Tag: alexandria va storage

Organize Your Garage Before Summer Hits

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Amanda Chambers - Lifestyle, Storage

Taking time to organize your garage before summer starts will save you a ton of stress and time. By taking the little bit of extra time now you’ll be able to jump into summer full swing.

The sooner you organize your garage the easier it’ll be to locate and use all of your fun summer toys, gear and anything else you might need. Below you’ll find a series of steps that will get the garage organization process heading in the right direction.

1. Set Designated Zones

Partitioning your garage into designated zones will help you stay organized. When laying out which equipment will go where make sure the items you’ll be using most are the easiest to access.

This will help you keep the garage organized in the long-run. No more guessing where those pool toys, or yard equipment has to go.

If you have a large family, or a lot of people coming and going it can be helpful to actually label these specific areas in the beginning.

2. Invest In Hooks And Bike Racks

You can purchase simple screw in hooks that can hold a lot of weight. This will help you to store any tools, lawn equipment, or summer toys up and out of sight.

Vertical bike racks can also help you conserve a lot of space. You can attach these vertical racks to the walls of your garage, so you have more floor space.

3. Use Storage Bins

If you have a lot of miscellaneous goods lying around it can be helpful to load them into boxes. Make sure you invest in high quality boxes with snap on lids, as this will keep all of your goods safe from damage.

This will also allow you to stack your boxes, which frees up even more space.

4. Dispose Of Old Items

Usually, our garages end up morphing into the dumping ground for all of our extra household items. This can include items like old paint and re-modeling goods, outdated appliances, or old boxes.

Take the time to go through these goods and dispose of what you can. If you notice you have too many older goods you can’t bear to part with it can be helpful to rent an Alexandria self-storage unit.

This will allow you to store anything you won’t be using during the summer months and give you a ton of extra space.

If you’re looking for a storage unit we hope you consider Gateway Storage. We love serving our customers across the Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield areas, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

5 Signs It’s Time to De-Clutter Your Home

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Amanda Chambers - Lifestyle, Storage

Photo Credit: raining rita

You home should be a place of relaxation and enjoyment. A place where you can unwind after a long and hard work day. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for a lot of us. Luckily there are a few signs that will help you figure out when it’s time to start the decluttering process.

The decluttering process may feel a little overwhelming, however, when you think of how your home is going to make you feel once the process is finished it will be well worth it.

1. Your Garage Is A Storage Unit

Your garage should be a place to store your vehicles, or perhaps a small workshop. But often it takes the form of a storage unit. If you can’t even begin to think about parking your cars inside your garage then it might be time to start decluttering.

If you’re too embarrassed to open your garage door, because of the mess that lies inside, then you can definitely benefit from thinking about what items you really need to keep.

2. You Can Never Find What You’re Looking For

If you find yourself constantly looking for items, only to give up in frustration after not being able to find them, then you might need to declutter. If all the surfaces of your home contain trinkets, and other odds and ends it’s easy for your keys to fall into a trap between these strange items.

Wouldn’t it be great to finally have a dedicated place for the things you love? By decluttering you’ll start to free up a lot of space for the things that actually matter.

3. Cleaning Never Seems To Quite Be Enough

Sometimes after cleaning your home you still feel like you’re living in chaos. You’ve vacuumed, wiped the counters down, swept and dusted, but you still don’t feel clean.

When every part of your home is packed to the brim with items your home will just feel chaotic, no matter how much you vacuum. Why don’t you consider donating a few of the items you don’t use anymore? Or, you could even rent an Alexandria self-storage unit to store those goods you’re not ready to part with.

4. You Can’t Close Your Cabinets Or Closets

If your kitchen cabinet or closet doors remain open, even after you’ve slammed them shut, then you may have too many clothes or kitchen accessories. As much as we hate to admit it, it is possible to have too many pairs of jeans.

If closing your cabinets is a struggle, then maybe it’s time to bring a box full of your old dishes to the local thrift store.

5. Your Children Have More Toys Than Space To Play

It can be easy to accumulate toys for your children. After all of the gifts from their birthdays and the holidays it can be easy to have a playroom that looks more like a toy store. Although it may be hard to get your children to part with their precious toys, you’d be amazed by how much they love the added play space.

If any of the above feel true to you, then it might be time to consider decluttering your home. Remember, just start small. A corner of the room at a time will be enough. After a while, you’ll end up with a relaxing home you can feel proud of again.

I hope you’ve found this post useful. If you can’t part with some of the goods from your home why don’t you consider an Alexandria Storage unit. We’ll keep your goods safe out of sight and out of mind. We love serving our clients and customers across the Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

How To Make Sure Your Pets Will Stay Safe During A Move

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Amanda Chambers - Lifestyle, Storage

Photo Credit: John Rabbit

Pets play many roles in our family and personal lives. In some families they get the same level of treatment as another brother or sister. For that reason, moving and relocating your family can be very stressful on your pets. As a result you’ll want to make sure your pets stay safe and comfortable throughout the duration of the move.

When you’re considering moving with your pet you can either take care of the transportation yourself, or utilize the services of a pet transporter.

Think About Preparation Beforehand

You’ll need to make sure you’ve done a little preparation beforehand, regardless of whether you, or a pet transporter is going to be transporting your pet.

Your pet needs to be ready to travel when the time comes. This means you’ll need to get all of their shots and any medication taken care of to ensure they’re healthy enough to make the trip.

Also, if you’re transporting them via crate you’ll need to train them, so they’re comfortable with being in a crate for extended periods. Being locked up inside of a crate while on the move can be a shocking experience for your pet, so you’ll want to make sure they’re used to it.

Things To Know When Using A Pet Transporter

If your car is packed and you don’t have room for your pet you can consider using a pet transporter. For starters, you’ll need to make sure you choose the right transporter. They can either be willing friend, or a professional transporter, but they need to have experience moving the same kind of pet.

An experienced pet transporter will be able to take your place while you’re on the road. They’ll act as the pet’s comfort blanket and will ensure they’re properly fed, taken care of, and get enough breaks throughout the duration of the trip.

It can also be useful to pack an extra bag for your pet that has their favorite toys and any other items that might remind them of home. This will add an extra layer of comfort so your pet feels safe throughout the journey.

Lastly, once your pet has made it to your new home there still might be a slight adjustment period for your pet. Try to surround them with familiar elements of your old home and keep to the same walking and feeding schedule that existed previously.

Once the move is finished and your pet has adjusted they’ll be back to their peppy old selves.

If you need any added storage during your move we hope you consider Gateway Storage, your premier Alexandria self-storage facility. We love serving our customers throughout the Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield counties, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

How Self-Storage Can Help When You’re Re-Doing Your Garage

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Amanda Chambers - Lifestyle, Storage

Photo Credit: dno1967b

When it comes time to re-do your garage you know you’re already going to have a lot on your plate. Your garage becomes a place for extra storage throughout the years, and eventually reaches a point where it’s a disorganized disaster. Various odds and ends start to accumulate, and soon your garage that used to be used for parking is now simply an extra storage space.

But, the time has finally come and you’re ready to take charge of your garage and expand it into a useful extra space. In this post we’re going to explore how self-storage can be incredibly useful when you’re re-doing your garage.

Breaking Down The Process

The process of re-doing you garage is a lot of work, especially if you’re starting with a cluttered and overstuffed garage. However, one of the best ways to beat overwhelm is by having a plan of attack. Below you’ll find a series of steps that will help to guide you through the process.

1. Determine What Is Clutter And What Isn’t

The first step is to take a look at your clutter and separate the goods you don’t use from the ones you’re going to use in the future. During this phase using an Alexandria self-storage unit can be very helpful. For instance, if you have goods you know you won’t be using in your new space, but you can’t bear parting with them, then storing them away in self-storage will help to resolve this struggle.

Also, if you need to re-do your garage very quickly, you can simply move the items from your garage into an Alexandria storage unit. Sure, you’ll have to go through all of the items later, but it will speed up the garage remodel process initially.

2. Make A Plan Of Attack

Once you have the space cleared you’ll want to plan out the remodel process. You’d hate to be halfway through the project only to realize you’re missing a key element, all because you forgot to plan. Another important element to look into is electrical and utilities.

Of course, this depends on how much you’re transforming the room from its original state. But, botching the utilities or not taking note of your electrical load will become a headache for years to come.

3. Store Goods You Want To Keep And Re-Decorate

The final phase, which can be the most fun part of the process, is all about decorating and finishing the space. You can either pull furniture from other areas of your house, hit the thrift stores, or visit a furniture outlet to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Also, if you’re already storing older furniture in a storage unit for this very purpose, then by all means visit the storage unit and put the furniture to use!

Redecorating your garage doesn’t have to be a difficult process. We hope this article has helped to simplify the process for you as much as possible. We love to work with our customers and clients across the Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield counties, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

How To Store Fragile Items Without Worry

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Amanda Chambers - Storage

Photo Credit: 5lab

When you’re moving items from your home into a storage unit the last thing you want to hear is the crash of your most fragile items. You may think it’s easier to simply carry fragile items by hand, but mistakes do happen.

Overall, the best way to take care of your fragile items is to simply spend a little extra effort making sure they’re secure. In this post we’re going to dive into what you can do to ensure your fragile items make it through the move.

Go For Sturdy Boxes

If you’re trying to move with old boxes maybe it’s time to upgrade your moving supplies. Old boxes can have holes, tears, and even water damage. When you use old boxes they have a greater chance of tearing, which can lead to accidents with your fragile goods.

When you’re looking to upgrade your moving boxes you’ll want to choose boxes that are are thick, study and have a thick base. This can be reinforced cardboard, plastic or even wood. You’ll just want to make sure they hold their shape.

Use Packing Peanuts And Other Padding

Most fragile items tend to be strangely shaped as well. This mean you’ll need to fill this empty space with something. This is where the power of packing peanuts comes in.

Packing peanuts can serve a wide variety of roles. They not only fill the empty space and gaps in your box, but they also add that extra much needed cushion.

Some people even add old clothing to their boxes of fragile goods in order to help absorb shock. Anything to cushion the blows that could potentially occur, just make sure they’re clean!

Consider Adding Extra Crushed Paper

Crushed paper can add another layer of extra storage to your boxes. If you’re transporting any glass or kitchenware you can stuff the crushed paper into the inside of any bowels or cups. This will help prevent them from shifting around during transportation and arranging the boxes.

Overall, when packing fragile items just make sure they’re sturdy, safe and can handle any accidental drops. This will help keep them safe when you’re moving them to your Alexandria storage unit, and when storing them inside.

By taking the necessary precautions we mentioned above you’ll be able to keep your fragile items intact. If you have any questions regarding self storage feel free to get in touch. We serve our customers across the Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield counties, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

How To Get The Most Out Of Storing Your Children’s Toys

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Amanda Chambers - Storage

Photo Credit: stevendepolo

Face it, most children these days have an almost endless amount of toys. Whether you’re trying to store their toys in an orderly manner in you home, or store the extras in your storage unit this article may have a little something for you.

No longer do your children’s toys have to be scattered about the house, causing you unwanted stress. With our easy storage recommendations you’ll forget your children’s toys were ever a problem in the first place.

1. Sort Through What You’ve Got

It can be very beneficial to do an initial sort to take note of what toys are worthy of keeping, need fixing, or could be thrown away or donated. It doesn’t make sense to hold on to toys that are broken, or aren’t being played with anymore.

It can be helpful to have a regular time every couple of months where you can go through your children’s toys. This will help to stop them from piling up.

Once everything has been stored you can categorize the items you currently have and store them in specific sections.

2. Make It Fun For Your Children

If you’re smart you’ll want to get your children involved. This will help to save time on your end and can ever be fun for them, and teach them basic principles of organization.

You can encourage your kids to get rid of anything that’s broken or has any missing pieces. If they have toys they don’t like to play with any more you could consider donating them to charity, giving them away to a family member, or putting them into storage if you’re planning on growing your family in the future.

3. Set Up An Easy Storage System

Now that you’ve gotten rid of toys you don’t need, have them categorized and know where they’re going to go, it’s time to develop a system that works for you and your children. Remember, the easier the system is to implement the more effective it will be in the long run.

Make sure you get the whole family involved and you children’s toys and room will be organized all year around.

4. Consider Storing Your Seasonal Toys

Sometimes your children may have a bunch of toys that are seasonal or maybe you want to store your some toys away that your children have grown out of. If you don’t have any extra space in your home it could be very beneficial to consider using an Alexandria self storage unit to hold the toys until you need them again.

I hope you’ve found this article valuable and can see just how beneficial it can be to take charge of your children’s toys. If you’re looking for the number one Alexandria self storage solution we hope that you consider Gateway Storage. We love serving our customers across Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield counties, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

How To Safely Store Your Tailgating Gear

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Amanda Chambers - Lifestyle, Storage

Photo Credit: James Willamor

If you’ve been tailgating for years, or are new to the process one thing still remains. You’ll want to take good care of your tailgating gear. After all, it’s hard to pass up the pre-game celebration with friends, grilling and good food.

Even though tailgating can be the perfect combination of relaxation and excitement it still does involve a good amount of work to get everything going. Storing and organizing all of your tailgating items can take a serious amount of time and effort.

In this post we’re going to look at what you should do to get the most out of your tailgating gear.

1. Always Clean Everything

No matter how long you’re considering storing your goods it’s important that you thoroughly clean all of your items. Especially, items that may contain food residue from cooking or eating.

All it takes is a few left over crumbs to attract a bunch of bugs or host of other critters. If you’re storing your tailgating equipment for the end of the season make sure you pressure wash anything like grills, or grilling equipment.

2. Consider Using Plastic Bins

Plastic bins make it much easier to keep track of your small items. For instance, it’s easy to lose your utensils, tablecloths, say items, grilling equipment, and other odds and ends. Plastic bins not only hold items effectively, but they are easy to stack and arrange inside your Alexandria self storage unit.

Also, consider using multiple bins, as opposed to filling one unit to the brim. After all, your goal is to make unpacking easy on yourself as well.

3. Ensure Your Storage Is Easy Access

If you’ll need to make frequent trips to your Alexandria self storage unit make sure that you keep the unit organized. The last thing you’d want is to be late to the game simply because you couldn’t find what you needed. It can be helpful to set aside a certain section of your unit specifically for tailgating goods.

Our storage center location right off I-95 makes it easy to pick up whatever you need easily and quickly.

4. Don’t Store Dangerous Materials

Make sure you avoid putting any flammable items into your storage unit. It can be tempting to simply put away any lighters or propane tanks into your unit, but can end up being a big mistake. It’s usually best to store your propane tank outdoors in the upright position.

It can also be helpful to remove batteries from all your devices before you place them into storage too.

If you’re looking for a place to store all of your tailgating gear consider Gateway Storage. We love serving our customers across Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield counties, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

How Gateway Storage Can Help Ease Your Transition Into Fall

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Amanda Chambers - Lifestyle, Parking, Storage

storage can ease your transition into fall

Photo Credit: Micky**

With the change in seasons comes a change in storage needs. With the shift into fall the time comes to put away your summer goods and begin preparation for winter. Often, the changing weather can sometimes force us to make storage upgrades or changes sooner than we’d like.

In this article we’re going to look at how Gateway Storage can help you with the seasonal changes that take place in your life, and the associated Alexandria storage needs that are bundled with.

1. Seasonal Weather Changes

The shift into fall is usually marked with changes in the weather. Usually, they’re more subtle, like, feeling a drop in temperature or witnessing the changing of the leaves. There is a certain sense of beauty that fall brings, but it also often brings a new sense of responsibility.

For most of us, fall means it’s time to get back to work, and put away the summer fun. It usually means the kids are going back to school, and it’s time for all of us to get our lives back on track.

A lot of these things happen naturally, but the last thing you want to happen is to get left out in the cold with your summer goods. If you don’t take the time to properly store your summer goods, they could either end up getting ruined, or cause a whole bunch of unneeded stress once winter comes along.

Gateway storage can help solve any storage problem that might arise. We offer creative Alexandria storage solutions that can help you find a temporary home for your summer goods. Make sure you invest in extra storage before the weather turns, your stress-free future self will thank you.

2. Shifting Business Needs

You may operate a type of business that has an increased workload during the summer months, but you need added storage once the summer comes to a close. If your businesses utilizes a lot of extra equipment, but doesn’t have the space to store all of your equipment onsite, then consider using our flexible storage lots.

We offer storage lots that can be used to safely and easily store your business goods for the fall and winter months. As an added bonus our storage facility is located right off I-95, so if you did need to access any of your goods or equipment at the last minute, you could easily do that.

3. Summer Vehicle Storage

You may be the type of person who has a car or two they use primarily for summer driving. Your car may not be able to withstand any of the fall and winter weather, so you prefer to put this vehicle into storage, so it stays in good condition.

We offer a wide array of Alexandria car storage and parking options to cater to your diverse needs. We’d recommend to put your car in storage as soon as possible, as you never know when the weather is going to shift. It’s better to avoid the rush and stress and utilize our flexible storage options the moment you have your first inkling it’s not quite summer anymore.

We hope this has been helpful and pushed you towards considering your storage options now that fall is upon us, get in touch today! We love serving our clients across the Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield counties, as well as most of Northern Virginia.

Has Your Summer Camping Season Come To An End? Consider Us For Trailer Storage

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Amanda Chambers - Parking, Storage

Photo Credit: Homini:)

If you’re anything like us, then you love to take camping trips in the summertime. Camping can take many forms, whether you’re driving your RV, using a trailer, or going old-fashioned and using a tent.

One of the biggest objections people have about investing in a trailer or RV has to do with storage space. Most people simply don’t have the space to store their camping or road trip equipment once the season comes to an end.

If this sounds like you then we can help. We offer a variety of flexible Alexandria storage options for both RVs and camping trailers.

Keep reading for the slew of benefits that utilizing our Alexandria trailer storage services can bring into your life.

Benefits Of Using Trailer Storage

Some people just don’t have space around their properties to store their trailers. Strict parking regulations around Northern Virginia also make it very difficult to park your trailer without incurring extra fines and tickets. The benefits our storage facility can bring may end up making us your first choice.

1. Flexible Storage Choices

We know that all camping trailers aren’t made the same, nor do they have the same dimensions. This is why we offer flexible storage options. We’re willing to be as creative as you need in order to serve you effectively.

We have extra-wide aisles and large storage spaces that can handle the largest RVs and trailers. The zone surrounding your trailer is also kept very clean and free of debris.

2. Increased Storage Safety

Our facility offers 24/7 surveillance and is fenced. We also have unique gate codes that make it very difficult for unauthorized entry. Simply put, your goods are safe with us.

You can rest easy knowing your camping trailer is safe and ready for any last minute trip you’re thinking of taking.

3. Easy Access For The Spur Of The Moment Trip

You may have the grand idea of taking your camping trailer out for a weekend getaway. Some storage facilities make this a little more difficult, but not Gateway Storage. Our location right off I-95 makes it very easy to access.

If you have an early morning departure or late night arrival, then this won’t be a problem. We have well-lighted spaces to ensure you can access your camping trailer no matter the time of day.

Never again should you let lack of storage put a damper on your ability to take a camping trip. We want to make the process of storing your camping trailer as easy and painless for you as possible.

Hopefully, through using our Alexandria storage services we can encourage you to take even more trips into the great outdoors.

We love to serve our customers and veterans across Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield counties, as well as most of Northern Virginia. If you’re in need of a facility to store your camping trailer look no further than Gateway Storage.

Summer Storage Woes? Consider Gateway Storage

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Amanda Chambers - Storage

Photo Credit: kevin dooley

Sometimes you may need a little bit of extra storage during the summer months. You may have postponed your Spring clean until now and don’t know what to do with your extra stuff. Or, you may have a business that needs more storage space once the weather starts to heat up. Or, you could be looking for a place to store your winter gear and equipment.

Regardless of your reason we love to help our Northern Virginia customers find the Alexandria self storage solution that’s best for them during the hot summer months.

Need Extra Storage Space?

So, you just decided to do some much needed cleaning around your home and have found yourself with a bunch of extra “stuff”. Of course, you don’t want to throw it out. But, what other options do you have?

At Gateway Storage we offer a slew of flexible Alexandria self storage options to suit your unique needs. If you have extra goods you need to store for the summer months we have flexible lease terms.

Maybe, you have certain goods that need to be kept out of direct sunlight, but you don’t have any room inside your home or garage. This is where we come in. Our easy access, right off I-95 makes it easy to drop off your goods and continue about your day.

We have combination spaces that make it easy to keep your goods out of direct sunlight. If you need to store your jet-skis and the rest of your winter gear we have you covered.

Flexible Storage Options Are Available

Another situation we cater to frequently is shifting inventory and work load for local Virginia service businesses. For instance, your construction company may have extra equipment to store during the summer months. To cater to this need we offer flexible spaces that can increase or decrease based upon your needs at this exact moment.

No longer do you have to worry if your storage needs shift when the temperature starts to rise. The good news is that you aren’t alone. We serve a wide range of service-based companies. For example, cleaning companies, contractors, electricians, moving companies and much more use our flexible Alexandria storage options every summer.

We serve the Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Springfield areas, as well as most of Northern Virginia. If the summer months cause you to need extra storage space then get in touch with Gateway Storage today.