Posts Tagged ‘home improvements’

Watching your back … along with your head, neck, arms, legs…

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

In the third of our series of hints and tips on self storage we look at the steps you should take to avoid injury when moving your things in and out of your unit…

Self storing almost always involves lifting, pushing and stacking – and there’s usually some sweating, grunting and “left-a-bit…hang-on…right-a-bit” that comes with it.

If you’re moving heavy items into store then it’s worth taking some time to prepare yourself. We’re not talking about a 3 month body building course at the local gym here – just a good look at some of the guidance that’s out there on manual handling (the proper name for lifting and moving things).

There’s a lot you can do to reduce the chances of causing yourself a mischief when manual handling and they’re largely a question of good technique.

Before we get to the technique though – the best advice is to err on the side of caution. If you think moving something is beyond your limits – it probably is. So our advice is to get some help if you need it.  That could be in the form of a professional moving service (and we can recommend one that shares our passion for great service and value), or it could be asking a mate or two to help you out.

Once you’ve worked out what you can and can’t manage make sure that you (and anyone else you’ve roped in) understand the basics of lifting and moving.  It’s a common response these days to take the view that Health and Safety has all gone a bit overboard – but for manual handling there’s some really good advice that makes a lot of sense.  It won’t stop you moving what you need to move, but it should help you do it with a greatly reduced chance of straining yourself (or worse).

That advice is from the experts – the Health and Safety executive no less. So rather than reproduce it here’s a link to their booklet ‘Getting to Grips with Manual Handling’. Pages 6 and 7 are the ones we think are most relevant.

Happy storing. You can find out more hints and tips for storing on our website in our Self-storage for beginners section on our website [link]

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Try not to get addicted to popping the bubble wrap

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

In the second installment of our hints and tips on getting the best from your self storage – we look at organising your unit and packaging your things.

So you’ve planned your move-in with the precision of a special forces operation. You know what’s going in which box and the order they’ll go into your unit. Great, but it’s worth giving the layout of your unit and packaging of the stuff you want to store some thought as well.  There’s nothing worse than finding your back catalogue of first edition Beatles vinyl has been wrecked – because you boxed it vertically – and then stacked the last 10 years worth of subscriptions to Rolling Stone magazine on top.

Firstly – leave space for access to the rear of the unit and avoid leaning things against walls – it helps ventilation. Whilst professional storage units are warm and dry the things you are storing could need to breathe.

Secondly – protect fragile items with bubble wrap, mark the box ‘Fragile’ and avoid putting heavy items on top. You may of course get sidetracked by the therapeutic properties of bubble-wrap. This link might help you get that urge out of the way.

You can also make the most of your space by dismantling furniture where possible (you’ll fit more in). Detach legs from tables and beds to save space and wrap the legs in more of that bubble wrap to avoid damage. Likewise stacking chairs seat to seat can also help save space and putting cloth or bubble wrap in between will help protect them if they are valuable or antique.  In fact, covering the lot with dust sheets is a good idea to keep them protected from scratches or bumps.

If you are storing clothes then using wardrobe boxes to keep them on hangers is a must if you want to avoid them getting mis-shaped. Stand mattresses on end and avoid stacking heavy items on soft furnishings, besides laying them down might encourage you to take a nap and you’re not allowed to sleep in your storage unit.

Of course, if you need real bubble wrap – or any packaging items for storing for that matter – you can get them from our shop in store, or from boxes to move.

Happy storing – and don’t forget you can find out more hints and tips for storing on our website in our Self-storage for beginners section on the ABC Selfstore website.

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How to avoid looking for a needle in a haystack, or an antique necklace in a storage unit…

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

In the first of our guides offering you some handy hints and tips on making the best of your storage space – we look at moving your stuff and how to make the most of your space.

If you want to avoid having to search for a needle in a haystack, a share certificate in a ‘piling system’ or a gold bracelet in a strong box you need to plan your move in from the point you pack – at home or office.

Knowing what is in which box is the first step. Now you could number your boxes, boot up the computer and record a complete inventory  - with all the precision of an international shipping company – or you could just scrawl a list of what’s inside on the side of your boxes in marker pen.  Whichever technique you choose it means you’ll at least have some idea of what’s where once it is all packed into your storage unit.

It’s also well worth planning the layout of your storage unit – especially if you want to avoid that ‘I’m-going-to-be-here-all-day’ sinking feeling. Like when you realise box 4 (buried behind boxes 5 to 20) is where you put that pair of diamond earrings you had an inkling might be worth something – and you just saw them on Antiques roadshow valued at £3,000.

A simple rule – last in/first out – is worth remembering when you pack your storage unit (just to make life more complicated the opposite is true when you pack to bring your stuff to the store – first into your van or car will be last out).

It might all seem obvious – but a little time now will almost certainly save you load of re-stacking, along with a stack load of time later.

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Making room for improvements

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

So the planning application was finally approved, the builders are booked to start next Monday and you made sure you remembered the extra large box of teabags from the supermarket. If you’ve never had building work done you could be wondering what else there is to sort – aside from that big bag of sugar you forgot to go with the tea.

Well let’s talk about dust for a second. We’re not talking the kind of house dust that a handy can of Mr Pledge and a quick wipe over with a yellow duster can easily remedy. We’re talking building dust. A fine grey powder so hard to shift that in 2012 you‘ll still be drawing smiley faces and writing ‘459’ messages to your other half in it.

Now you could cover everything in dust-sheets and hope for the best – that the tradesman’s size 13’s don’t leave any boot shaped modifications. You could be planning to move it all to another room in the house – assuming you’re lucky enough to have a spare room (especially if you’re in London). Regardless of whether your furniture is more Chippendale than Ikea or the artwork hanging your walls more  Athena than Michael Angelo – you might want to consider moving it all somewhere safe – like into self-storage.

If you do decide short-term storage is the solution it’s worth checking the small print. Building work has a nasty habit of overrunning – so you could find yourself needing a few extra days or even a week or two. Most self-storage companies charge by the month – so a building overrun of a week will cost you an extra month of storage – whether you need it or not. Of course – at ABC Selfstore you only pay for the days you stay.

If on the other hand you decide dustsheets are the only way forward well pop in and see us – we sell them too – and here’s a link that might help with those messages in the dust.

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