How to Properly Store Your Photographs

Photographs are memories that we have and they capture a moment in time that will never happen again. Without photos, you will only be able to visualize what you remember from the event and you will not have any piece of existence of that memory.

Many people look at photos as they reminisce about their life or they show photos to others when they want to let someone know what their relatives looked like or what they looked like as a baby. You can document any part of your life from a failure to an achievement through a photograph.

Since photos are so important, it is vital that you properly store them to ensure they last over the years. If you do not, then you will find that the image is faded and sometimes completely gone by the time you recover the photos.

  1. Gather Your Photos and Sort Them

The first step in the process is to gather all of your photos and place them into one big pile. You should grab any photo albums you have and remove the phots from them, especially if they are the sticky album sheets. The glue on these sheets often eat through the photograph and ruin it over long periods of time.

Once you have all of your photos, separate them into memories or time periods. For example, you could have a pile that is from when you were an infant and then a pile from one of your achievements.

Are You Committing Any of These Storage Unit Mistakes?

If you have a self-storage unit, you are probably anxious to start tossing your boxes in there and getting them out of your home. But, before you do, consider the following storage unit mistakes. You want to make sure you are avoiding these mistakes at all costs, as they will end up costing you in the long run.

Mistake #1: Forgetting about a climate controlled unit.

Did you know that some items are sensitive to temperatures? If you have forgotten to consider a climate controlled unit, you may be in for a surprise when you open your storage door and find your furniture warped or your electronics damaged.

It is important that you evaluate the items you are storing and then decide whether or not a climate controlled unit is right for you.

Mistake #2: Choosing to throw unlabeled boxes into your unit.

One of the worst things you can do is take a bunch of unlabeled boxes and just throw them into your unit. First, you will be creating clutter and you will make it impossible to get to your items. Secondly, you will never know where to look for items when you need them. An unlabeled box means you will have to sift through it just to identify what is inside.

Advice on Monitoring Your Climate-Controlled Unit’s Temperature and Humidity Levels

When you place your items in a storage unit that is supposed to be climate controlled, do you really know if it is? Think about it for a moment. What if the climate controlled unit is too hot, too cold, or too humid? Your items are at risk when the temperature and humidity levels are not kept where they need to be. To prevent this from happening, you need to make sure that you are monitoring your storage unit’s climate. Not sure how? Below, we will help you learn how to do so effectively.

  1. Use Temperature and Humidity Monitors

When you want to monitor the temperature and humidity level of your storage unit, you need to place a thermometer, hydrometer, or other type of measuring device inside your unit to ensure that everything is correct.

The thermometer itself will tell you what the current temperature is and you can write down on a piece paper to keep a log, if you choose. The hydrometer is responsible for monitoring the humidity level within your storage unit. You can choose to purchase manual read gauges or you can choose to place a digital meter to keep track of the temperature levels.

On average, your storage unit should be somewhere between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity level should be somewhere between 35 and 45 percent.

Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Packing Party

If you are stressed out about your upcoming move, there is one way that you can make the entire experience a great one – have a packing party. You may be wondering what a packing party is right now and it is a sort of get together that you host and your guests help you pack up all of your items and stick them into boxes. How fun is that? Not only will you be able to bond with your friends, you will find that your packing gets done a lot quicker than it would have if you were doing it alone. Below, we will go over some ways and ideas to help you host the best packing party of all time.

  1. Plan and Set a Date

You need to make sure that you plan and set a date for your packing party. Sit down and think about who you want to invite, the activities that will take place, your budget for the party, and what day you want the party to be held. If you plan to have a small get together, choose a day that you know all of your friends will be able to attend. For example, an ideal night would be a Friday or Saturday, but if you have some friends that work weekends, you may find that everyone is off on Wednesday and you can have the party then.

Your Guide to Packing Your Kitchen for Your Upcoming Move

If you are dreading packing your kitchen, you are not alone. In fact, it is one of the most commonly despised areas in a home to pack and this is because it is usually packed with items. There are some strategies to help you pack it up without stressing about the situation and below, we will provide you with some tips and tricks to make a kitchen packing session easier than ever.

  1. Sort Through Your Silverware

Ugh! Silverware is one of the hardest things to pack because each utensil is loose and can become mixed in with everything else. To prevent any damage to your items and to help keep your silverware manageable during your move, separate the utensils by type and then secure each bundle with a rubber band. Grab a shoebox or small cardboard box and place all of the bundled silverware into the box to keep them separated from all other kitchenware.

Cluttered Spice Cabinet? Use These Clever Storage Hacks

If you love to cook, then you likely have an entire cabinet packed full of different spices. Some of these spices you may use on a regular basis and others on a not so regular basis, but either way, let’s admit it, your spice cabinet is a disaster. While it may seem like there is no way you can organize your spice cabinet efficiently, there are some storage hacks that can make the job a lot easier on you. Below, we will go over some of the best hacks to ensure that your spice cabinet is free from clutter and disorganization.

  1. Utilize Your Pantry’s Door

If you have a pantry in your kitchen, you have probably noticed that the interior door does not serve much of a purpose and is more of a blank space than anything. You can quickly and easily transform your pantry’s cabinet door into a spice rack for yourself. To do this, grab a few different sized wire racks and mount them to the door. You can organize your spices by color, name, and use.

  1. Have a Test Tube Collection

Have a couple of spices that you use on the regular? If so, you know it can be difficult to find them in the stack of spices, but now, you can have them right at your disposal. Grab a small wooden box and some test tubs. Add the spice to the test tube and then place the tube into the wooden box. You can access your most readily used spices quickly and easily.

Rent a Box? Moving Box Rental Companies – Yay or Nay?

When it comes time to move your belongings, you need to put them in a box, right? But, what if you do not have any boxes on hand and you do not want to have any boxes on hand? There is a solution to this problem and you can actually rent boxes to use for your move. You are probably thinking we are making this up, but we are not and it is an idea that has gained a lot of traction and helps homeowners each and every day.

What Are These Boxes?

Renting a box is a somewhat new concept, but it is one that many people love. In fact, you do not have to worry about hunting down boxes and you are able to have boxes delivered to you quickly. The box itself is made from durable plastic and not cardboard, so the boxes hold up for use over and over again.

How Does It Work?

Your Guide to Storing Your Winter Equipment

Since the winter is officially over, it is time to start freeing up space in your garage and placing your winter equipment into storage. But, before you just toss your snow blower and skis into your storage unit, you need to know that they will be in good condition when you return next year. Below, we will go over some tips to help you properly store your winter equipment.

Clean the Equipment

The first step you need to take to properly store your winter equipment is to clean the equipment. Mud, water, and other debris that is left on your equipment can ruin it, especially while the item is sitting in storage. For example, if there is water left on the chains or any metal pieces of your equipment, it can cause rust to form and this can damage your equipment when you go to use it next.

Look at the User Manual

The next thing you need to do is read the user manual for the piece of equipment that you plan to store. The user manual is going to provide you with a lot of useful information that you can use. Many times, the manual will let you know the steps you need to take to prepare your equipment for storage. In addition, you can use the manual to guide you when it comes to caring for your equipment.

Your Guide to Storing Your Family’s Bicycles

If you are planning a move or traveling for an extended period of time then t is important that you properly store your bicycle to prevent rust and deterioration that may occur while you are away. Whether you place your bicycle in your garage or your self-storage unit, you should follow the tips below to ensure it is in the same condition when you return.

  1. Clean and Check the Bicycle Frame

One of the first things you need to do is clean your bicycle’s frame. This means you should wash it down and ensure that there is no dirt or mud stuck on it as this can chip the paint. Once the bike is washed off, make sure to dry it very well and ensure there is no water left in it. To do this, you should remove the seat and tip the bike upside down to remove any water that may have leaked inside.

If you do not ensure that the bike is dried off and free from water, then the water will lead to rust and this leads to severe frame damage.

Your Guide to Storing Acrylic Paint

If you have acrylic paint sitting in your craft room and you are getting ready to move, but you do not know how to store the paint, then you have stumbled onto the right article. This article will teach you how to store all of your acrylic paint, so that when you return for it, it is not dried out and ready to be thrown in the trash.

  1. Know the Temperature of Your Unit

A cool unit is key to keeping your acrylic paints in good condition. In fact, if acrylic paints get too hot, they will dry up and they will not be useable when you return to fetch them out of storage. Similarly, if the paint gets too cold, you will find that it freezes and the consistency of the paint will no longer be there.

It is important to store your acrylic paint in a climate controlled unit that does not get too hot or too cold. Fluctuations in the temperature are dangerous for the paints as well.