At our Tucson self storage facility, we have seen it all when it comes to ways to store your items effectively and efficiently in our units. Most people just think cardboard boxes whenever they consider self-storage but it can be way beyond that, just use your imagination. However, if you need some ideas, here are a few to get you started. Plastic boxes – There are many brand options of plastic boxes with sealable lids. You will want the kind that don’t split or break. Typically, people get excited about this option. However, too often people will buy some that are large and best equipped to hold light items like blankets or pillows. They will then try to fill them full of books or paper, making them too heavy to move or carry easily. Make sure any plastic box is loaded for easy lifting. Think round – Instead of thinking in terms of a rectangular box, why not consider 5-gallon resealable buckets? Each bucket can hold nearly as much as your average-sized box, except with their handles, they are easy to carry and they stack well. Since they seal airtight, they are great for storing anything you want to last. Alas, the lids are difficult to open without a special tool. Make sure you keep your bucket-opening tool hanging up close to the entrance. Mesh drawstring bags – Not everything needs to be sealed. Many items you may want to store do well in mesh drawstring bags that you can hang from the ceiling or even on the walls. Sporting equipment, toys, yard hand tools, winter boots and galoshes; let your imagination run wild. Why box it if you are just going to use it for a few days and then bring it back? String hammock – A boating enthusiast came up with this one. Take a large string hammock and string it up in a way that it can be accessed easily. Fill the hammock with lifejackets and all other boating accessories that you want to air out between trips to the lake. Other uses might include winter ski clothes that also need airing out and are too bulky to fit in your closets at home. Vertical shelves – Why vertical? Many items shouldn’t be stored flat. Framed art and prints, large framed family photos, mirrors, and even your unfinished canvases (if you are an artist). Vertical shelves make it easier to store these items because you aren’t leaning them against a wall, where damage is inevitable; plus you don’t have to worry about them falling down or damaging each other. Horizontal shelves - This isn’t new necessarily, but the way you might use them would be. Many people use their storage unit as extra storage for items they use on a regular basis. Boxing and unboxing these items can become tedious. Instead, store smaller items loose, unboxed, and on a shelf. Make sure you label each shelf with the item that belongs in that exact spot, or else it could become messy. Shelves used this way become extra convenient because accessing a particular item is as easy as opening the door, grabbing your power drill, and then heading home. It also keeps many items out of the hands of curious children. There. This is a good starting point to help you begin to think beyond cardboard boxes.
