How to Organise your Summer Gear

It’s that time of year again. The long sultry, summer days are coming to an end and the nights are drawing in. Those glorious peaceful days at the beach will soon be a distant memory – until next year at least! As summer comes to an end, many of us are left with a lot of things lying around that we no longer need. BBQs, sun loungers, summer clothes, surfboards and even boats. If you’re short on space, what do you do with it all? Storage King holds the answer.

Store those Big Bulky Items

The great thing about self-storage is that you can pick and choose the size of your space according to your particular equipment. Storage King offers spaces from 1 metre squared, which is ideal for small amounts of barbeque equipment, inflatables and sun loungers, maybe even some bikes as well. If you need a bigger storage solution, you can go for a larger option. Use our handy storage estimator to see what sized space you need. 

We’ve all been there. Many of us have a lot of equipment that is used for part of the year only, and the rest of the time it is spent cluttering up your garage or spare room. If you live in a small house or apartment, you literally do not have space for all your stuff. What do you do with those tennis racquets, surfboards, inflatables, fishing equipment, barbeques, bikes, quad bikes and even campervans, caravans and boats? That’s not to mention the huge amount of toys that kids accumulate! The ideal solution is to put it in storage until you need it all next year.

Organise your Summer Wardrobe

What about those summer clothes you no longer have space for? All those summer dresses, skirts, tops and blouses won’t be seen for another year. Self-storage is a great way to keep them out of the way.

Use these simple tips when storing your summer clothing at Storage King to keep your clothes protected:

1.     Wash before storing

Ensure you wash and iron your summer clothing before storing. This will make sure surface stains and dirt don’t set into your clothing over time. Then you can take them out again next summer, give them a quick wash and they will be good as new!

2.     Use plastic containers

Airtight plastic containers are the best way to store your clothes. But don’t forget to make sure it is dry and clean! Lining the container with an old (but clean) cotton sheet will ensure your favourite summer outfits are protected.

3.     Clean, cool and dry

At Storage King we offer ideal storage conditions for storing clothing.  Our facilities are clean, cool, dark, dry and safe, perfect for keeping your clothes safe whilst you make room for your winter wardrobe.

Covering Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia as well as New Zealand’s North and South Island, you are never form away from a Storage King facility. Check out our Australian locations or New Zealand locations here to find the one nearest to you.

Storage King Remembers (2011 Floods)

12 months ago, many cities and towns in the state of Queensland were devastated by raging flood waters.  The sheer magnitude of this event even saw parts of NSW & Victoria heavily affected in the days and weeks that followed.

To those families, businesses and communities who suffered as a result, we hope and pray that time has allowed you to heal, re-establish and move on. To those individuals and community groups who unselfishly gave their time and money to assist those in need, we salute you.  

Wishing you all a safe and prosperous 2012.

Storing your Chritsmas and Seasonal Decorations

The stress and commotion of the Christmas season starts with a whirlwind, and usually ends with complete and utter exhaustion. Then comes the next step of packing it all up again. 

Dismantling of the Christmas tree can be a traumatic affair. We tend to randomly stuff ornaments into cardboard boxes and shopping bags and then shove them into the backs of closets or attics. This can lead to damage and loss of items, and makes the decorating next year that much more difficult and  time-consuming as you sift through the mess.

 Here are the top 5 tips to making next Christmas less stressful

 1.        Christmas decorations and seasonal items are costly and we only use them once a year. In order to maintain and protect the quality and shape of your of these goods visit you local self storage facility, they usually have a range of packaging and storage boxes in many different sizes and styles. 

 2.        When repacking your ornaments after use, do not remove the hooks you used to hang them. It will make hanging ornaments the following year much easier and limits the need for having that box of hooks that always ends up in a tangled mess. For more delicate ornaments, store the hook in the box but away from the ornament itself, to prevent scratching.   Purchase storage boxes larger than what you need, to allow for new ornaments you acquire in the future. All loose ornaments should be individually wrapped in tissue paper or butchers papers.  Bubble wrap can be used if necessary. Loose ornaments should be placed in a sturdy storage box, with shredded paper or Biofill foam to avoid breakages.

 3.        Label boxes on the top and front. Festive gift tags or labels can be used to make boxes instantly identifiable as Christmas decorations.   

4.            When storing Christmas lights it is always good to make sure that the wires and cables are not tangled. Using hard cardboard to wrap the lights around prior to storing them will make it easier next year to unravel and hang them.

 5.        Since we only use our Christmas decorations once per year utilising the services of a self storage facility to store all your Christmas decorations can save you space in your home as well as a safe and secure environment, sparing many breakages that could occur if they are shoved in the back of cupboards or in the attic.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Storage King

Storing Your Christmas Decorations and seasonal Items

Organising your home

Okay, so we all know what its like to work all day and come home in the evening to a house with washing piled up on the laundry floor, toys strewn from one end of the house to another, dishes in the sink that were not washed up after breakfast because you were running late, as usual! Then the kids are screaming at each other and refusing to do their homework!

You take a deep breath look around the room and notice that your once clean and tidy home that had a place for everything is filled with clutter and things you can’t even remember buying, draws overflowing and wardrobes bursting at the seams!

It’s time to ORGANISE YOUR HOME!!

Before you do this however you need to follow the 4 home organising rules, be prepared to be brutal.

Organise your belongings into the 3 categories

      1.      Rubbish

2.      Put away

3.     Put into storage

Rubbish includes any item that you do not need or want, but that is not donatable or sellable. Damaged and broken items should be included in the rubbish if they are not worth someone buying it and repairing it.

 
Put Away- This should be your smallest category. These are items that need to be out on a regular basis. Monitor yourself by determining if you have a place for each item. If the items in this box will not fit into your home without cluttering an area up, try to reassess if you really need them. If you do need these “essentials”, try to come up with a storage solution that fits into your home.

Storage- Put items in here that you cannot part with but do not need on a regular basis. Make an inventory of the items as you box them. Group similar items together! Remember one good way to clean out closets is to store out of season clothing.

Shipping Container vs Self Storage Facility

Today’s blog is about storing goods in shipping containers. 

On the weekend my husband and I had shipping container delivered to our farm to store unused furniture etc… to de-clutter our farm house. 

Once the container was delivered my husband began making a roof over the container. I was baffled!

 

Why would we need to put a roof over the container made of steel? He said metal containers are not designed for long term storage!  They designed for long haul shipping. When the container is closed its airtight. Temperatures rise rapidly inside. Goods stored in the container that are exposed to these temperature fluctuations will most likely be damaged, was the reply.  

• Did you know that most household and personal items that you store will contain moisture ie; linen, towels, clothes, shoes and furniture. 
•  Matresses, for example, contain several litres of fluid absorbed from the bodies that slept on it, horrid thought I know!!
• Even the air trapped inside a metal container contains water!!
•  Temperature fluctuations cause condensation that eventually drips onto the goods inside.

We decided on a storage container as our farm is a long way out of town. Putting a roofing cover over the top is the only way to be certain that our goods are not damaged by constant exposure to weather.


When considering what type of storage is best for you, I think it is very important to consider the ramifications of temperature. Self storage facilities are built specifically to store household goods in an environment that is not detrimental to the longevity of our goods. 

There are many different types of storage facilities and units to select from.  Discuss your needs with a reputable company; they will be able to advise you of the best option for your needs. Make sure you consider all your needs and remember to always insure you belongings

Getting the most out of your Self Storage Unit - Seasonal Changes

One can only imagine how people have stuff stored in their self storage units! My Guess is that it is full of stuff piled up in no particular manner.

I read an article recently with some fabulous ideas on how to make your storage unit work for you all year round. The main idea was to make your Self Storage unit a seasonal storage unit.  The one requirement for this idea though is a drive up unit, so some investigation may be required to see if your local facility has this option.

The best way you can do this, and with the least amount of effort and time is to store seasonal garden tools, such as leaf blowers and lawn mowers, etc… on a utility trailer. Investing in a utility trailer, and loading it with all the heavy, bulky garden tools etc.. that are not used for the duration of the season is well worth it. Sometimes there may even be room left on the trailer to add the seasonal clothes or decorations that  are not needed and can be  put in storage as well, like Christmas tree, pool equipment and toys, camping gear etc... Then simply roll the entire trailer into the storage unit and leave it there. Then bring it home at the beginning of the next season, roll  all the items and other equipment off the trailer, then load all the past seasons equipment or other items on, and then drive the trailer back to the storage unit. With good planning, the whole changeover for the seasons can take an hour or less.

I am sure we are all for de clutter and seasonal de cluttering is a fabulous opportunity to use your home the way it is meant to be,  that is no tripping over things and shoving things into every nook and cranny in your home.

If your unit is not a drive up unit you may need to re think the transport strategy. You may need to load and unload the items individually into your storage unit. It is still a great way to store goods and requires a visit to the storage unit only once per season. A lot of facilities have forklifts, trolleys etc. that can help with the moving of your items.

So seasonal use of your unit may be an option to consider and one very important piece of advice would be to ensure that any goods you do intend using throughout each season should be stored at the front of the unit and easily accessed.

Happy Storing

Young Care Helping Townsville

How good are Universal?! A lovely chap called Jack is designing custom-made t-shirts, with $15 from every t-shirt sold being donated to Youngcare. Jack will be at CastleTown Shopping Town (in Townsville) this Saturday if you are keen to get your very own shirt in support of Youngcare

http://www.facebook.com/#!/YoungcareOz 

Office Space !

Offices can be tailored to suit the individual preferences of the client. Furniture, lighting and accessories can be arranged.

If you are looking for offices in Melbourne, then look no further than Storage King Dandenong South Offices. Conveniently located at 335 South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South (enter via Carter Way, Melways reference 96 A6), Storage King Dandenong South Offices have easy access to the Monash Freeway, South Gippsland Highway, Frankston-Dandenong Road & Western Port Highway, making us one of the most centrally located office sites in Melbourne. Close to all major roads and arterials it makes it an ideal central location to base your business from.

We have a range of office sizes available at very competitive prices. We provide free off street parking for yourself and your clients as well as a client waiting area. We offer a receipt & delivery service, as well as an attached Storage King site so you can store any excess stock.

Storage King Dandenong South also has a pallet storage warehouse with forklift and pallet jacks for ease of delivery, a bay for shipping container loading/unloading and discounted packaging supplies.

Storage King Dandenong South Offices also offer convenient month by month agreements so if you need a temporary office base in Melbourne for a short period of time, you should consider Storage King Dandenong South Offices as your temporary Melbourne office.

For all office enquiries phone Maria on 9799 1310

Looking for storage space? www.storagedandenong.com.au

Top 10 reasons for using self storage

Top Ten Reasons you should use self storage

• 1.    You need more room
• 2.    Family heirlooms and hand me downs can be stored out of the way
• 3.    You are downsizing to a smaller home
• 4.    You’re travelling
• 5.    Have time between moves
• 6.    More room for your adventure toys
• 7.    Selling a home and need to de-clutter
• 8.    Seasonal storage eg: Christmas trees and lights
• 9.    Off site security
• 10. Run a business from home and need a small space to store the goods you sell/supply