Choosing the Right Sized Self Storage Unit

Storage Space Needs

At Bargain Storage, we want your self-storage experience to be easy, friendly and affordable. With that in mind, we know it’s not always easy to figure out what size self-storage unit you’ll need to rent. That’s why we’ve come up with our convenient self-storage sizing chart to help you size up your self-storage needs.

We’ve provided a visual key of what fits in each size unit we have available:

5′ x 5′ Storage Unit

  • Comparison: Small walk-in closet
  • What Fits: Small furniture, a few boxes and small miscellaneous items
5′ x 10′ Storage Unit

  • Comparison: Large walk-in closet
  • What Fits: Couch, chair, bedroom set and small boxes
10′ x 10′ Storage Unit

  • Comparison: Small bedroom
  • What Fits: Contents from a 1 bedroom home
10′ x 15′ Storage Unit

  • Comparison: Medium to Large bedroom
  • What Fits: Contents from a 1-2 bedroom home – including boxes, etc.
10′ x 20′ Storage Unit

  • Comparison: 1 car garage
  • What Fits: Contents from a 2 bedroom home – including boxes, etc.

Packing your self-storage unit can be a total nightmare or an organized beauty. Once you’ve picked the right size self-storage unit, you’ll want to organize your belongings with “easy access” in mind. We wrote a recent post all about packing and storing tips for self-storage units with the following advice:

With a little bit of forethought and planning ahead, a self-storage unit can be well organized and your stored belongings easily accessible.

Packing Smart

The trick is to pack smart and store your belongings in an organized manner, so you don’t have to climb through a mountain of boxes or unload your entire unit to access your things. Stack your boxes along the wall from floor to ceiling with the heaviest boxes on the bottom to make a sturdy base. Create a clear path down the center of your unit, so you can easily access items stored in the back of your unit when needed.

If you’re still not sure what size storage unit to rent for your self-storage needs, our friendly managers are self-storage experts and are happy to assist you with any questions you may have. To get started today, simply find the location nearest you and give us a call.

 

 

Move Your Kitchen to Storage, No Problem

Move Your Kitchen Storage

Packing up your kitchen is probably one of the most tedious rooms to pack up, but no need to panic!  With a little planning and a few helpful tips, you’ll be on your way to moving your stuff to storage in no time flat.

Move Your Kitchen to Storage

Just like any job you’ll need the right tools.  Here’s our suggestion for a regular sized kitchen:

  • 6 to 8 large storage boxes (for added strength, be sure to double tape the bottom of the box) – Use this sized box for small appliances, plastic-ware, mixing bowls, etc.
  • 10 or so medium sized storage boxes – food from the cupboards, cookbooks, etc.
  • 5 or 6 small storage boxes – flatware, cooking tools, canned goods, etc.
  • Specialty boxes like cell kits are also available at a little higher price, but are terrific for fragile items like stemware.
  • Newspaper, non-print paper, bubble-wrap and tissue paper (I personally like using plain white tissue paper for packing because it’s clean, easy to work with and eco-friendly)
  • Packing tape
  • Sharpie marker pens

 Make a Plan

First off, it’s very easy to underestimate how much time it will take to pack up your kitchen.  Be sure to give yourself ample time so you don’t end up rushing and not packing properly. As a good rule, add 4 hours to however much time you think it will take.  For example, if you think it will take you 6 hours, add 4 more for a total of 10 hours.  Besides, it’s better to overestimate and possibly be pleasantly surprised if it takes less time.

Packing is a great time to get rid of stuff you no longer use or need. Have a couple of boxes ready and keep close by while you’re packing, one for charity and one for trash.  And you’ll end up packing less!

If you’re not moving the entire contents of your kitchen to storage, be sure to label a few boxes for those particular items.

Begin with stuff that you don’t use as often, you’re “good” china, fancy glassware, bread-maker, etc.  Wrap them with your choice of wrap, but be careful not to use newspaper on items where the ink could transfer. If you’re not sure, don’t risk it and use non-printed paper.

Once you start filling a box, fill the voids with bubble-wrap, various kitchen towels/washcloths (bathroom towels work well too).  This will help stuff from shifting and potentially causing damage during transport.

Be careful not to overload the storage boxes making them difficult to move.

Once you’ve filled up a box, properly tape it closed and label it. Move it to a location in your home where it’s not in the way.  Working your way through the kitchen in this manner will have you packed up in no time at all!

Here are the top 5 best kitchen packing tips we’ve gathered over the years:

  1. Leading up to the day of packing, try to limit how much groceries you buy. Instead, eat your way through what you already have in the cupboards. Eating more means packing less.
  2. Wrap your silverware tray in plastic wrap. This will keep it fully intact.
  3. If you’re not taking the fridge and stove, be sure to pull them out. You’ll be surprised what you might find!
  4. If you’re like most people, there’s a junk drawer somewhere in your kitchen. This is a great opportunity to clean it out, but don’t wait until the day your packing to do it. For stuff that’s ended up in the drawer that has a proper home like tools and office supplies, put them away where they belong.  Minimize the “junk” and get organized!
  5. You’re a big kid now, buy “good” sturdy boxes and supplies.  Cheap supplies will only risk your stuff getting damaged or broken when transporting to storage.