As the days get shorter and the temperature starts to drop, autumn’s a great time to have a bit of a sort-out at home.
After a busy summer, garages, sheds and spare rooms can quickly fill up with things you won’t use again for a while. Garden furniture, bikes and camping gear all need somewhere to go and, here in the South Hams, there might also be paddleboards, kayaks, beach equipment and boating gear taking up space.
Before the colder, wetter weather sets in, it’s worth deciding what you won’t need again until spring and getting it safely tucked away.
Before storing anything for several months, give it a clean and make sure it’s completely dry, particularly anything that’s been outside or exposed to salt water.
Garden Furniture and Outdoor Equipment
Garden tables, chairs, parasols and loungers can take up a surprising amount of room. Leaving them outside throughout the winter also means exposing them to months of rain, wind and damp.
Putting them into a dry storage unit keeps them out of the winter weather and frees up useful space at home. It’s also a good opportunity to put away summer gardening equipment, plant pots and tools you’re unlikely to use for a few months.
Paddleboards, Kayaks and Beach Gear
Living close to the coast often means accumulating quite a collection of outdoor equipment.
Paddleboards, kayaks, wetsuits, life jackets, beach chairs and bodyboards are brilliant during the warmer months, but they can become awkward things to find space for over winter.
Keeping them together in storage gets them out of the way until the warmer weather returns.
Boat and Sailing Equipment
For boat owners, the end of the main sailing season can bring another collection of things that need a home.
Removable cushions, life jackets, ropes, sails and other equipment can all be taken off the boat over winter, helping to protect them from prolonged damp and harsh weather.
Last year, we used our mattress protectors to keep our boat cushions covered while they were in storage, which worked really well.
Camping Equipment
If the tent is unlikely to see daylight again until next year, autumn’s a perfect time to get your camping equipment organised.
Tents, sleeping bags, camping chairs, cool boxes and all the other bits and pieces can take up a surprising amount of cupboard or garage space.
And don’t forget the cool box — take the lid off and check there’s nothing mouldy lurking inside before you put it away for the winter!
Keeping everything together means it’ll all be easy to find when the first sunny weekend arrives next spring.
Bikes and Summer Sports Equipment
For some people, cycling carries on all year round. For others, the bikes gradually make their way to the back of the garage once the darker evenings arrive.
Children’s bikes, scooters, golf equipment and other seasonal sports gear can all take up useful space when they’re not being used regularly.
With long access hours and both stores open every day of the year, it’s easy to pop in and collect your bike or golf clubs whenever you need them.
Barbecues and Summer Entertaining Equipment
Once barbecue season is well and truly over, there’s little benefit in having a large barbecue taking up half the patio or garage.
Barbecues can be stored, but they must be completely empty of fuel first- Gas bottles, petrol, lighter fluid and other flammable or combustible materials can’t be stored in our units though.
Folding tables, extra garden chairs and outdoor games can all go away too, leaving you with more space for the things you actually use during the winter.
Make Room for Winter
Seasonal storage isn’t just about protecting your summer belongings. It can also make everyday life at home a little easier.
Clearing bulky items from garages, spare rooms and cupboards gives you more usable space over the winter. You might need room for Christmas decorations, winter coats and boots, or simply somewhere to park the car without squeezing past a stack of garden chairs.
Store It Until You Need It Again
You don’t need a huge amount of stuff to make seasonal storage worthwhile. If it’s just a few boxes, camping equipment or smaller seasonal items, one of our 15 sq ft units can be a great size. If you have bulkier things such as garden furniture, bikes, paddleboards or boating equipment, we have larger units too.
At Indoor Self Storage in Dartmouth and Totnes, you can choose a unit to suit what you need to store, with a minimum stay of just two weeks.
Not sure what size would work? Pop into either of our offices for a friendly chat, or email or WhatsApp us a photo of what you’d like to store and we can help you work out how much space you’re likely to need.
Then, when spring rolls around again, everything will be ready and waiting for you.
