26th August 2022
Self storage units come in all shapes and sizes. The needs of clients for self-storage units differ too. Here at Quick Self Storage, we offer self storage in Darlington and Peterborough. We have helped hundreds of people with their storage needs. Our client’s storage needs in Peterborough and Darlington are as unique as the people themselves.
Some people will need storage while they move house. Meanwhile, others are renovating their homes and want to keep their belongings safe and out of the way. Sadly, we have had some customers whose loved ones have passed, and they use our self storage for the short term – until they are ready to go through the belongings. There are also customers that are off to travel the world for a long length of time and need to store their belongings while they rent through home out. We also help students with their storage needs during their academic years too.
As you can see, we help a lot of different people with a lot of different storage needs in Darlington and Peterborough. However, while they may all have different storage needs, they all share one struggle. They all want to know how to make the most of their storage space. Lots of customers often feel that they need more room than they do because they don’t know how to make the most of it.
This is where we can help. As an experienced and helpful self storage company in Darlington and Peterborough we know the 5 self storage hacks that you with you knew. We want to help our customers get the most from their self storage units. This is why we share these 5 self storage hacks below for you.
Grab The Vacuum
Soft furnishings, bedding and clothing are often the bulkiest and most annoying things people put into storage. This is because they find that they take up a lot of space. While they may not seem very big, they can quickly take up a lot more room than you hoped. It can also be awkward to find spaces for them in the storage unit if you want to keep them in good condition.
This is where you need to get the vacuum out!
You’ll need some vacuum pack bags and your vacuum. Place your items in the vacuum bags and suck out the extra air. Your clothes and other soft furnishings or bedding will stay safe and protected, while being easier to place in your self storage unit.
If you are storing clothes, then pack them by season or ages if you’re storing for future children. Place all the items in that season or age group into a vacuum pack bag and then clearly label it. This way it will be easy to find the clothes you need when you return to them in the future.
These bags will be a great way of keeping your textiles clean, protected and secure. The flat packed bags will also be able to slot into spaces or stack on top of each other in your self storage unit in Peterborough or Darlington.
Grab Your Camera
If you are using your storage unit as a more permanent solution for your storage needs, taking photos will be key for you. This is especially the case if you will not be visiting the storage unit on a regular basis. Just like it is easy to forget where you put things around your home, it can be easy to forget what it is in your storage unit too.
The last thing you want to do is open all the boxes to find out what is in them and find what you’re looking for. By taking photos of the items inside the box and placing them on the outside of the box, along with where they are stacked can really help. A copy of these photos at home will really help too. That way you will have a reminder at home of where your belongings are and what you have placed in storage.
While this will add extra time to your packing, it will save you a lot of time in the future. We promise – you’ll thank us for this storage hack when you are looking for that one important item in a few weeks or months to come!
Speaking of saving time in the long run, it’s a good idea to pack similar items or items from the same room in the same boxes where possible. By putting all your art work, school books or kitchen utensils in individual boxes, it will make it easier to take photos. It will also make it easier to find the missing items that you are looking for too.
Grab The Right Boxes
The type of boxes you use for the belongings that you put in storage can affect how well you use the space in your self storage unit in Darlington or Peterborough. By choosing the right boxes you will be able to store more belongings in your self storage space, or even be able to use a smaller storage unit.
The key for boxes in your storage facility, is by using one type of box for all of your boxes. This means that the boxes will stack together than a mismatch of boxes. In turn, this means that your stack of boxes will be more secure too.
You may find that you need to use different sizes of boxes for different items. That’s fine too. Just make sure you stick to the same type of box. By using the same style of boxes, they will still stack together better, be more secure and less likely to topple when you are stacking your boxes at height. Through the use of the same boxes for your storage unit, you will also find your boxes are less likely to bow or break as they are stacked.
However, the biggest benefit of grabbing the right boxes is that you will maximise the usable space in your self-storage unit. There won’t be odd spaces and gaps where different and odd shaped boxes don’t quite fit together.
The boxes you choose to pack your items in is entirely your choice. We would just recommend that you stick to the same brand and style of boxes. This will help you make the most of your storage space and allow for more secure packing and stacking too.
Grab The Cling Wrap
This is one of our 5 storage hacks that you wish you knew and probably haven’t come across before. If you are storing anything with a chain, this is a self-storage hack that you will love. Whether it is a necklace, pendant, hanging crystal or some spares for your bike, for example – this hack could save you a lot of stress in the long-run.
Instead of putting these belongings in a box and wrapping with bubble wrap, you should try this storage packing hack.
Spread out some cling film on a clean and clear worktop. Lay your chained jewellery on the cling film. Once your jewellery and other chained items are laid on the cling film take another piece of cling film the same size. This is then laid on top of the other cling film sheet with the jewellery on. Press down the cling film in the gaps between the items and you have all your items safely separated.
The great thing about this hack is that it will ensure your items don’t become muddled and chains don’t become tangled. It’s also really quick and easy to do, plus being a low-cost hack too. This will make your life so much easier when it comes to taking these items out of storage in Peterborough or Darlington in the future.
Grab The Labels
This final storage packing hack is something that we cannot stress enough. You may see we have mentioned or touched on it a few times in other points too. A good label really is a hugely important tip and hack when moving items into a storage unit.
When you move straight from one house to another, for example, simply writing the room the box is going in to will often be enough. However, when you are moving items into a storage unit, it can be easier to know exactly what is in each box. We have already mentioned taking photos of all the items in the box and this can work really well. In addition to this, you may choose the write what is in the box on a label too.
For example, we would recommend a label on the box alongside the photo. On this label you should state the room where the items came from, if relevant. Below this you should list what is in the box. For example, books, photo albums or kitchen utensils. In addition to this, you should list exactly what the items are. For example, Barbara’s wedding photo album, Johns christening photo album and school photos of grandkids. These more in-depth notes on your lists will help you skim read for the box you want (by looking for the ‘room’ label) and then the exact item you are looking for.
It’s a good idea to label your box three times. Once on top and then once on two sides. This way, when the boxes are stacked you will still be able to see the labels and what is in the boxes. Again, this will make your life with items in storage a lot easier for you!
These are our top hacks for packing and preparing your items for storage. If you need any help with how to move into a storage unit or you would like to look round our self storage in Darlington or Peterborough – just call our team. We will be only too happy to answer any questions you might have and show you around.
