As fall gets into full swing, many people are taking the time to pack up their summer items. Unfortunately, very few places in the country can escape the frigid temperatures that come with winter. If left outside, things like patio furniture, grills, and even lawn equipment can succumb to the cold. These freezing temperatures can do serious damage to a number of items if they aren’t stored properly. However, winter storage can be tricky because few people have enough space to store all the belongings that need to be put away. Portable storage can be a great solution for keeping your belongings well protected while also freeing up space in your home. Even if you are renting a storage unit,however, the cold can still damage certain items if they aren’t stored properly. No matter what you are storing this winter, consider the following recommendations to ensure your belongings are safe from the winter conditions.

Common Uses for Winter Storage

As soon as temperatures begin to drop, many people start putting away summer belongings in preparation for the cold winter months. Here are a few of the most common items to be stored in winter.

●Summer clothing- Many people are in need of additional space in their closets and don’t have space to keep all of their clothing and accessories. For this reason, many people pack up out of season clothing and store it out of the way during winter.

●Outdoor Patio Furniture- The harsh winter conditions can do damage to your outdoor patio furniture so it is important to store it in a safe place during these colder months.

●Grill- Outdoor grills can be damaged from freezing temperatures, ice, and snow and are often stored in a dry place during the winter months.

●Lawn Equipment- Lawn equipment should be stored in a dry place during the winter months to avoid damage.

●Sports and Recreational Equipment- Everything from golf clubs and baseball bats to fishing gear and camping equipment should be properly stored during winter.

●Small Engine Vehicles- You can take back a great deal of space and protect your vehicles by placing them in storage during the winter.

Items That Can be Damaged by Exposure to Cold

Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can be damaging to a number of items. Even if these items are in a storage unit, certain precautions need to be taken with the following items.

●Electronics

●Photographs

●Battery-Operated Items

●Items that Include Liquid

●Furniture (or anything made of wood, wicker, metal, leather, or upholstery)

●Media (DVD’s, videos, vinyl records, etc.)

●Artwork

●Musical Instruments

●Sports Equipment

●Household Appliances

It is recommended that all of these items be stored in a climate-controlled environment. They should never be stored in a garage, an attic, or an outdoor shed. If there is not room inside the home, these items should be stored in a climate-controlled unit to prevent damage from extreme winter temperatures.

How to Prepare Your Items for Winter Storage

When placing items in storage for the winter, it is important to follow a few important steps. Before you pack and store your items be sure to:

●Clean each item- Always clean items before putting them in storage. Dirty items can cause odors and attract unwanted pests. Simply give each items a thorough wipe, rinse, and dry. Not only will this keep pests away, but it will preserve the life of your belongings.

●Repair any broken items- When you store things for winter, chances are you won’t be using those items for quite some time. You certainly don’t want to pull these items out in spring and find them broken. Check all of your seasonal equipment and make sure it is in proper working order prior to storing it.

●Use wool or cotton covers- It’s a good idea to give your items added protection by covering them. This extra layer of insulation will help to protect your items from the cold and also keep bugs and pests away.

●Use packing peanuts- If you are packing items in boxes, you can also use packing peanuts to protect your items from impacts. They will also act as insulators.

●When possible choose climate controlled storage for optimum protection.