Cold weather hasn’t really settled in for good quite yet, but this is still a great time to consider preparing your storage unit and its contents for winter. Think about it: Would you rather do those tasks now, when temperatures are mild, or after winter has already arrived and you might also have to contend with freezing temps and possibly even snow?
Winter is a popular time for folks with storage units to move different items in and out. It’s when you might be removing all your winter clothing and cold-weather toys like snowmobiles, skis, snowboards and the like. It’s also when you might be putting a lot of other things away for the season, like all that warm-weather clothing and pool gear.
Here in the South, winters aren’t as brutal as many other places in the country, but we do get our share of freezing temps, and we get a fair number of snow days as well. So here are our suggestions for helping you adapt to the season when it comes to managing your storage unit and all the stuff that’s in it.
Think about cleaning items before you put them away for winter. That goes for clothing as well as machinery like lawn mowers and trimmers. You’ll be glad you did when you pull everything out in the spring. This also prevents cross-contamination. You wouldn’t want something getting permanently ruined by grease because it sat on a dirty mower for months. Cleaning also helps prevent items from deteriorating over time.
Plastic storage containers are common, but for some items, putting them away in plastic increases the chance they will be damaged due to trapped water and moisture. Consider using moving blankets made of cotton or wool to cover some items if you’re concerned about them being ruined.
Anything that runs on electricity should be kept off the ground, even if you have a climate-controlled unit. The ground will be much colder than the ambient temperature, and electronics and batteries that are left on cold concrete for months at a time may not work as easily or as well the next time you’re ready to use them.
We touched on this in our first tip, but anything you’re storing that runs on a gasoline-fueled motor needs some special attention. Empty the gas tanks, remove the batteries and drain any coolants or fluids. Finally, cover your vehicle with a tarp or other protective shield.