It may not feel like spring for all the shifting in weather here – snow one day, sun the next. You can tell the seasons have changed, though, by looking around your neighborhood. Garbage cans left on the curb appear bursting to capacity, and friends are making more than a few trips to their favorite thrift stores to drop off unwanted items. Spring, despite winter’s attempt to overstay its welcome, is in the air, and that means spring cleaning.
Winter evokes feelings of comfort in a warm home, but at times people associate the season with a feeling of being crowded. Holiday decorations take up space, and we accumulate more stuff during Christmas and Hanukkah. Spring cleaning, in a sense, is the holiday in which we let go of outdated or unwanted possessions. It isn’t necessary to simply throw things in the garbage or donate them, however. Self-storage serves as a viable option that allows to you hold onto items of sentimental value that don’t need to remain at home. All you have to do is decide what to keep.
You may be tempted to grab a large black bag and fill it with things you’re tired of tripping over. That’s fine for taking out the trash, but when it comes to self-storage it’s best to use cardboard boxes or plastic containers with airtight lids. What you use depends on what you plan to hold in your storage facility. As for choosing, consider these questions…
“Will I use it three to six months from now?”
This often applies to seasonal clothing (heavy coats, ski boots) and equipment (toboggans, Christmas yard decorations). If you have to keep bicycles and garden equipment in the house because you lack a shed – it’s possible if you’re downsizing to a smaller house or apartment – self-storage is one way to go.
“Does it still work?”
We’re sentimental about things. Maybe you’re keeping your old stereo turntable because one day you’ll break out the vinyl records for a party, or you’re hanging onto that heirloom grandfather clock that you’ll have fixed…eventually. Items beyond repair that require parts no longer being manufactured, however, are probably ready for the bin. Everything else you can store.
“Does somebody else want it?”
As children grow and prepare to leave for college or the military, they may ask you not to yard sale the china or a favorite recliner because they want it for their first place. What do you do in the meantime, let these “on hold” items collect dust? How long should you wait before you finally decide to sell or donate? Self-storage of furniture and household goods a relative intends to claim in the future is one way to ensure security without crowding your rooms.
As you plan your spring cleaning, keep self-storage in mind when you make a list of what stays and what goes. You don’t want to regret giving up something to a thrift store when you can keep it in a storage facility.