize. A humidity level of 60-70% is ideal for keeping corks from drying out. Too much humidity invites mold. Store botlles horizontally so that the corks don't dry out and be sure to keep them away from sunlight.

If conditions in your home are not ideal for storing wine, or if you find yourself accumulating a large collection, consider renting a climate controlled storage unit made specifically for wine. Offsite storage units are especially handy for resisting the temptation to open those bottles of fine wine too early.

Am I ready to open this bottle now?

Just before serving a bottle, make sure it has reached its ideal serving temperature. Champagnes and sparkling wines should be chilled to 43-47F degrees. White wines should be 46-57F degrees. Light reds should be at about 55F degrees. And deeper reds should be served at 59-66F. Rules about drinking reds with red meat and whites with fish and poultry no longer apply, but try to choose wines that complement and balance well with your meal.

What other wine buying, storage and serving tips can you offer? Share them here...

And Baby Makes $3,000

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:48:49 +0000

Many say that having a child is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences in life. They also say it is one of the most expensive. Just getting ready to welcome your first child into the world is expensive enough, let alone 18+ years of private school, summer camp and college tuition.

Here is a short list of the furniture you'll need for your new nursery:

Crib, mattress and bedding
Changing table and changing pad
Diaper storage
Diaper pail
Clothes storage
Hamper
Rocking chair
Bassinet
Toys and toybox
Decorative items

Other items you'll need include:

Carseat
Stroller
Highseat
Swing
Baby Bathtub
Bottles

In the first year, new parents can spend $3,000-$4,000 on the baby furniture and necessities listed above. Now multiply that by how many kids you plan on having and the expense can really add up. Of course, many parents will want to save their baby items for the next child, but if you don't plan on having another baby for a few years, where do you put all this stuff?

Renting a small self storage unit is a wise choice. If you wait two years to have your second child, you'll pay less than $1,000 to store your baby furniture, which costs a lot less than buying new furniture.

The other advantage of using a climate-controlled self-storage facility, is that your baby furniture is kept safe from extreme temperatures and sunlight, which can warp, crack and otherwise damage the furniture, making it unsafe for baby.

By using a self storage facility for your family's baby furniture, you can really gain some peace of mind. Until the 3:00 am feeding, that is...

How to Properly Store Collectibles

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:22:51 +0000

Over the last few years, the recession has caused unemployment rates to skyrocket, 401K plans to plummet and the housing market to crash. It seems these days the best place to keep your money is under the mattress and your best assets lie in the novelties you've been collecting since childhood.

In order to ensure that your collections maintain their value, it's important that they are stored correctly. Here are a few examples of popular collections and some tips on how to store them.

Comic Books

Place individual comics in an acid-free mylar sleeve and be sure to include an acid-free backboard.
Store sleeves upright in an acid-free storage box.
Keep storage boxes in a cool, dry, dark area like a climate-controlled storage facility. Basements can flood and attics often get too hot.

Coins

Store coins in airtight containers to reduce oxidation
Jars work great for storing lesser value coins
Coin folders can also be stored inside airtight storage boxes.
Remember, low humidity and moderate temperatures are ideal.

Dolls

A climate-controlled storage facility is ideal for these delicate collectibles. High heat can melt or warp vinyl while extreme cold can cause it to crack. Extreme temperatures can also fade doll faces or clothing.
Wrap dolls and clothing in acid-free tissue paper.
If possible, separate doll from its box. If keeping the doll and box together is necessary to retain its value, wrap the doll in acid-free tissue paper and then place back in the box.
Store dolls in fabric boxes, not plastic, as plastic can emit gases that can damage the dolls.

What kind of collections do you have? Share your tips for storing and preserving collectibles here...

Storage Products Roundup

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:37:16 +0000

Self storage facilities are designed to make your life easier by providing an additional storage space to keep temporary, seasonal or less-frequently used items. They were not meant as a burial ground for items that won't fit in the basement, never to be looked at or used again.

To get the most of your storage facility, it's important that you keep all your items organized, inventoried and easily accessible. To that end, today we're checking out some cool products to help you keep your storage unit nice and tidy.

Shelving

Use shelving to maximize the height of your storage space. Instead of stacking things on top of each other, making it difficult to pull things out from the bottom, shelving allows you to easily access items and store misshaped items together.

IKEA Gorm Shelving Unit

Totes, Tubs, Bins

These are great for keeping toys, clothes, shoes and collections safe. We highly recommend going with the clear totes so that you can easily identify what's inside.

The Container Store Clear Garage Totes

Garment Storage

We like this wardrobe because it protects your clothes and keeps them well organized. This unit has a few shelves to store sweaters while your other items hang. Be sure to use wooden hangers and throw in a few cedar blocks to keep clothes fresh.

Bed, Bath and Beyond 48" Deluxe Wardrobe

Document Storage

The problem with most filing boxes is that you have to pull each box out and take off the lid to figure out what's inside. These Bankers Box file boxes feature a pull out drawer so you can get to the files without going through stacks of boxes.

Bankers Box® Stor/Drawer® Steel Plus™ 65% Recycled Drawer File

Invest in a few key storage products, and you'll be in and out of your storage unit, saving time and headache.

What other cool products do you rely on? Share your ideas here...

(Photo credit: The Container Store)

Putting Eden Prairie, MN on the Map

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:49:11 +0000

Eden Prairie, Minnesota was just ranked as the #1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. by Money Magazine. This neighboring town of Minneapolis boasts a healthy economy, healthy inhabitants, great schools, low crime and plenty of natural beauty.

With a low unemployment rate of 5.1% and 50,000 jobs available in town, not to mention the Minnesota Vikings' practice facility is located here, you just might want to consider moving to Eden Prairie. While it doesn't have a bustling downtown, its proximity to Minneapolis makes Eden Prairie an attractive balance of small town and big city living.

If you are planning on moving to Eden Prairie or Minneapolis, start getting prepared as soon as possible. Gather your moving supplies and get to packing. Should you find that all your stuff won't fit into your new Minnesotan home, consider putting any extra furniture into a self-storage facility until you figure out whether to donate it, sell it or save it for your next home.

After moving everything into your new home or your storage unit, get the rocking chair out onto the porch and get ready to live the good ol' American lifestyle. You're in our nation's best small city after all.

Eden Prairie residents, what do you love about your town? Share your thoughts here...

The Lock Up Self Storage Serves Up Big Summer Savings for Minnesota

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:38 +0000

To celebrate the arrival of summer, The Lock Up, a Chicago based self storage company with over 30 climate controlled storage facilities nationwide, is offering special rates and free rent for storage units in all four of their Minnesota locations during the month of July.

“Our Minnesota facilities are some of our newest and most well appointed sites,” says Andrea Carnes, Vice President of Operations for The Lock Up Self Storage. “We’re very proud of what we have to offer, and we encourage people to stop by any time for a tour. With our state of the art heating and air conditioning systems designed to protect temperature sensitive items, carpeted hallways and indoor loading bays, we offer high end amenities without high end prices.”

Rates on the most popular storage units ranging in size from 5’ x 5’ to 10’ x 15’ are now starting as low as $39.00 per month in the Plymouth, Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Minneapolis locations. In addition, customers will receive the second and twelfth months of rent free of charge. Special rates and free rent bonus apply to new rentals only, and are not valid with any other offer.

“Summer is a great time to ‘de-clutter’ the house or garage, and with our current specials, it makes it all the more affordable to store unused furniture and other household items,” enthuses Carnes.

For more information on our special limited time pricing and free rent bonus, check out www.news.thelockup.com or call 877 618-8880.

About The Lock Up: The Lock Up has been serving the storage needs of clients around the country since 1976. With climate-controlled http://www.thelockup.com/ Storage-Services/Wine-Storage/ [wine storage units __title__ Wine Storage Facilities], 24-hour security monitoring and carpeted units, The Lock Up self storage facilities are designed to meet the needs of even the choosiest clients.

The Internet is so 1999?

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:39:46 +0000

Prince, the artist formerly known as Prince, and then known as Prince again, has some interesting views on the Internet. The Minneapolis-born musician claims "The Internet's completely over." His music is not available on iTunes and he's shut down his website. Instead, his new album will be released only as a CD.

Years ago, many music fans had CD collections ranging from the hundreds to the thousands. Living rooms, family rooms and basements were lined with top-heavy storage units, filled to the brim with unorganized CDs. Then, MP3s came along and people everywhere were ditching CDs, converting their music into digital files, putting all those pesky jewel cases in storage, and purchasing music through the Internet.

If you've gone digital and are interested in putting your CD collection in self storage, here are a few tips:

Choose a climate controlled self-storage facility. If you can’t find a self storage unit near you that offers heating and air conditioning, at least consider one that will keep your items out of extreme heat and cold.
Make sure each of your CDs has its own jewel case
Store jewel cases upright in your self storage unit, don't stack them
Keep your CD collection out of direct sunlight

So what do you think, Minneapolis, is your Prince right? Is it time to ditch the iPod and go back to the Discman? Or is it time to go full steam ahead with your electronic music collection? Share your thoughts here...

Putting Eden Prairie, MN on the Map

Minneapolis Self Storage

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:31:48 +0000

Located less than 5 miles west of Mall of America, the Lock Up Self Storage in Minneapolis is a clean, safe, climate controlled storage facility for all your storage needs. The Lock Up's Minneapolis self storage center opened in December 2008 and is conveniently located on the corner of 35W and Industrial Blvd. Our storage units range from 5'X5' to 10'X25'. The Lock Up's state of the art Minneapolis storage center is locally managed to provide superior customer service to our tenants in the Minneapolis area! Our self storage units are 100% climate controlled and carpeted with large loading bays for easy access. Over the years, The Lock Up has transformed its facilities to more eco-friendly, energy saving practices such as a complete exchange of its storage facility's HVAC systems in favor of Energy Star rated equipment and reducing or eliminating sprinkler use to conserve water. As a result of these modifications, our newer self storage facilities (such as our Minneapolis location) are consuming one third to one half the amount of utilities used by our older facilities.

Currently the Minneapolis storage location is offering a savings of 20% for 12 months. We also offer a FREE Lock and FREE Move-In Truck with every new rental. Call 866-327-LOCK or stop by our Minneapolis self storage facility today for your personal tour!

The Lock Up Self Storage Saves Green By Going Green

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:00:26 +0000

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) June 15, 2010 -- As a show of commitment to helping protect the environment and contain costs, The Lock Up, a Chicago based self storage company with over 30 climate controlled self storage facilities nationwide, has embarked upon a major company-wide conversion to more energy efficient appliances and procedures.

“We take the obligation of doing our part in terms of caring for the environment very seriously,” says Andrea Carnes, Vice President of Operations for The Lock Up Self Storage. “Equally as important, we have a responsibility to our customers to keep expenses in check so that we can continue to provide them with the most competitive pricing. We feel that our conversion to more eco-friendly, energy saving practices will help us address both of these issues very effectively.”

The scope of the transformation is far reaching, encompassing everything from simple changes such as adding separate recycle bins to more complex revisions involving a complete exchange of the self storage centers’ existing HVAC systems in favor of Energy Star rated equipment. Other facets of the transition include reducing or eliminating sprinkler use to conserve water, converting incandescent light bulbs to energy efficient compact florescent and LED bulbs, increasing insulation and recycling old appliances to scrap metal companies. In addition, items abandoned in the self storage units are being donated to local charities.

“As a result of these modifications, our newer self storage facilities are consuming one third to one half the amount of utilities used by our older facilities,” enthuses Carnes.

For more information on our environmental efforts, check out news.thelockup.com, or call 866.327.LOCK.

About The Lock Up:
The Lock Up has been serving the storage needs of clients around the country since 1976. With climate-controlled wine storage units, 24-hour security monitoring and carpeted units, The Lock Up self storage facilities are designed to meet the needs of even the choosiest clients.