Storage and Moving – A Perfect Match

We’ve said this before. Moving can be one of life’s most stressful events. But like most things in life, if you plan ahead, you can make things a little easier for yourself. Once you know you’re going to move, start planning – time can move quickly and you want to avoid feeling stressed.

There are several excellent moving checklists online designed to help you decide what belongings you should keep with you for your move. The rest, you will need to decide if you want to throw away, give away or sell. And when you decide to keep more stuff than you want in your new place, Planet Storage can provide a great storage solution.

Depending on how fat your wallet is and how much time you have, investigate having a moving company move your stuff. It will eliminate a tonne of stress. Then, to take it one step further, clearly mark your items with notes that show where they are heading with coloured markers. Colored sticky notes can be another alternative to help tell you at a glance what your plans are for a particular box or item. Although, they tend to fall off.

Self-Storage can play an important role in this game of moving residences. Especially when you have just sold your place and need to move out, but you haven’t found a new place to call home. Many people in the Toronto area store their stuff with us while they search for a new place to live.

There are other reasons of course. Maybe you have inherited some fancy old furniture or even received some extra-large presents from a loved one that you don’t know where to put just yet. The best place for stuff like that is in a climate controlled self-storage unit at Planet Storage.

Whatever your reason, give us a call to find out how we can help you store your stuff. 🙂

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Keeping Memories Or Creating Clutter: What To Keep From Your Childhood

I know exactly what happened. You recently came across a box full of old memories. Maybe it was intentional, maybe it was by accident. But when you found that box of old stuff, the nostalgia was incredible. Maybe even a little overwhelming?

Our childhood heirlooms have the incredible power to take us back to a time when life was much simpler and different.

A Cluttered Childhood: Cleaning out Old Belongings

We cherish these belongings for their intrinsic value. You can’t put a price on them. And parting with them? Forget about it. So we store them. Either at home or in a self storage unit at a local facility.

Deep down though, we wrestle with the idea that not every memento should be kept until the end of time and we are faced with the inevitability of either giving them away or throwing them in the trash.

What Should you Keep?

We tend to keep things that we know we can pass on to future generations, especially if they have been in the family for a long time. But what about stuff like aged high school and college clothing or old posters or even love letters from that guy or girl from 25 years ago? That stuff probably better belongs in a second hand store or the dump.

Its an emotional journey but there are two questions that will really help you as you decide what to keep and what to throw away:  Does this item create clutter in my home? And will the memory remain if I simply take a picture of it?

There’s no need to fill your house with items that you can take a picture with your iPhone. If the picture can suffice, then take your shot and send the physical item to the trash!

And if the idea of that is just too much, maybe storing it Planet Storage would be a great way for you to keep the items for a little while longer until you decide what to do with them 🙂

Storage for Santa

Here is a fantastic infographic that I found on Sparefoot.com that I thought I would share because its fun. The original post can be found here: http://blog.sparefoot.com/7171-storing-santas-gifts-infographic/

Enjoy 🙂

Things You Should Not Keep in Your Storage Unit

Your indoor self-storage unit is a great place to keep unused furniture, seasonal equipment or holiday decorations. But there are a number of items you should never leave in storage, and here is a brief list of those things to guide you:

Electronic Devices

Computers, flat-screen televisions and stereo equipment are all susceptible to changes in temperature. If absolutely need to store electronic equipment of any kind, opt for a temperature-controlled unit which will manage fluctuations in temperature. Extreme heat or cold has the potential to damage your equipment permanently.

Medical Equipment

Some medical supplies or pharmaceuticals can be stored in your self-storage unit, but anything that contains radioactive materials cannot be legally kept in storage. X-ray machines are one example of these machines that should be in a controlled and regularly monitored space.

Perishable Items

Never store perishable food items or plants in your storage unit. Foods can spoil and attract pests like rodents or insects, which can damage the other things in your unit. Perishable items can also cause odors that might seep into your fabrics.

Toxic or Flammable Materials

Items that can be dangerous like kerosene, lamp or motor oil, compressed gas, propane tanks or gasoline should not be kept in self-storage. Other hazardous materials include paint, fertilizer, acid, grease or corrosives. You should also never store fireworks, explosives or ammunition because they can put staff at risk if they combust.

So there you have it. Some tips on what you can’t store in your self storage unit. If you currently have some or all of these types of items in your unit, the smart play would be to get them out as soon as possible 🙂

 

8 Interesting Statistics On Clutter

You straighten up closets, clean out corners, and move things to the garage, but stacks and boxes keep multiplying. You need two things: motivation and modern self-storage. Here are eight clutter statistics guaranteed to help inspire.

1.  WE WEAR 20% OF THE CLOTHES WE OWN 80% OF THE TIME

This stat seems to beg the question – Do we really need this many clothes if we aren’t wearing them often?

2.  THE AVERAGE CANADIAN SPENDS 12 WEEKS A YEAR LOOKING FOR ITEMS THEY OWN BUT CAN’T FIND

Collectively, we burn up more than nine million hours a day hunting for things that we know are somewhere around the house. In this case, misery doesn’t love company. It just wishes the clutter would go away and let you reclaim all that lost time.

3.  ELIMINATING CLUTTER CUTS HOUSEWORK BY 40% IN AN AVERAGE HOME

It’s dusty, disorganized and in the way. You freshen it up, rearrange it and move it to a new spot. If you think there’s something wrong with cleaning around clutter, it needs to go. Getting rid of it eliminates 40 percent of the chores around your home.

4.  25% OF PEOPLE WITH 2-CAR GARAGES DON’T PARK ANY CARS IN THEM

Remember when there was plenty of room for two? If squeezing in one is a battle, you’re among the 32 percent of homeowners with two-car garages who are losing the battle with clutter. Give it time, and you’ll join the 25 percent who can’t park anything in the garage.

5.  COSTS AN AVERAGE OF $10 PER SQ. FT. TO STORE ITEMS IN YOUR HOUSE

Mortgage payments, utility bills, taxes and general expenses make that 12-inch by 12-inch corner in the den worth $10. Compared to the value of your home’s floor space, monthly rent for a climate controlled self storage unit at Planet Storage is an inexpensive investment that conquers clutter.

6.  A TYPICAL HOME CONTAINS $1600 WORTH OF UNUSED CLUTTER

What’s a good resale price on the old Jet Ski? Were you impressed with the appraisal value of that inherited china collection? Did you know that the typical home fills up with clutter valued at approximately $1,600? Tuck it away in a safe self-storage unit, and cash in at your convenience.

7.  SERIOUS HOARDING PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT IN AT LEAST 1 IN 50 PEOPLE

One out of 50 people are prone to hoarding. For another one out of 20, the situation will grow into a serious problem. Letting things pile up is a nuisance, but harmless clutter can escalate into an obsession that takes over the space and lives inside a home.

8.  ONE OF THE MOST COMMON STRESS TRIGGERS – WORRYING THE HOUSE ISN’T CLEAN ENOUGH OR ORGANIZED ENOUGH

If you worry that the house isn’t clean enough and admit that disorganization is part of the problem, you’re in good company. Canadians list “clutter” as one of the top things they wish they didn’t have to worry about. A mess around the house triggers stress.

Now that you’re inspired, it’s time to conquer the clutter. For a few dollars a month, you can reclaim time, space and peace of mind at home. Life’s easier when everything has its own space, so enjoy the advantages of a modern, secure self-storage facility. Come visit us at Planet Storage and we’ll help you reclaim your space!

See you soon 🙂

 

Motorcycle Storage

Those wheels mean a lot to you, so they deserve a secure home away from home. Whether you’re reclaiming garage space, changing addresses or just need an extra parking spot, Planet Storage can help store your motorcycle through the winter.

So Many Good Reasons

Are you a weekend rider with a crowded garage? Is your bike a work in progress?  Do you own a vintage bike that’s as much a personal treasure as it is your summer mode of transportation? Do you want to keep your motorcycle safe from theft and vandalism, and in an indoor unit that protects it from our Canadian winter weather?  Planet Storage has a number of solutions for you.

Affordable Indoor Motorcycle Storage

If you’re thinking about a short OR long-term parking solution for the bike, an indoor self storage unit provides an environment that keeps your wheels in top shape. We have sizes that fit every need and leasing options that work with every budget. Our friendly staff can help you choose the best indoor storage unit for your motorcycle.

• Minimum storage unit size required is 5 feet by 10 feet.
• All units feature metal roll-up doors.
• 24/7 access.
• All units individually alarmed.

Before You Store

While our facilities are insured, we don’t cover vehicles, so make sure your motorcycle carries the required insurance. When you arrange to store with us, you’ll also need proof of valid registration and title, and the bike must be in running condition. If you need tips on long-term motorcycle storage, our helpful pros are happy to answer all your questions.

Whether you’re storing your bike in a smaller unit to get it out of the way for the winter so you can enjoy your garage back home. Or in a larger unit that can double as a mechanics paradise to work on your hobby bike. Planet storage is an excellent option to store your precious wheels. We look forward to meeting you soon 🙂

 

How to Properly Store a Refrigerator

Thank goodness you don’t have to move a refrigerator into self storage everyday. It’s a big job that requires a little planning, but it doesn’t have to turn into a heavy-duty headache. The fridge needs a complete cleaning, careful moving and its own safe spot in a climate-controlled storage unit.

1. Time and a Manual Help

Part of an efficient refrigerator’s job is maintaining a moist environment. That’s great for food storage, but it works against you once the unit’s unplugged. Without a thorough cleaning and drying, every surface becomes a petri dish for mold and mildew. It’s important to give the fridge time to air out before moving it to climate-controlled self storage. Removing the doors speeds up this process and makes it easier to clean inside and out. Now’s the time to find that owner’s manual. This little book diagrams your refrigerator’s anatomy for easy disassembly. If you can’t locate the guide, a quick online search will turn up the right manual for your model.

2. Choose Your Cleaners Carefully

Hot, soapy water is great for cleaning the exterior of your refrigerator, but the interior needs a different approach. Shelving and storage bins prefer a solution of one quart of warm water mixed with two tablespoons of baking soda. Don’t use abrasives or harsh cleaners because they scratch plastic and etch stainless steel. Put an old toothbrush to work scrubbing tight corners and door seals. When you’re ready to clean the back coils and tubing, unplug the fridge, and use a hand vacuum or soft cloth. If your refrigerator has a water and ice dispenser, don’t forget to drain the holding tank. Let your handy owner’s manual be your guide to safely disconnecting everything.

3. Move It Like a Pro

Most refrigerators weigh between 250 and 300 pounds. That’s a lot of bulk to move around, so don’t try to muscle it across any surface. Take out all the drawers and shelving, and enlist the help of a willing friend and a sturdy dolly. Tilt the fridge slightly, slide the dolly in place, and slowly set it level. It’s important to keep the tilt to a minimum because too much angling will push compressor fluids into the condenser. A refrigerator can topple over more easily than you think, so be careful with the moving process. Cover the fridge with a blanket, securely strap it to the dolly, and use a strong ramp to load it on the truck. Tie everything down, and take your time with the drive.

4. Use Smart Storage Strategies

Your refrigerator and your back deserve a self storage unit with drive-up access. The convenience of unloading at your unit’s entrance saves time and work. If you haven’t removed the fridge door yet, now’s the time. Climate-controlled self storage combats humidity, but your refrigerator stays fresher without the door, and its removal adds a layer of safety if you have kids that might visit the unit. Keep drawers from becoming dust bins by storing them upside down inside the fridge, and place hardware in plastic bags stored on the shelves. Toss a clean sheet over the refrigerator, and congratulate yourself on a big job well done.

Getting a refrigerator ready for storage is easy when you invest a little time in proper cleaning and a careful move. Kitchen duty is hard, so let your fridge relax in secure, climate-controlled self storage. You’ll both enjoy a fresh start when it’s time to retrieve your coolest appliance.

See you soon 🙂