Tag Archive for: Brooks

Protecting Items In Storage

Using a drop cover for protecting storage items

Protecting Items for Storage

You’ve made the decision to place your items in storage and now that you have everything
ready go, here are some simple tips to protect what you are storing:

Confounded Condensation
Depending on the weather extremes and humidity in your area, it is possible for condensation
to build up on your stored goods which can cause water and mold damage. A good option to
avoid damage from prolonged moisture exposure is to put a plastic drop sheet on the floor of
your storage unit before placing items in the unit. Using pallets to put your belongings on is
even better, especially if you are storing goods for longer periods of time. Also, leave some
‘breathing space’ (about two finger widths) between stacked items so fresh air circulates
between your belongings.

If your furniture has had its issues already before storage, https://kleenway.ca/residential/residential-upholstery-cleaning specializes in green friendly residential upholstery cleaning.

Don’t Over Stack
When placing boxed items in storage, the temptation is to stack as high as you can reach. Boxes
are only designed to take so much weight and over time might give way under the stress of
over stacking. This can result in entire stacks toppling over. If the items in those boxes are
fragile… well, you get the point. You also need to consider your safety. For this reason, stacks
should only go as high as your natural reach…or the natural reach of the shortest adult
accessing the storage.

Man with moving boxes

Protect Your Belongings

Dreaded Dust
Nobody wants to open their unit and find that everything inside is now dust covered. All that
cleaning you did to prepare your goods for storage has been potentially wasted – and let’s face
it: dust is inevitable. So why not use a couple of inexpensive plastic drop sheets to help protect
your items? Drop sheets should be draped loosely around items to encourage air flow but offer
protection from fine dust.

By using these three tips, your stored goods should remain intact, dry and dust free. Be sure to
check out the retail items available for purchase at our locations to assist with your packing needs. We are here to help you through every step
of your rental process.
You can access more information on our blog site such as the importance of cleaning before you store, as well as make use of our handy
storage calculator to determine the correct unit size for your needs.
Ron Heizelman – Site Manager, MHS

Preparing Belongings For Storage

Getting yourself prepared for self storage

Preparing Your Belongings For Storage

Before you pack your belongings into storage, you need to get them ready. From cleaning to taking inventory, here’s how to best prepare.

Purge

If you haven’t used something in a while or no longer want an item don’t waste money storing it. Sell it or donate it to someone who will make better use of the item.

Clean everything that’s going into storage

Before you put things into storage make sure they are clean. Why is this important? If you store something while it’s dirty, it’s only going to be worse for wear when you unpack it two, four, or twelve months later. Over time things that are stored dirty can acquire a musty smell, and stains can damage fabrics. A thorough cleaning will ensure that items don’t deteriorate while in storage.

Pro tips:

  • Wash clothes and linens then store them in plastic bags to prevent mold and mildew.
  • Vacuum out the crevasses and wipe all furnishings then use an appropriate protective spray on leather and fabric upholstery. Wax wood furniture.
  • Wipe the inside and outside of appliances. If applicable, run a final wash cycle with vinegar. If you are storing a washer, make sure all tanks and hoses are drained. For fridges and freezers add a moisture absorbent substance like charcoal to help prevent odors. You can reach out to local appliance companies as well for info. https://www.bc-appliance.ca/
  • Wipe all sporting goods and kids’ toys including plush toys. Store plush toys in plastic bags.

 

Inventory what you’re storing

Person taking inventory for self storage

Be prepared by doing an inventory first

While you are cleaning your belongings, write down what’s going to be stored. Why is this important? An inventory will help you determine what size storage unit you need and how to organize that storage unit.

Pro tips:

  • Our storage calculator web page allows you to enter an inventory of your belongings and calculates what size storage unit you need. You can also email this list to yourself right from our storage calculator page.
  • Add a brief description including the item’s brand, serial number, model number, and if there is any damage to your inventory list.
  • Email a copy of your inventory list to your property insurance agent and advise them that you are putting these items into storage. This will help ensure that you have coverage for these possession’s and speed up the claims process should disaster make this necessary.

 

Make sure you get the right size of storage unit

Our easy-to-use storage calculator does the math for you. Once you’ve entered an inventory of your possessions into the calculator the graph on the right side of this web page tells you what size storage unit you need. You can then go ahead and book your storage unit either by clicking on the Rent Now button on our website, or if you need help you can call us and talk to someone in our office.

Screen shot of calculator page

Using our self storage calculator

Pro tip:

  • Right now, we are experiencing high demand for storage units and have a waiting list for many sizes. Renting online allows you to quickly see and rent any size that is available. This is kind of like a gamer’s cheat code for self-storage. If the size you want isn’t available don’t give up. People come and go from self-storage units daily. So, call our office and get on the waitlist right away.

Now you will need to pack your belongings. How you pack an item determines how well it survives a move, storage and then being unpacked. Watch for our next blog — How to pack your belongings like a pro so they are in good condition when you take them out of storage.

Earth Day

Earth day is coming April 22 and amid all the chaos of the past few years we wanted to put the focus back on the future of our families and our community here at Medicine Hat Storage. After all the way we treat the environment now will affect future generations. 

 

A planet that is growing warmer each year isn’t good for any living thing. We can’t become complacent to this threat to the world, so Medicine Hat Storage has focused on offering only moving boxes made from recycled material and going paperless in our office. Below are just a few positive effects this action has on our community and the world.

 

Protects trees (our shield against CO2)

Trees are considered carbon sinks. Trees lock away carbon dioxide in the wood, roots, and leaves. “This locking-up process ‘stores’ carbon as wood and not as an available ‘greenhouse’ gas. Trees are imperative to earths survival so it is beneficial to protect them as best we can.” Steve Nix forestry expert on  .

 

Reduces paper waste

According to , in 2022, paper mills will produce about 500 million tons of paper and cardboard. Paper waste produces pollution which is toxic to air, water, and soil. Paper is produced by using chlorine-based bleaches so when paper rots in the landfill Methane gas gets released. This gas is worse than CO2. Using products made with recycled products and going paperless significantly reduces paper waste and in turn reduces the amount of toxic gasses entering our atmosphere.

 

Saves water

The amount of water used to produce one piece of paper is 10 litres. The less paper we use in our office, the less of the life-giving resource is wasted.

 

How is your family or business being environmentally conscious? We’d love to hear your ideas so that we all can do a little better to help our home — planet Earth.

Moving During A Pandemic

Packing and moving can be difficult at the best of times, but moving during a pandemic creates a whole new set of challenges. If you have to move you and your moving company should put health and safety first. We suggest you call your moving company to discuss your options and they should help you plan as safe (and seamless) a move as possible. This may include: Read more

Prepping Your Motorbike for the First Ride of Spring

Author’s Note: In light of our current situation surrounding self-isolation and social-distancing, we ask that you ride responsibly – please ride alone, and avoid large groups.

Everyone knows January 1st is the beginning of the New Year, but for me the year really doesn’t get underway until the snow melts and the open road beckons. When I feel that urge to pull my motorbike from its winter slumber, here is my checklist to make that first run of the year a little more enjoyable: Read more

Seller’s Remorse

Kids, grandma is moving in. It will be so great to have her living here.

Jill speaking to husband – John: What are we going to do with all of mom’s belongings? It won’t fit in the house and she has so much.

John speaking to Mother-in-law – Ethel: Why don’t we have a garage sale before you move. Jill and I can help, and of course Cathy and Cindy being teenagers can also help. This will teach them how to negotiate. Read more

What To Do With All That Paperwork

Does your business have too much paperwork? Is it taking up office space that could be put to better use? With regulations requiring businesses hold on to their records for up to 10 years, that’s a lot of paper! So, where do you put it?

Consider self-storage for your documents. Here are some reasons why storing paperwork can help your business. Read more

Small Business Profile: Extended Family Services Inc.

At Storage Group Alberta, we love to help our local businesses thrive in our communities, to do this we help them with their storage and office needs. This is how we met Rod DeVries and Anne-Marie Sorenson, owners of Extended Family Services Inc. They have watched their business grow exponentially in the past few years. We met with Rod briefly to speak with him about their business and what they have to offer. Read more

Top 5 Day Trips Around Medicine Hat

Want to take time away but you’re under a time constraint? Here are a few places you can go for the day or longer that are nice for vacations or a day trip and won’t interfere with that dreadful time limit. Read more