
Selecting a Storage Space
Self-Storage is a convenient, safe, and inexpensive way
to store your belongings. Ask one of our storage
consultants to help you choose a space that fits your
needs, because rental of a storage space is determined
by the total size of the items being stored. An
efficiently-packed small space will cost you less than a
larger space. However, if you frequently use the space,
a larger space that is well organized (racks and file
boxes) may be more convenient for you.
Estimating Space Requirements
At COLD SPRINGS SELF STORAGE, we offer you a variety of
unit sizes to choose from. Some suggestions for storing
in various sized units.
5 x 10:
A couch and a chair, chest of drawers or dresser,
mattress set, plus small items and boxes. Outdoor
furniture, lawn mowers, garden tools, etc. Bicycles
and/or motorcycles.
10 x 10:
Furniture from a one-bedroom apartment without
appliances, also small items and boxes.
10 x 15:
Furniture from a one to two-bedroom apartment with
appliances, also small items and boxes.
10 x 20:
Furniture from a two-bedroom house with appliances,
miscellaneous items and cartons. Also may be used to
store a car or truck and other small items.
Better Business Through Self-Storage
Self-Storage is a convenient, safe, and cost effective
way for businesses to expand operations and maintain a
competitive edge. A business tenant can increase or
decrease its leased space as need dictates.
Businesses of all types, sizes, and
maturity are benefiting by using Self-Storage
facilities. When businesses are faced with expansion,
they often find themselves limited by lack of
appropriate space, availability of land, zoning
regulations, proximity to customers, and access. Leasing
storage space can provide easy access and convenient
“office hours” with no appointment necessary. It also
can help businesses expand market share.
Business Storage Uses
Some common uses of storage units include: office files,
drop shipments, excess inventory, manufacturers’
samples, hospital/legal records, mobile equipment,
retailers’ seasonal decorations, theatrical scenery,
campaign materials, merchandise and supplies, and
general business raw materials.
Prohibited Storage Goods
Common sense and state laws determine what may be
stored. You alone control access to your storage space;
therefore, never store live animals, perishables,
liquids, explosives, flammable liquids and fuels, toxic
materials, or other items that need a controlled
environment. Disconnect the battery cables to your
equipment. Remember to drain the fuel from gasoline
engines before storage.
Determine the packing accessories you need:
paper, bubble-pack, tape, rope, drop cloths,
polyurethane sheeting, furniture covers, pallets, skids,
dehumidifiers, file boxes, and storage cartons. Some or
all of these items may be available for purchase in the
rental office.
Fill containers to capacity.
Partially full or bulging cartons may tip or collapse.
Protect your fragile goods with packing and place them
near the top of your storage space.
Label boxes.
Keep
a list of labeled boxes at your home or office for easy
reference when you need to locate your goods.
Pack the storage space carefully.
Leave air space around the perimeter to aid ventilation.
Place a pallet on concrete floors and do not lean items
against walls. Leave a walkway to the rear of your space
for easy access. Use all the space available, including
the height, and place frequently used goods near the
door.
Specific Storage Tips
Appliances:
A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and
stored with its door slightly ajar. Some goods can be
stored inside large appliances, and boxes can be stacked
on top of stoves, refrigerators, and freezers. Make sure
that stoves and cooking equipment are cleaned before
they are stored.
Bicycles and other metal items:
To
retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag
containing a few drops of machine oil.
Books, files, records, and documents:
Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place
boxes directly on concrete floors, but use pallets or
skids to prevent moisture absorption. Use packing to
fill out empty pockets in the boxes. Do not pack fragile
items in the same box with books and documents, and do
not overload.
Bedding, clothing, curtains, drapes, and linens:
Clothing, curtains, and drapes should be stored on
hangers. If hanging cartons are not available, such
items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser
drawers or cedar chests along with bedding and linens.
Some facilities sell wardrobe style cardboard cartons,
which help protect your clothes. Food crumbs or stains
should be removed before storage, and avoid storing
anything that may attract pests.
Dishes and glassware:
Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and at the
top of boxes containing glassware. All glass items
should be individually wrapped; nest cups and bowls, and
stand plates, saucers, and platters on edge. Wrapped
glasses should be placed near the top of cartons. Again,
fill all pockets with packing. Label all boxes
containing glassware, and do not place heavy items on
boxes containing glassware.
Electrical equipment:
All
equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and dry before it
is stored. Any equipment with sealing doors, such as a
refrigerator, should be stored with its door slightly
ajar.
Fragile items:
Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and at the
top of boxes containing fragile items. All items should
be individually wrapped placing the most fragile near
the top of the cartons. Again, fill all pockets with
packing. When stacking boxes that contain delicate
items, place these on top of those containing heavy
items. Label all boxes containing delicate items
“FRAGILE”.
Furniture:
Place a pallet, corrugated cardboard mat, or plastic
sheet on the floor, and stand sofas and mattresses on
end. Disassemble beds, tables, and other furniture and
wrap table legs in paper. If furniture, such as a table,
will not disassemble, place padding on the floor and
place the table on its top with the legs pointing up.
Use dresser tops for stacking cartons and dresser
drawers for linens or small, delicate items. Keep
upholstery off the floor. Most lightweight chairs can be
stacked “seat to seat” or placed upside down on tables
which cannot be disassembled. Finally, place a light
cotton dust cover (e.g., a bedsheet) on your furniture.
Some facilities sell covers for your convenience.
Holiday
decorations:
Save the original cartons that contained delicate
ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing paper or
news print. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of
cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing
paper.
Lamps:
Wrap large lamp bases in padding, wrap smaller lamps and
place them in boxes, and pack delicate lamp shades
separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamp shades or
any other goods that may be damaged by ink stains. Do
not store heavy items on cartons containing lamps or
lamp shades.
Metal equipment, tools, and other metal items:
All equipment needs to be clean. To retard rust, wipe
all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of
machine oil.
Mirrors, windows, and screens:
These items should be stored on edge, not flat.
Records and phonographs:
Records should be stored on edge to prevent warping.
When moving a record player, the tone arm and turntable
should be secured to prevent damage.
Tools:
Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag
containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust.
Long handled tools such as rakes, shovels, and hoes
should be cleaned, lightly oiled, and tied in bundles.
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