How To Tackle Your Overstuffed Storage Locker
If you have a storage locker, chances are it’s full to bursting, and if it’s too full for you to access the contents or even know what they are, then it’s not doing you any good.
Here are some tips to start reclaiming your storage locker:
Group your items — Most things can be classified or grouped in some way. For example, ski equipment, all the winter exercise gear, camping equipment etc you get the point. Logical groups mean that everyone who shares the space (such as family members, or other people you live with) will be able to find what they are looking for, even if they weren’t part of the organizing process.
Get your items storage ready — Make sure what you are keeping in storage is suitably prepared for the space, as most storage areas do not have heat and some may be damp. Items that could be affected by temperature and humidity (like a wedding dress or artwork) will need to be re-packed in a suitable container.
Make a plan — Make sure you have a plan before you start. Draw a picture of the locker layout, and plan to store the stuff you use the most near the front and the stuff you use the least at the back. If this changes depending on the season (seasonal sports equipment and holiday decorations come to mind), then when you put it away at the end of each season, make sure to refer to your plan.
Label, label, label — All those plastic bins we love to store things in can become mystery bins if they don’t have labels. Make sure you label your boxes before stacking them away to save yourself time and heavy lifting. The labels should be large enough for everyone to read. This labels I recommend are brightly coloured to distinguish the different item groups, with large letters for easy reading.
Don’t store hazardous things — This may sound obvious, but it’s still worth thinking about. Make sure you are not storing anything that could be harmful or flammable, or else old items that have expired and could become toxic. This is especially important if you have a storage locker in a condo or off-site storage, since they may have particular safety rules. Check with the strata or the storage company if you are unsure what is acceptable.
Good luck, and call me if you need some help with your storage locker!
November 7th, 2009 at 3:29 am
A very interesting blog post. What would you say was the most common problem?