Coats, sweaters, long-sleeved shirts: Goodbye for now.

For many, this means a trip to the storage unit. While there are a variety of items that will make their way to and from storage this month, today we’re focusing on clothes. We’ve compiled some tips to help you efficiently pack away your cold-weather attire and bring the your spring duds back into rotation.

1. Downsize. Before you even think about packing up, take a critical eye to your current closet and see what you can get rid of. What haven’t you worn this season? What needs repair or upkeep?

Go beyond the rack and look at shoes, bags and accessories. Go through all of the closets in your house, and create piles: Items to donate, items to take tailor or fix, and items to store.

Links: Salvation Army of Wake County, Buttons and Bows Consignment Shop (children’s clothes), Basic Needs Ministry

2. Clean. After you determine which winter clothes you want to store, clean them thoroughly. This is especially important because they will be packed away for a while, and stains can set into your items after several months of storage. This will also help deter insects looking for a place to party.

3. Store. You have many storage options when it comes to clothes. Clear plastic storage bins are popular, as are zippered bags. A good storage option, according to about.com, is a clean, unused suitcase lined with acid free tissue.

Fold (don’t hang) items that could become misshapen, like sweaters. For items that you do hang, cover them in fabric or other soft material so they don’t become misshapen by long-term hanging.

To repel pests, consider using all-natural cedar. Lastly, make sure to mark your items so that you can easily find them next season!

Links: Storage containers can be found at most major retail stores such as Target or Walmart, as well as the Container Store and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

If Turner Farms Self Storage can help you with any step of the storage process, please contact us.

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Copyright © 2011 Turner Farms Self Storage

Image via flickr

If that household spring cleaning you just completed requires a technology equipment purging, you’re in luck.

Local IT consulting company Wingswept is holding its third annual Technology Spring Clean on Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 951 Heather Park Drive in Garner. Professionals will be on hand to take your old computers, wires, printers, hard drives, scanners, fax machines and other equipment.

Concerned about security? Don’t fear: WingSwept will shred hard drives prior to recycling to protect your personal data. More than 27,000 lbs of equipment was properly recycled and diverted from landfills from the past two Technology Spring Clean, according to WingSwept.

To show our support for this free community event, Turner Farms Self Storage is a sponsor.

For more information, 919-779-0954 x 13, or visit Wingswept’s website.

The Garner Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its Business Expo, and Turner Farms Self Storage is involved.

We’re a gold sponsor for the annual event, which will take place Thursday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Garner United Methodist Church. Admission to the public is free.

In years past, more than 1,000 people have attended the expo, which features products and services offered by local businesses and civic organizations. Guests can enter to win prizes, enjoy free samples and meet the faces behind their business neighbors.

Turner Farms Self Storage will have a table set up this year, so make sure you stop by and say hello!

Before you get down and dirty, read this

(Need help with a list? Download this handy spring cleaning outline (PDF) from marthastewart.com. It includes many tasks you might otherwise forget, such as switching out old batteries in the smoke detectors and updating your first aid kit.)

Now, create a calendar of cleaning for the next few weekends, and stick with it. By tackling one section at a time, your game plan will allow you to complete a thorough cleaning without overwhelming you.

Next, enlist the help of your family and/or friends (and if your budget permits, perhaps a professional cleaning service!). While you may be able to complete the bulk of the work solo, some of the smaller tasks — organizing dresser drawers, for example — can be done by easily by the kids.

Offer rewards for their help. For example, if they gather old clothes and toys to sell at a garage sale, let them keep the money they make from the sale of those items.

Just as some of the smaller responsibilities can be delegated to the young family members, some of the bigger tasks may require help. Consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner rather than renting  a machine yourself. Keep your eyes open for Coupon Clipper and Groupon deals for such services.

Rearranging furniture requires some brawn; don’t be afraid to call on your spouse, neighbor or friend to move heavy items.

Lastly, gather your arsenal of cleaning supplies. Keep them together for the duration of your spring cleaning fest — if possible, in one room, like the laundry room. Consider keeping toxic chemicals out of the home by purchasing eco-friendly cleaners or making your own.

In part three of our spring cleaning series, we’ll explore how to keep things simple while you make your way through each room, slaying dust bunnies, banishing seasonal decor, and creating a spring-friendly environment for all inhabitants.

If Turner Farms Self Storage can help you with any step of the spring cleaning process, please contact us.

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Copyright © 2011 Turner Farms Self Storage

Image via flickr

For others, it means something completely different — several exhausting weeks of dusting, hauling and organizing. In other words, spring cleaning.

During the next few weeks, we’ll be exploring this topic, which is timely not just in our industry, but in the average family’s world as well. Some say it’s an ancient Persian tradition that has made its way into modern American life; whatever its origins, it’s a task that’s at once necessary and daunting.

But does it have to be daunting? Spring cleaning means going beyond the weekly maintenance dusting/vacuuming/putting away. With that in mind, forget about doing it all at once. To make it manageable — and less intimidating — it’s best to break it up into small projects.

We’ve scoured the web to find the most useful tips for tackling the Big Spring Clean. We’ll take it one step at a time, starting with…

1. Make a list. That’s right—the first step requires no cleaning at all. While going through each room in your house (physically rather than mentally; you’ll need a visual), think about what needs to be done, and jot it down. Careful here: Spring cleaning is a time to focus on getting rid of clutter and banishing the dust bunnies — not getting started on a painting or repair project.
2. Divide and conquer. When you’re done, divide your house into sections by a room or set of rooms. You’ll want anywhere from four to six sections.
3. Create a checklist. Come up with a master cleaning checklist to apply to each room. The checklist might include: wiping down baseboards, dusting, cleaning the ceiling fan, vacuuming/mopping the floor, washing the drapes, and cleaning the windows. It will depend on the room, but be comprehensive when coming up with the list so you don’t miss anything.

That’s it for now. Our next blog post will talk about what to do next. Stay tuned. In the meantime, if Turner Farms Self Storage can help you with any step of the spring cleaning process, please contact us.

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Copyright © 2011 Turner Farms Self Storage

Photo via flickr.

Is this your car? Don't panic.

Is your attic or basement cluttered with your and your family’s belongings?  Do family members rummage though it as soon as you get it organized, cluttering and rearranging your system?

There are many solutions to this problems. Many families donate their unneeded items to Salvation Army or a second-hand store. Others hold tag sales or sell their items on craigslist or eBay.

But what if the items causing clutter are the things you want to keep? And what if you can’t afford to move into a bigger living space?

Self storage buildings were created as a way to fix this problem. For those who want to get control over their clutter without tossing their extra stuff, renting a storage unit is the way to stay organized and often keep peace in the family.

Self storage isn’t just for people who have too much “home” for their house. It can also be used for:

• staging a home
• file storage or other business-related items like equipment, signs, etc.
• motorcycles, bikes and other vehicles
• storing items for a child who’s away at school
• temporary storage during a move

Self storage (also called mini storage) can solve more than just clutter! Contact Turner Farms Self Storage today to discuss how we can solve your storage problems.

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Copyright © 2011 Turner Farms Self Storage

Image via Phil Buckley

Paying your bill just became easier

Customers can pay their monthly rental bill by going to the eMove Self Storage payment website. But first, please provide us with your email address by calling the office at 919.779.5997 or sending an email to info@tfselfstorage.com.

We will input your information into our system, and you will receive a confirmation email with log-in information.

Your email will be used for this purpose only (no spam — we promise).

The eMove site will allow you to:

• make a payment
• sign up for automatic payment
• check payment history
• print receipts
• view and update account information
• add an authorized user

We welcome your feedback. If you have any comments or questions about online payment, please contact us.

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