When the temperatures begin to drop, the warmer clothes begin to emerge from the recesses of our closets. The transitioning from warm weather clothes to fall/winter clothing doesn’t have to be traumatic. Here are a few clever tips on how to organize your closet and have a smooth transition from season to season.

• Hanging clothes. Instead of having to fold each item and place them into a bin for storage, purchase a rolling clothes rack that has a cover. You can keep all of your clothes on hangers and simply switch out racks of seasonal clothing.
• Folded clothes. All of the items you have in drawers take up precious storage space when it’s time for them to be displaced for the next season. Here’s an idea: purchase a set of vacuum sealed storage bags. These are durable plastic bags that can take a stack of clothes and turn it into a practically hermetically sealed flat storage container. This makes it so easy to store clothes, they’re protected from the elements and once you open the bag, everything is still as fresh as the day you sealed it in there.
• Boots. Every woman has a pair (or three) of tall boots. The problem with these kinds of boots is that when you’re not wearing them, they tend to flop over which can cause unsightly wrinkles or bends in the material they’re made from. An easy fix is to take two old magazines you have lying around, roll them up tightly and insert one into each boot. This will keep your boots standing tall, ready and at attention for your next rendezvous.

If you have any crafty or ingenious storage tips, share them here, we’d love to hear them! And if you’re looking for a clean, secure and convenient self storage facility to stash your summer gear for the winter, go to www.thelockup.com to find the Lock Up Self Storage facility nearest you.

As the days get shorter, there are certain things that need to be addressed to ensure that we’re ready for the upcoming cold weather. Autumn is the perfect time to take care of all the home and personal changes that need to occur before the bitter cold of old man winter descends upon us. Here are some tips on how to get yourself, your family and your home ready for the months of hibernation ahead.

• Switching clothes
  It’s sad but true, the days of sandals, shorts and swimwear are mostly behind us, and unless we luck out and have an Indian Summer for a few days, these items will need to be packed away until next summer. Be sure to wash all your summer duds before you pack them away. And likewise, when you pull all your warmer wear out of storage, make sure to give everything a good wash.
• Putting away outside furniture
  Most patio and lawn furniture cannot withstand the harsh elements that winter brings with it. So, now that fall is here, it’s time to start wiping all the dirt and grime of summer days off of your outside furniture. Storing furniture with caked on dirt will just make it that much more difficult to keep it looking good for years to come. If you’re storing the pieces in your garage, start making room for it now so that you’re not scrambling to do so come the first snowfall. Can anyone say “garage sale”?
• Storing summer toys
  All summer toys with engines and/or wheels need a little TLC before they get stored away. Be sure to wash them down, change the oil, empty gas tanks and fill tires for their long winter hibernation.
• Winterizing your home
  If you have a “drafty old house” like George in It’s a Wonderful Life, now is the time to address those cracks and crevices. Many fillers and caulk don’t cure properly in frigid temperatures, so take advantage of autumn’s milder temperatures and be sure to caulk along windows and doorways where needed. This will help you stay warmer and keep your heating bill lower.

The Lock Up Self Storage is there for your winter storage needs. Whether you’re storing packed up summer clothes, your chaise lounge from your patio, or your jet ski, the Lock Up has a self storage unit that can hold it.

Go to www.thelockup.com for information on how to get a self storage unit for your summer stuff.

What’s the one thing that a place of business and a home have in common? The answer: stacks of papers that should be sorted and stored out of sight.  It’s a common plight that we all experience. Letting the piles get out of hand makes the job seem more daunting than it needs to be. Tackle those stacks and you’re office space or home will seem less cluttered and less stressful. Here are some tips on what documents should be stored and how to do it.

• Difficult to replace documents
  Some items are one of a kind or difficult to replace and these must be given extra consideration while storing. It’s a good idea to invest in a fireproof and waterproof safe/box for such items regardless of where they will be stored. Inside of this box, place items such as birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, wills, a copy of driver’s licenses, lifesaving prescriptions, an inventory of household valuables, and a list of all important accounts (such as bank, credit cards, and investments). Place this box in a secure location. It’s a good idea to also scan all of these documents to put on a disc that goes to your lawyer.
• Documents for long term storage
  Some documents are not imperative to your health or well being in the face of a disaster, yet they should be held onto for a period of time. The best example of this can be found in tax returns. It’s advisable to retain returns, receipts, W-2 forms, and investment info for seven years. For these items, simple document storage boxes or plastic bins are adequate. Be sure to clearly label the exterior of the boxes with the corresponding years.
• Active paperwork
  For documents that you only need to hold onto for a short period of time, use a file cabinet with hanging folders. Items such as bank statements, any kind of active policies, home and auto receipts and household manuals are prime candidates. Basically, anything that you may need to reference on a consistent basis should be kept in an easy to access file cabinet. Be sure to rotate out any old policies as new ones come in to keep your files tidy.
• Keepsakes
  If you have any notes or photos that you want to preserve for nostalgic reasons, you might want to get an acid free box to ensure that the papers do not denigrate over time. Such boxes can be found in art or craft stores. If you have something of high value that you want to preserve, consult with a professional before you store it away. Time, oxygen & moisture can cause irreparable damage and you need to make sure precious documents are stored according to their needs.

If you’re looking for a safe, clean space to store your documents…be sure to contact your local Lock Up Self Storage facility.

Visit www.thelockup.com for more information.

We’ve all found ourselves in the position of having to move a heavy item at one point or another. Whether it’s moving furniture into a different room, removing an old appliance to make way for a new one, or moving out of your home, there are a few simple things to keep in mind to make your moving jobs easier. First and foremost, remember that using your brain more than your brawn can keep injuries at bay. Here are some tips on how to make moving heavy objects a breeze:

• The cardinal rule of lifting: Lift with your legs, not with your back. A hurt back will keep you from lifting even the lightest of items, so it’s best to protect your biggest asset.
• Remove jewelry and loose fitting clothing. In case there is an accident, you don’t want a heavy item to take you down with it!
• Plan your route. Nothing is worse than finally getting an item to the doorway only to figure out that it won’t fit through.
• Pushing is oftentimes easier than pulling.
• Sliding items on the floor saves you from having to lift. Just be sure that the floor won’t get damaged while sliding. If you think it will get scratched, use an old towel or blanket underneath the item; doing so will also make the item slide more easily.
• Dismantle it. For things such as dressers or desks, take the drawers out before you move it. If it can be taken apart into smaller parts, do it…you’ll be thankful you did at the end of the moving day.
• To get a dolly under a heavy item when you’re by yourself, put the dolly against a wall and then walk the heavy item onto it…this will keep the dolly from falling over.
• If you don’t have a dolly, get inventive! Skateboards or kid’s scooters can help in a pinch. For really large items, you can use lengths of pipes or poles. Roll the item over them, then as they become free, take them and place them in front again to keep the item moving forward.

Once you arrive at your Lock Up Self Storage location, you’ll have handcarts and dollies at your disposal. And with large elevators at every Lock Up, you won’t have to worry about navigating stairwells with your heavy items.

Do you have any tips for moving heavy items? Share them with us here!