Does your basement look like something out of an episode of Hoarders? Is your garage so cluttered that you’ve stopped parking your car in it?
Did you know 23% of homeowners cannot fit their car in the garage because their garage is filled with tools, toys, sports equipment, collectibles, and seasonal decorations? The holidays are fast approaching, but there is still time to come up with a storage plan.
Designate a Location. Whether it is in your garage, basement, crawl space, or family craft room, consistently store all your decorations in one area. By keeping a consistent location, you’re cutting down on hunt and gather time, having plenty of time left over to decorate.
Use Plastic and Transparent. Store holiday decorations in enclosed plastic containers, guarding against water and moisture damage. Check the storage area, ensuring there are no water leaks due to the roof or a wet basement, possibly causing damaging mold and mildew to occur.
Label the Contents. Items will be easy to find. Most big box stores sell plastic bins in varying sizes and colors. Color-coding boxes can help in identifying the contents quickly and easily — Christmas Decorations in Green, Halloween in orange, etc.…saving you time and energy over time.
Lights. Be proactive and eliminate frustration for next year. Take the time to check all light strands, throwing out or repairing those that don’t light properly. Swap any worn-out lights with LEDs that save energy, release less heat, and last longer.
Work as You Go. Organize as you pack up decorations. Neatly wrap up cords to prevent tangling next year. Use bubble wrap or tissue to cushion delicate, fragile items, preventing damage.
Avoid a roach motel. Boxes with tissue paper, linens, and decorations are perfect hangouts for unwanted insects to hide and nest. Insects and mice can destroy sentimental ornaments. Spray pesticide around the inside perimeter of your basement, crawl space, basement, or attic for added protection.
Keeping family memories alive is one of the reasons the holidays are so close to our hearts. It is worth taking the time now to come up with a storage plan and process for storing the decorations, keeping them safe and accessible.
Who knows? You might be able to move your car into the garage.
At Storage Authority, we have seen our fair share of clutter. We provide 24/7 self-storage room access so you can access your goods when it’s convenient for you. Our storage units and moving products go a long way in providing peace-of-mind to our customers. Contact us or give us a call at 262-676-9464.