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Is your self storage unit ready for winter?

Author: Anna Preston
by Anna Preston
Posted: Oct 31, 2015

Winter is definitely on the way here in the UK as we experience the tail end of the Bermudan Hurricane Gonzalo. A couple of weeks ago we were still eating out in the garden and even contemplating a last dip in the open-air swimming pool in town before it got too cold. But now the roads are beginning to flood and almost all the leaves have been blown off the trees by the high winds, at least a month earlier than we would have expected.

So it got me thinking about my storage unit and the checks I usually make before winter truly sets in so that my possessions stay protected during the cold weather. It is important to preserve your belongings even if it is only old Aunt Edith's antique furniture that you have inherited and which you will never really want in your own home. You never know, there may come a time when it will increase in value or home interior trends change and maybe your children will fall in love with it.

So here are some tips that I would advise everyone with belongings stored in a self-storage unit to follow.A little preparation now will keep everything safe, especially if you have fragile items such as fabrics or furnishings, or wooden antiques like I do.

If you are one of the increasing number of online retail sellers who store their stock in a self-storage unit then it is even more important that you protect your businesses assets.

One of the problems with long-term storage is thatmoisture exists in the air and it will eventually seep into certain fabrics if they are not protected. You can have climate controlled storage but this is typically more expensive and may not be available for small units so if this is not an option then follow these steps and, come spring, everything should be in good condition:

  • Clean everythingthoroughly but make sure there is no cleaning product residue left as this can cause its own set of problems.
  • Leather furniture should be treated with a moisture repellent product before being covered (see below).
  • Wooden furniture and other wooden items should be treated with a wax-based conditioner – again to repel moisture.
  • All fabric, metal, leather or wood items should be well covered with cotton dust sheets or old blankets, paper or cardboard. Never use bubble wrap or plastic coverings long term as they can just trap moisture underneath.
  • Rugs, curtains, blinds, bedspreads etc should be rolled up individually and covered in cotton dust sheets.
  • Silver or silver-plated items will tarnish very quickly in a moist environment. This is a natural process and cannot be avoided altogether but you can minimise any tarnishing by covering the items in cotton covers. Old sheets, towels or tea towels are useful for this purpose.
Follow this advice to minimise the amount of moisture that can penetrate and affect your wood, fabric, metal and leather belongings. However, if you have particularly precious items you may need to rent a climate controlled storage unit or, at the very least, buy your owndehumidifier for extra protection. I use self-storage in Bedford to look after old Aunt Edith's stuff but you can find cheap storage unitsin London and also near most major towns and cities.
About the Author

The author has written and published articles on a wide range of topics including Small Business Advice, Tax and Accounting, Interior Design, House Renovation and Project Management.

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Author: Anna Preston
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Anna Preston

Member since: Apr 29, 2015
Published articles: 180

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