The Spring Cleaning Secret that Will Change Your Life

After a long, cold winter, spring is finally here. The arrival of spring flowers and April showers is a breath of fresh air after months of hibernation. At this time of year, many of us feel the urge to start spring cleaning. Spending so much time indoors during the winter months reminds us of the many projects we meant to tackle but haven’t and all the clutter we intended to clear up but never got around to. If you want to engage in some deep cleaning and decluttering this spring, read on.

Spring Cleaning 101: Clear Away the Clutter

Before you can deep clean a space, you need to clear away the clutter. For many people, this is no easy task. Possessions have a way of accumulating through the year. This is especially true if you don’t have an annual spring cleaning routine. If you have a lot of “stuff”, the spring cleaning process of sorting through your belongings can be extremely daunting, not to mention stressful and time-consuming. Sorting through the clutter will be easier if you create a system. You may decide to sort items into piles like “keep”, “give away”, “donate” or “sell”. Having a clear system like this will allow you to move swiftly through your belongings to decide where they will end up after the spring cleaning process is complete. Sell. Items of value that you don’t wish to keep can be sold online on such platforms as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You may also want to take advantage of the warmer weather and have an old fashioned, spring-cleaning inspired garage sale. Donate. Many local non-profit organizations will accept donations of gently used furniture, kitchen tools, appliances and other household items for families in need. Some of these organizations will even pick these items up from your home. Give Away. While spring cleaning, you may come across items you no longer need but know friends or family could benefit from. Offer your friends and loved ones first dibs on possessions in good condition that you’re ready to part with. Keep. Naturally, while sorting through your possessions, you will come across items you fully intend to keep! Unfortunately, sometimes clutter accumulates because you have more “stuff” than you have space. The challenge becomes figuring out where and how to store items in an organized fashion so you can actually navigate your storage spaces and enjoy your living spaces.

Spring Cleaning and Extra Storage

While spring cleaning, you may find yourself wishing you had an extra attic, basement, or garage to store your belongings. If implementing organization systems or installing shelving units won’t solve your storage problem because you have more to store than you have space, don’t despair. It may be time to explore storing the possessions you want to keep but don’t have space for in a secure storage unit. Before understanding what options exist for short and long term storage, it’s worthwhile considering what type of items are suitable for storage. The answer is fairly simple. You can store almost anything that you want to keep. This may include expensive exercise equipment, artwork and furniture you value or are attached to but don’t currently have space for. You may also wish to store clothing that doesn’t fit at the moment or isn’t in season, important documents and paperwork, boxes you don’t have space for, a piano or antique you inherited, children’s toys and various other things. The important thing to remember is that your choice of storage facility will (or at least should) be impacted by the type of items you need to store. For instance, if you need to store valuable antique artwork, ensuring that your storage facility is climate controlled to prevent damage from humidity will be incredibly important.

Spring Cleaning Storage: What’s the Right Storage Facility for Me?

If you have decided that storing furniture or other belongings in storage facility is right for you, it’s time to consider logistics. Finding a reliable, trusted moving company to transport your belongings to a storage facility makes the entire process more seamless. This is especially true if you work with a moving company that has its own storage facility. All Jersey Moving & Storage is a highly recommended New Jersey based moving company with its own New-Jersey based storage facility. Whether you are in between homes, recently came into an inheritance, are renovating your home or office, or are in the process of spring cleaning and need a place to store your extra “stuff”, All Jersey Moving & Storage can help. The All Jersey Moving & Storage team offers reliable, convenient, residential and commercial short-term and long-term containerized storage, document storage and logistical services. When you're searching for a moving and storage company, you want to find a facility that you can trust to keep your items secure and in excellent condition. Our top priority is ensuring that your items are safe and protected, from the time they arrive to the moment they are delivered to your home or office. Our team takes every step necessary to give you peace of mind that your goods and furniture are professionally wrapped and safely packed away until you're ready to access them.

Containerized Storage versus Self Storage: Making the Right Choice

• Now that you’ve decided to put some of your belongings in storage, it’s time to consider whether you prefer a self-storage or containerized storage facility. The benefit of self-storage is that tenants are able to access their storage boxes and containers on a whim, seven days a week. However, it is very important to weigh the pitfalls of self-storage:
  • Self-storage units are secure but not contained. Items moved into self-storage facilities aren't monitored, so be aware that adjacent units may contain hazardous materials or be infested with bugs.
  • You may not be able to purchase adequate insurance. Most self-storage facilities only offer tenants the ability to purchase a minimal amount of coverage.
  • Most self-storage facilities don't mail out monthly invoices nor do they send out emails until the due date deadline just before late fees are applied. These facilities charge a move-in administration fee and typically increase their rates after the first few months of storage.
  • Units at self-storage facilities come in various sizes. Tenants can only hope that they select an appropriate-sized unit and some tenants end up paying for more space than they require. Others end up with an inadequate space and have to rent an additional unit to accommodate their needs. The square foot rental cost is higher for smaller units.
  • Exterior units can encounter problems during cold winter months.
  • Because movers remove their blankets and protective materials once they reach their destination, your furniture and stored items are more likely to get bumped and bruised.

  The Benefits of Containerized Storage

  There are many advantages of storing your furniture and valued items in containers at All Jersey Moving and Storage:

  • When items are placed in containerized storage, all furniture is blanket wrapped and remains blanket wrapped until it is safely removed from storage.
  • At All Jersey Moving and Storage, all items in storage are packed away in large wooden containers which are completely sealed and secure. Wooden containers are the optimal environment for such items as furniture.
  • Full value coverage can be purchased to properly insure the goods you are placing in storage and give you peace of mind.
  • All movement into and out of the storage facility is managed and monitored by our team. This allows us to assure tenants that there are no hazardous materials or infested shipments under our roof.
  •  Tenants only pay for the amount of space they use.
  • Rental fees are stable, so you don't have to worry about your storage expenses increasing after a few months. All Jersey Moving and Storage also charges no move-in administration fees.
  • If you do need to access your storage container, warehouseman at All Jersey Moving and Storage are onsite to assist you.

  The only restriction of containerized storage is that because stored items are sealed and secured, access must be scheduled during regular business hours and a fee will apply. If you're looking for a moving and storage company you can trust, turn to All Jersey Moving and Storage. Our containerized storage facility is a safe, affordable place to leave your valued possessions and furniture.

Spring Cleaning: Expert Tips for Preparing for Storage

All Jersey Moving & Storage is dedicated to ensuring that your items arrive at our storage warehouse in the same condition that they were in when they left your home or office. In order to ensure that your move goes safely and smoothly, we recommend that you take the following steps:

• Use sturdy boxes or plastic totes. Inexpensive boxes that you can purchase from Home Depot serve their purpose for typical moves, but when it comes to a storage move, they just won't hold up. To ensure that your boxes don't get dented or crushed in storage, you can purchase protective boxes from All Jersey Moving and Storage.  Plastic totes are available at Target, Walmart, or similar retail stores.
• Fill boxes to capacity. When packing your items for storage, be sure to fill them to capacity whenever possible. Remember, many boxes are packed on top of one another in our storage facility. Boxes that are scarcely filled or poorly packed are more likely to crush over time in storage.
• Use similar-sized boxes. To help protect your stored items, limit yourself to three or four different sizes of boxes and containers, i.e. small, medium, large, and wardrobes. Using a multitude of shapes and sizes makes boxes difficult to stack and organize in storage, increasing the risk of damage.
• Empty all drawers. In order to prevent stored items from breaking and tangling, remove all the contents of drawers that you are storing with us and pack them separately in labeled boxes.  The extra weight can also compromise the integrity of your furniture due to the additional handling.
• Pack books properly. To keep your book collection is good condition while in storage; lay your books flat rather than on their spines.
• Protect your glassware. Ensure that you pack your glassware with care. Don't over-pack storage boxes and containers with glassware and be sure to wrap and pad all glass items liberally.
• Don't store open food. While we generally don't recommend storing food, all opened food containers should be consumed or thrown away. Unopened food packages can be stored, but keep expiration dates in mind so foods don't spoil. If you have un-opened food that you'd like to donate, simply pack it in a marked box and set it aside for the movers. They'll gladly deliver your donation to our local food bank.
• Drain fuel from all equipment. To keep our storage facility and your stored items safe, be sure to drain all of your equipment of its fuel prior to storage, including your lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc.
• Items NOT to store. We do our utmost to keep our storage facility safe, so we ask that you not store such items as propane tanks, firearms, paint, aerosols, candles and fertilizers. Irreplaceable items or sensitive documents such as passports, important papers and photo albums should not be kept in storage.
• Don't pack all your clothing. On occasion, you may need to store your items longer than you initially planned, so set aside sufficient clothing for a change in season.
• Take photos of your electronics. If you're not a technical or electronics wizard, taking photos of your electronics and their associated wires will help you re-connect after you take your items out of storage.
• Mark your boxes. While we're careful to keep your items organized, ensure that your boxes are identifiable as yours. Write your last name on all the boxes and containers that you prepare for storage.
• Washer and dryer tips. If you plan on storing your front loading washer and dryer, secure the drum prior to the storage move.
• Keep it Clean. Prior to storing your outdoor furniture and equipment, please wipe down each item to remove bugs, spider webs, dirt and grime. This helps keep our facility and the rest of your items in excellent condition.

You deserve peace of mind that your belongings will be safe and secure in storage. All Jersey Moving & Storage has earned a reputation as one of New Jersey’s most trusted and experienced movers with a secure, containerized storage facility that is second to none. We have the experience, knowledge and passion to plan and execute stress-free moves varying in size and scope. If you are spring cleaning and need a safe place to store your antiques, fine artwork, furniture, documents, boxes and other extra “stuff”, contact us today for a free quote.