Sofas are common items in self-storage units , but keeping them in good condition takes a little bit of preparation. If you plan to put a sofa into storage, follow these tips to ensure it stays looking like new until you’re ready to use it again.

Clean Before Storing

It’s always a good idea to clean your sofa before putting it into storage, even if you don’t see any signs of stains or dirt. Sofas take a lot of abuse, so putting it away without cleaning means you’ll be locking in sweat, germs, and odors. The right method of cleaning your sofa depends on its upholstery materials. Generally, synthetic fabrics can be cleaned with water, while natural fabrics require a solvent-based cleaner. Leather sofas can be cleaned with a few drops of olive oil massaged into the leather using a microfiber cloth. Ensure your sofa is thoroughly dried before moving it to your storage unit.

Choose Climate-Controlled Storage

Climate-controlled storage facilities will reduce the impact of temperature extremes, moisture, and humidity on the wood and upholstery of your sofa. Although climate-controlled units often cost a bit more, they are worth the extra money to protect your investment in your sofa. Be sure to select a unit of adequate size to accommodate your sofa and any protective padding you want to put around it—you shouldn’t have to push the sofa against a wall or the door.

Store the Sofa Off the Ground

One of the easiest and most effective ways you can protect your sofa in storage is to put it on pallets to keep it off the ground. This will protect your furniture piece from dirt and moisture. It will also help air circulate freely around your sofa. Cover the sofa with drop cloths or padded cloths, but avoid plastic, which traps air and moisture and encourages mold growth.

POUCH Self Storage offers a range of storage options, including climate-controlled, personal storage units and jumbo storage units, as well as business storage. Find out more about our storage solutions in San Juan Capistrano by calling (800) 378-4598.

When not in use, putting your RV in vehicle storage at a storage facility will allow you to protect your vehicle without taking up space in your driveway. To ensure that your RV is ready to use the next time you want to hit the open road, there are a few steps you need to take to prepare it for downtime. One critical step is to add fuel stabilizer before putting the vehicle in RV storage.

The longer gas or diesel sits in an unused vehicle, the more it begins to degrade. Gas can degrade and cause problems with corrosion, while diesel can grow microbes known as diesel algae. Fuel stabilizer prevents this from happening, so you can pull your vehicle out of RV storage and get moving right away, without any concerns about engine problems from fuel degradation.

POUCH Self Storage offers RV storage in Lake Forest with onsite security, so you don’t have to worry about the complications of parking your vehicle at your home. Find out how we can make RV storage easy by calling (800) 378-4598.

If you’re an Etsy seller, then inventory is the key to growing your business. When you have adequate inventory, you can deliver on fast shipping times, which will increase customer satisfaction and positive reviews. With a storage unit, it’s easy to keep the inventory you need without cluttering up your home.

Watch this video for advice on stocking up on your Etsy inventory. Once you have the right amount of product for your business, use a storage unit to keep your inventory organized and out of the way at home.

POUCH Self Storage makes it easy to get the storage you need, with a variety of sizes of self-storage units near San Juan, from small, personal storage spaces to jumbo storage units. You can find out more about our storage options by calling (800) 378-4598.

Camping is a great way to shrug off the demands of modern life and get back to nature, but it’s an equipment-heavy hobby. When you’re not in the great outdoors, what do you do with all of your gear? If you’re tired of camping equipment taking up space in your spare room or garage, a storage unit could be the perfect solution. Here is what you need to know about using a self-storage unit for your camping essentials.

Add Shelves

To keep your camping gear organized in storage, add metal shelving units to the space. It’s always a good idea to keep any items in storage off the ground by at least using wooden pallets, but storage shelves are an even better idea for camping gear, since they provide easy access to everything you need, so you can grab the right equipment for whatever kind of trip you have planned easily.

Use Clear Storage Containers

Many of the things you need for camping are small, such as utensils and tools, so you will need to put multiple items in one container in order to maximize your space and keep things organized. For this purpose, use clear storage containers, so that you can easily see the contents. Keep similar items together and put labels on the outside of the containers so you know exactly what is inside and can reach for it quickly when you need it.

Store Sleeping Bags without Rolling

Rolling up your sleeping bags and putting them in the storage sacks they come with is not ideal for a storage unit. Not only will the storage sack and tight roll prevent air from circulating around the fabric, but it will also cause the sleeping bag’s insulation to break down. Instead, store your sleeping bags by loosely folding them and putting them inside a large cotton or canvas storage bag. Put the bag off the ground on shelves, to reduce the risk of water damage.

POUCH Self Storage has storage units in a range of sizes so you can find the right home for your camping gear and all of the other items that are taking up too much space at home. We’re happy to answer all of your questions about self-storage units in San Juan . Call us today at (800) 378-4598.

When the temperatures get warmer and it’s time to take your boat out of storage for the season, what should you do to make sure you’re ready to hit the water? Hopefully, when you placed your boat in storage , you prepared it for its downtime, so there should be only general maintenance standing between you and a day on the water. Follow these steps to get ready for getting the most enjoyment possible out of your boat.

Clean Your Boat Thoroughly

Your boat was likely clean when you put it into storage, but you will still need to clean it when you get it out, to remove any dirt and debris that have built up. As you clean, inspect the parts of your boat and make any minor repairs that may be necessary. Ensuring that the boat is clean and minor issues are fixed before you get out on the water will help you avoid bigger issues in the future. Check the winches, pumps, tie-down cleats, and other parts of the boat. Consider having your motor professionally inspected before you start boating for the season.

Restock Your Safety Equipment

The worst time to find out that you don’t have the safety equipment that you need is when you’re on the water. Now is the time to check things like life vests and safety rafts and replace them as needed. Check your flares for signs of water damage and other issues, and replace them if you think they could have been compromised. Make sure that your fire extinguisher has not expired or isn’t set to expire during the season. If it is, replace it.

Look for Fuel System Damage

Carefully look for any signs of damage to your fuel system, including worn hoses or corrosion around connection points or on the battery. Make sure there isn’t evidence of leaks. If you see any fuel system damage, get repairs done before you take your boat out to cut the risk of a fire or getting stranded.

You can count on your boat being safe in the off-season when you choose POUCH Self Storage for your storage needs . Find out about all of our storage units in Lake Forest by contacting us at (800) 378-4598.

If you love collecting, then chances are that storage an issue in your household. A self-storage unit can be the perfect place to keep your collection, as long as you prepare things appropriately for storing. Keep your collection in top condition and save space at home with this advice for safe storage for some popular types of collectables.

Antique Furniture

Antique furniture can be a valuable thing to collect, but only if you store it properly. Start by using a protective cover on the furniture, which will help to prevent damage. Avoid using plastic covers, which will trap moisture and make wood and other materials swell. Be sure that you don’t wrap the furniture so tightly that air can’t circulate, which can also lead to problems with moisture control. Store furniture on pallets or cinderblocks instead of directly on the ground.

Trading Cards

Trading cards are easy to store as long as you protect them properly. Because cards are made of paper, moisture is the biggest issue you need to prevent. Top loader display sheets and magnetic display sheets are good for storage, since they protect your cards while allowing you to look at them. Store the sheets inside binders, and put the binders on shelves in the storage unit, rather than on the floor. Avoid stacking the cards loose in boxes, as the cardboard won’t provide adequate protect from dust, moisture, and debris.

Dolls

Doll collections can easily take up too much space in your home. To keep them safe in storage, avoid plastic coverings and instead wrap the dolls in acid-free tissue paper and place them in doll storage boxes. Keeping the boxes off the ground on pallets or shelves will help to protect them from dust and debris.

Don’t give up your collecting hobby. Instead, use a self-storage unit in San Juan at POUCH Self Storage to keep your items protected and out of your home. For more information about renting a storage unit, call us at (800) 378-4598.

Once you file your taxes, you may feel like getting rid of all of your records, but in reality, it’s important to hang on to them for a minimum of 7 years. If you ever face an audit for your personal taxes or your business, being able to pull your old tax records out of your storage unit could be critical in your case.

In most cases, you should keep your tax records for at least three years from the date on which they were due. If you file for a special circumstance, such as a bad debt deduction, you should keep your records at least seven years. If you have the space in your personal storage or business storage facility, keeping your taxes indefinitely is ideal.

POUCH Self Storage offers storage units in a variety of sizes, as well as records management services and on-site document shredding. Get more information about storage units in Tustin for your personal or business use by calling (800) 378-4598.

Records management is an enormous challenge for many businesses, in terms of storage space, access, and security. At POUCH, we take the hassle out of this process with our records management service. If you’re considering using our records management services for your business, here are the answers to some questions that may be on your mind.

Does POUCH offer any confidentially guarantees?

Your records are not only important for the way you do business. They are also sensitive and confidential. Our records management service is HIPAA, FACTA, and SOX compliant, so you can rely on our ability to ensure that your sensitive information and that of your customers is always protected.

How do I know when it is time to destroy my records?

Records retention and destruction is central to management. You can set your own parameters for destruction criteria. We also offer HIPAA, FACTA, and SOX compliant recycling and document shredding services on site as well as free shred and recycle consoles at your office to make managing your records easier than ever.

Will it be hard to access my records when I need them?

Your files will never be further away than your fingertips, with 24-hour online access with a dedicated security code. A full audit trail makes it easy to manage how the files are being used and accessed. We also offer delivery and pick-up service at your request, so you can always obtain hard copies of your records when you need them quickly and efficiently.

Solve the complications of record management for your business with the help of POUCH. For more information about storage units, records management, and on-site document shredding in San Juan , call us at (800) 378-4598.

At POUCH Self Storage, we aim to make it as easy as possible for people to reduce clutter in their homes and move in comfort. The way we do this is by offering storage units and FREE moving trucks, and we even give our customers rewards for helping us build our clientele base. Here’s how spreading the word about our good service pays.

We’re always looking to help more people, and we’re happy to reward those who spread the word about our services. If you tell your friends about us and they decide to become a customer, everybody wins. If you’re a current customer, your bonus will be half of the referrals first month paid, up to a maximum of $300.

If you like our storage units in San Juan and you tell your friends about POUCH Self Storage, you can end up reaping the benefits. Our website takes a closer look at our vehicle storage and FREE moving trucks program, and you can call us at (800) 378-4598 for more information.

Moving day can always get hectic, so anything you can do to make it easier will make for a less stressful experience. Once you have secured the moving truck you need, the hacks in the video will make loading it up a lot easier.

Are you struggling to lug stacks of boxes around? Try using your box cutter to cut handles into the sides. Avoid having to fold all of your clothing by using putting a garbage bag around groups of items hung on hangers.

Let POUCH Self Storage be part of a smoother moving day, with our packing supplies, free moving trucks and convenient storage units in Lake Forest. For more information, contact us today at (800) 378-4598 for more information.