Tips for storing clothing in our self storage units

It seemed unseasonably warm at the start of November this year, but as we hit the middle of the month the cold weather has set in, and we are all starting to put our woolly hats and jumpers on to wrap up warm.

This change in weather often brings with it a change of wardrobe, with many of us finding space to put our summer clothes away, making room for the winter wear. But why struggle to fit it in any space you can find or go through a harsh clear out? A flexible self storage solution could save you time and energy, allowing you to focus on what really matters.

Below are a few of our tips for keeping clothing in self storage units.

Have a clear out

We know it can be hard, but it is always a good idea to have a clear out when looking for more space.

We have a few rules to follow when going through your clothes.

If you haven’t worn it in over a year, it is likely you won’t wear it again.
If items of clothing are damaged, get rid of them.

It can be painful, but a good clear out will always feel refreshing.

While there is an element of needing to be ruthless when having a clear out, don’t forget that self storage units are always an option. Just in case there is an outfit that is just waiting for another event to be used, think of self storage.

Wash the clothes first

Once you have a pile of clothes that you are going to put into a self storage unit, it is advisable that you make sure your clothes are in good, clean condition before going away. You don’t want to put them away for a few months and then get them out to find they are dirty and need a wash. If you run them through the washing machine & tumble dryer, (it’s essential you don’t store wet or damp clothes or accessories) so you won’t have to worry about needing to wash them when you need them, instead you will be able to wear the outfit.

Another reason to wash your clothes before putting them into self storage units is because deodorants and perfumes can stain clothes over an extended period of time.

Repair any damaged clothes that you are keeping

You also don’t want to get to spring and summer and find the clothes you now need are damaged and need repairing. Save yourself the disappointment and repair any damaged items now. Your future self will thank you.

Store any seasonal accessories

If you are the type of person that has accessories to go with each outfit and each season, then we recommend that you also store these in the self-storage unit. These items can be bulky and take up a lot of storage space when they are not in use.

Rather than leaving them lying around for several months not using them, box them up and put them out of the way in a self storage unit.

An added bonus of doing this is that all your seasonal clothes and the accessories that go with them will be together, so you won’t have a panic that you can’t find those specific shoes, scarf or necklace for this outfit when it comes to wearing it all.

Don’t bother ironing

Don’t waste time ironing items of clothing before putting them into a self storage unit. Your items will need to be folded neatly to go in the box, and over time creases will naturally develop. Spend time packing them up correctly now, and then iron it all when you take it out of storage.

Box up delicate clothing

If you are planning on putting clothing into a self storage unit for a longer period of time, we recommend that you box up clothing instead of vacuum-packing them. This way of storing things can have its advantages, but clothing made of wool and silk don’t do well inside them for extended periods of time.

Use good quality boxes for clothing that will be stored longer than a few weeks. If you need to get hold of some boxes, you can purchase them from us at great prices.

Label boxes

To be honest, we think this is something everyone should do, no matter what they are putting into self storage units. This can be especially handy when storing clothes in a self storage unit, as it will allow you to locate types of clothing easily when you need them. This could save you having to go through all of the boxes to find that pile of shorts or skirts that you packed away.

You can create a labelling system that works for you, whether this is naming each box by season, items or even colours.

If you are really organised, you can set up an inventory list of everything you are putting into storage that identifies all the clothing you’ve packed away. That way you can be confident that you haven’t lost them.

Store them in the right environment

Your clothes should be kept in a dark, cool and dry place. This will prevent any damage happening to them while they are in a self storage unit.

We regularly make sure that our units are sealed and dry, so this isn’t something you need to think about when using Hogleaze self storage solutions.

Hogleaze Storage self storage units

If you follow these tips, putting clothes into a self storage unit will be easy and stress-free and you can be confident that when you go to wear them again, they will be clean and in the best possible condition.

Hogleaze Storage is a safe and secure facility, with alarmed buildings and CCTV cameras across both our Dorchester and Weymouth facilities. Plus our staff complete regular walks around the sites to make sure everything is closed and locked up.

In addition to that, our Dorchester self storage units have key fob entry, and you will get your own personal fob on completion of paperwork.

We are proud members of the Self Storage Association, meaning that we adhere to strict operating principles and regulations.

Our contacts are flexible, as we know that you don’t always want to store your belongings for a long period of time.

To enquire about our self storage solutions you can call our Dorchester facility on 01305 889777 and our Weymouth facility on 01305 830000.

Alternatively you can fill out the form on our contact page.

Tips for protecting and storing your garden furniture over autumn and winter

It is time to face the fact that after a gorgeous summer, we are heading into autumn… fast. So we are guessing that you are starting to think about where you are going to store all of your garden furniture.

The likelihood is that you are also thinking about how to keep your furniture safe and protected over the coming months so that it will all be fresh as a daisy and ready to use next year.

In this article, we have put together a few of our top tips for protecting your garden furniture over autumn and winter.

Storing wooden furniture

Wooden furniture is a good place for lichen and fungal spores to gather over the summer period. So, it is a good idea to give it a good scrub with a stiff brush and hot, soapy water before you put it into any storage.

Make sure that you allow it to dry properly before it goes into your garage, shed or storage unit. If it isn’t dry before you pack it all away, the lack of decent ventilation might cause it to rot or gather mould.

If you are leaving the wooden furniture outside, you should make sure that any legs aren’t on the ground, so that they don’t soak up any moisture from the floor.

If you are struggling to find an appropriate place to store your wooden furniture, why not store it in one of our storage units? Here they will be safe from the outdoor elements, so you don’t have to worry about moisture finding its way to your furniture and rotting it.

Storing plastic furniture

If your plastic furniture isn’t kept dry and somewhere with good air circulation, there is a risk that it will discolour while in storage.

As you should with wooden furniture, make sure you clean the furniture with hot, soapy water. However, with plastic furniture you should use a soft cloth rather than a stiff brush. You will also need to make sure that you dry it thoroughly before you put it into storage.

If you have found a stain that has occurred over summer, you can use neat bleach to get it back to its original whiteness – you may want to try this on a hidden area first though.

When you are putting your plastic furniture in storage you want to be considerate as to where you put it and how you stack it. Sometimes legs can be unsteady and a little flexible so make sure that they are put somewhere where they won’t be knocked constantly.

Storing rattan or wicker furniture

Furniture that is made up of wicker or rattan can be difficult to clean because of the weave. You can remove dust by using your vacuum and then you can use hot, soapy water to give it a good clean. Use a toothbrush to really get into all the nooks and crannies. Alternatively, you can give it a blast with a high pressure washer.

We should probably mention that you want to remove all of the cushions and any blankets before doing all of this!

Wicker garden furniture should always be kept indoors when it isn’t being used. And varnishing it before you put it into storage will prolong its life.

If your furniture is made out of synthetic rattan then it is designed to withstand the winter weather. However, there are a few steps that you should take to prevent it from getting damaged and keeping it in tip top condition.

Cover it with a PVC sheet or get some fitted furniture covers if you are leaving it outdoors during the colder months. If you don’t want to leave your wicker furniture outside but have run out of room in your garage or shed, you can store it at one of our self-storage facilities. We have a range of unit sizes, so finding a unit to fit all of your furniture safely, won’t be a problem.

We also have lifts and trollies at both of our facilities, so getting your garden furniture into your storage unit couldn’t be easier.

Storing iron furniture

Iron is at risk of rust when in storage. So, once you have cleaned the furniture with hot soapy water and a cleaning rag or cloth, it is a good idea that you check for any rust spots that might be beginning to blossom on the furniture. It probably goes without saying, but if you do find any rust, then remove it. You can remove any rust with rust removal products from any DIY shop, or you can try soaking it in white vinegar which can be applied with a soft rag and rub it in with aluminium foil.

Once you have got rid of the rust with the white vinegar, give it another rinse clean and allow it to dry completely before putting it away for the autumn and winter.

General tips for storing garden furniture

Weatherproof storage

If you are keeping your garden furniture in a shed, it is a good idea to check that the roof is waterproof and will keep out any rain, snow and ice that is likely to occur over the winter months. If you find that your roof isn’t weatherproof, you can store your furniture with us at Hogleaze Storage. Our units are completely sealed meaning that your garden furniture will be protected from the elements over the winter months. We also have a range of unit sizes, so that you can hire the perfect unit for what you need to store.

Storing fabrics

If you have fabric cushions to go on your garden furniture, it’s a good idea to store these indoors rather than in an external storage space like a shed. You don’t want mice and other creatures getting too comfy in your nice cushions! If you are storing your garden furniture in a self storage unit, you can store any fabric and cushions with the rest of the furniture. Hogleaze Storage is a secure facility and we make sure there are no animals around our units.

Secure storage

This one might seem a bit obvious but we still want to mention it.

Make sure that your shed or garage is secure. You never know, an opportunist burglar might pass your garage and take a chance. However, they are likely to be put off when they see a lock in place.

If you are unsure about the safety of your shed or garage, it might be an idea to place your garden furniture in a self storage facility. At Hogleaze Storage we have several security features so that you can rest assured that your belongings are safe with us. From CCTV cameras around the sites, to alarmed buildings and fob entry, we work hard to ensure the safety of your belongings.

Store with us today

There is a lot of information in this article, so we hope you have found it useful.

If you think storing your garden furniture in a self storage unit might be a good idea this winter, give our Dorchester facility a call on 01305 889777, or contact our Weymouth team on 01305 830000.

Tips for moving out of your parents

Moving out of your parents into your own space is a pretty big milestone, whether you are starting university and are moving into halls of residence, or have found the perfect place to truly find your independence and spread your wings.

Leaving the parent’s house is a big deal, and there is a lot to think about. So to make things a little easier for you, we have pulled together this helpful guide full of tips to make the whole experience as stress free as possible.

We should state that we are assuming that you have already done the hard bit and found somewhere to live …. unfortunately, we can’t help you with that!

Give yourself time to pack

Leaving packing till the last minute will make the whole thing very stressful.

You should have a bit of time between securing your own place and actually moving there, so use this time wisely. Make a list of everything that you will need in your new home. Think about what you have got and what you haven’t got? Then you can plan where you are going to get everything and when.

Once you have this sorted you can start to plan where you will start with packing; which room will you start with, what items?

By giving yourself time to pack, you will be allowing yourself time to be organised which will help the process of packing, moving and unpacking go smoothly.

Go through your belongings

Before you really start packing everything up, it is a good idea to go through your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t want (or don’t need!).

You might not have quite as much space in your new place, so it is important that you think about what you will really need in the space, and what might just get in the way.

Your parents might agree to keep a few things for you, maybe they will store some childhood treasures in their loft for now, but asking them to keep your lifesize Captain America cardboard cutout might be pushing it.

Try to be ruthless with what you do and don’t need, and remember things that you no longer need don’t have to go in the bin. Recycle, sell, gift or donate them; this is easy enough to do these days with platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree.

In the moments that you are struggling with this, just remember that this exercise will mean that you have less to load and unload when you actually come to move out. Future you will be thankful.

If there are a few things that you would like to keep that your parents are saying no to, self storage might be a solution. Hogleaze Storage has a variety of unit sizes for you to choose from to store any of your belongings. Our smallest unit is just 25sq ft, this is the size of a walk-in cupboard and is perfect for small loads of personal items.

Collect cardboard boxes and packing material

Obviously you will need something to pack in, and if you are organised with this you don’t have to spend a fortune on it.

Quite often apps that look to recycle everything and anything, such as Trash Nothing, will have ready made or flat pack boxes going for free to anyone who has a use for them. Scope out these apps to try and get your hands on what you need.

Alternatively, ask friends and family if they have any boxes lying around that were going into the recycling. That Hello Fresh box makes for a great storage box!

Don’t forget that there are eco-friendly alternatives to bubble wrap and other materials, so if you are wanting to keep your carbon footprint low on this move, do some research into that. We find that using your clothing, towels and tea towels work well to keep things safe when being moved around.

Pack your boxes sensibly

Packing seems like a big task…but just take it one box at a time, before you know it you will have packed everything up.

Make sure that you use the right boxes, put heavy things into smaller boxes so that you don’t fill a box up and then find that it is too heavy to move (we have been there so learn from our mistake).

When packing heavy things, put them at the bottom of the box and place anything lighter at the top. This is also a handy trick when packing up a truck or car on moving day too.

Make the most of the box and don’t leave any empty spaces. Fill in any gaps with clothing, towels or packing paper, the tighter packed a box is, the less likely any damage will occur.

Finally, make sure that boxes are closed properly and securely. Use a couple of pieces of tape to close the bottom and top seams. Then use what is called the ‘Movers Technique’ and wrap tape all the way around the box’s top and bottom edges, focusing on where stress is being put on the box from the contents inside.

Label your boxes

It is ideal if you don’t mix items from different rooms in one box because that means that you will be able to take each box into their designated room when you get to your new place.

Which brings us to our next point, make sure you label your boxes clearly so that whoever is helping you with your move will know where to put the box.

This is a massive tip to moving efficiently. You don’t really want to waste energy just dumping boxes in one place only to have to move them again later to unpack them in the right area. Label the boxes as you pack, and they are more likely to be put in the right area in your new home.

Top tip: We’d suggest labelling both the top and the side of the box (so you can see the writing from either angle) with the room it needs to go in and a brief overview of the contents, problem solved!

Arrange transport ahead of moving day

Take some time in the build up to moving day to think about how you are going to get things from your parents house to your new space.

Will you need to hire a van? Or can it be done by using your own cars?

If you are thinking about using a van to move anything into storage, we have a fully managed removal and storage service that can help. We can pick up your belongings and bring them to our storage facility, where we can then keep them safe for as long as you need and when you are ready to take them out of storage, we can deliver them back to you.

Where to go when you need additional space

Moving can be a bit fiddly, and sometimes it can be hard to find a home for everything straight away. Whether you created a pile of things before you move that you need to find a new home for, or you get to your new space to realise you have a little too much stuff at the moment, a self-storage solution is just what you need.

If you are looking for indoor storage local to Dorchester or Weymouth then get in touch with us to discuss your needs. We are very flexible and won’t tie you into a long contract, meaning we can store your belongings for a short period of time or for the long term.

Call us on 01305 830000 to chat with our Weymouth team, or call 01305 889777 to chat with our Dorchester team.

Understanding storage sizes at Hogleaze Storage

Picture this, you have a list of things that you want to put into storage; you know exactly what you want to move out of the house, or office, and you know how you will move it all. You just need to find a storage space big enough… but how do you know which unit size will be right?

Lucky for you, we have created this guide to our unit sizes, so whether you are looking to store a few household belongings to declutter the house, or are looking for a place to file some excess business stock or paperwork, you can easily work out which unit size you need.

25 square feet

The smallest storage unit size we have at Hogleaze Storage is 25 square feet. They are roughly the size of a walk-in cupboard and can hold up to around 40 boxes. They are perfect for storing smaller personal or business items. Sometimes even smaller units are available.

Due to the units being small, these can be perfect for storing things that you need infrequent access to, but are looking to store for longer periods of time.

What to store in these units:

Books
Seasonal decorations
Seasonal clothing
Smaller sports equipment
Small to medium sized boxes
Documents

50 square feet

The next storage unit size up is a 50 square foot unit, which is about a third the size of a standard garage. They can store around 100 boxes making them great for storing a room’s worth of small furniture.

Great for storing:

Camping gear
Gardening equipment
Business documents
Kitchen appliances

75 Square feet

Our medium storage units start off at 70 square feet. This size is a good size if you are looking at storing furniture from a 2 bedroom home during a move.

The units are big enough to hold some bigger items of household furniture, or a medium sized office if you are refurbishing your offices and are looking for somewhere to store your office furniture while you are redecorating. And they can hold around 150 boxes.

These are great for storing:

Nursery furniture
Larger sports equipment
Self employed trades work equipment

100 Square feet

If you are looking for something that is bigger than 75 square feet but you don’t need much more space, then our 100 square foot unit will be your best option. This is the size of a typical bedroom and can store up to 200 boxes.

You can store:

Garden furniture
General house clearance
Wardrobes and bed frames

150 Square feet

These are the largest storage unit sizes that we generally have available. This is enough space to hold the equivalent of contents from a 3 bedroom house and is the size of a single car garage. These are perfect for holding contents while you move house, as there is enough space to store larger appliances as well as around 250 boxes.

This storage unit size can hold:

Large sofas and armchairs
Large dining room tables and multiple chairs
Large dressers and bureaus
American style refrigerators
Outdoor furniture
Retail inventory
Construction materials

Store a single box

If you are a business and have a single or several boxes that are cluttering up your office, you can store them with us in our managed storage unit. Simply pay per box that you store with us, drop the box off to us at our office and let us look after your documents.

If you would like to learn more about this service, get in touch with our Dorchester office by calling 01305 889777.

Why store with Hogleaze Storage?

At Hogleaze Storage, we know that the decision to put your precious belongings into storage isn’t taken lightly. So we make sure that your possessions are as safe as possible and have put many security features in place.

Safety features we have across our sites are:

Fully enclosed and alarmed buildings
Key fob entry
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)
Security cameras
Regular Staff inspections

We are also a member of Self Storage Association UK, meaning that our facilities meet a set UK standard. When signing a contract with us, we will also help set up self storage insurance so that you are covered from any issues that are out of our control.

“Hogleaze has excellent storage facilities which are also impressive both from a security and cleanliness point of view.”
Ms Maskall

Know what storage unit size you need?

Hopefully you now have an idea of which storage unit size you will need to store your belongings with us. To book a storage unit with us get in touch with our team at your local facility. Call our Dorchester facility on 01305 889777 or by emailing info@hogleazestorage.co.uk, or to talk to someone at our Weymouth facility by calling 01305 830000 or emailing info@weymouthselfstorage.co.uk.

Clearing out your storage unit… top tips from Hogleaze Storage

You may have plans to try and clear out your storage space in the New Year to allow extra room for new belongings, or maybe you want to do a stock check of what’s been left in your storage unit, especially if you’ve been renting yours for years. Did you know the longest-standing storer we have at Hogleaze has been here for a total of 15 years?

Whatever your reasons are, it’s important to clear out your storage unit in a methodical way. We’ve seen many people come and go, so here are some of our top tips for clearing out your unit.

Decide on the purpose for your clear-out

When deciding to clear out your unit, most of our customers fit into one of these categories:
You’re relocating and need a storage unit closer to home
You need to fill your unit with different belongings from your home
You are downsizing or upsizing your unit
You’ve decided to sell some of your belongings within the unit
Your unit was only a short term requirement for a house move

It may be a big job, so you need to be ready and set the time aside knowing what your end goal is!

Start with a stock take

Do you even realise what you’ve been hoarding in your storage unit? In some cases, people just keep filling their unit higher and higher until there’s no space left, which can lead to things being forgotten about.

By doing a stocktake of every item, big and small, you can easily refer back to it and remove or sell if needs be.

Prepare the right kit for your clearout

Here are a few items we would suggest you take with you to make your clearout as stress-free and easy as possible:

New boxes – you may want to move some possessions into new boxes if they are looking a bit tatty.
Labels – did you rush the moving in process and forget to label? We would recommend labelling everything!
Pen for writing labels
Rubbish bags
Scissors and tape
Cleaning equipment

Categorise your belongings (and be brutal)

If you have a lot of ‘stuff’ in your unit, we would recommend categorising your belongings, for example:

Large goods
Small belongings
Antiques
Items of sentimental value
Items of high value etc

Whilst doing your stocktake, you also need to be brutally honest with yourself about what you can keep and what you can chuck in the bin (or you could take some stuff to the charity shop).

Something you may have thought you wanted to keep 5 years ago may not have the same emotional or sentimental value or may have decreased so much in physical value it’s not worth keeping.

Can anything be sold?

There are some great, fairly new apps and selling sites that allow you to sell your second-hand furniture, antiques, electronics or clothing quickly and with little to no selling fees. Simply snap a picture, upload and await the offers to come in! Here are some we would recommend:

Facebook Marketplace – this allows you to super easily add products with no fees, it’s best for local sales, but you can offer delivery if you’re happy to do this.
Gumtree – a site that’s been around for a while now, but is still a popular option, especially for larger goods such as furniture.
eBay – anything and everything can go on here and lets you reach a wide audience from all across the country.
Vinted & Depop – these are great apps for those wishing to sell clothing, in particular designer or vintage items.

Make some space

Even if you only have a small unit, it’s good to have a central space in your unit so you are able to see everything in there, that way things don’t just get pushed to the back never to be seen again. Having a little rejig can make this quite a simple job, you could also consider adding shelving into your unit to make everything a bit more accessible.

Bring in the cavalry

If you see this as too big of a job to handle yourself, don’t be afraid to ask friends or family yourself, you could even make a bit of fun out of it and start auctioning off your belongings (or just giving them away if you’re feeling generous).

Contact Hogleaze Storage

Did you know that we also have storage boxes and packaging materials that you can purchase from reception? We can also provide trolleys to make it easier for you to get to and from your vehicle whilst clearing out your unit.

If you need to discuss storage options with us simply give us a call on 01305 889777 for Dorchester or email info@hogleazestorage.co.uk OR for Weymouth 01305 830000 or email info@weymouthselfstorage.co.uk

Packing away your summer belongings… what type of storage you may need

The summer of 2021 came around and went pretty fast (despite the majority of us staying put in the UK since the beginning of 2020!). After speaking with many of our customers, it sounds like we all managed to make the most of it and enjoy what the Great British weather had in store for us.

So now summer is over for another year, we thought we would take a look into what people are storing with us, and what type of storage solution we would recommend.

Watersports equipment

Paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, surfboards, oars, wetsuits and everything else that you have to trawl down to the beach or harbour every time… Being this active is exhausting, right?

And now you have to find a home for all of it until next May time when it all starts again.

Our medium-sized storage units are plenty big enough to hold a range of different watersports equipment and are available at both our storage site locations. Looking for storage for sports equipment? Get in touch today.

Caravans and motorhomes

Unless you’re a hardcore motorhome/caravan enthusiast, chances are your pride and joy sits at home on your drive for a lot of the year and just makes its appearance during sunny weekends away throughout summer.

Whilst motorhomes are definitely not an eyesore, they are big, and that driveway space is precious nowadays. Plus, you don’t want to be leaving it out on the road if you can avoid it!

When storing your motorhome or caravan with Hogleaze Storage, you will have peace of mind that it will be in safe hands. We have indoor and outdoor plots at our Dorchester site, all of which are approximately 3 metres wide and 8 metres long.

Glamping and camping ‘stuff’

If you’re an avid camper you’ll know how much stuff you really need to take. Even if it’s just a long weekend trip, it can look like you packed for a 2 week holiday abroad. There’s tents, camping chairs, portable stove, battery packs, blankets, heaters, board games, air beds and sleeping bags (just to name a few things).

As well as saving space at home, keeping these belongings in a storage unit over winter can ensure that all this stuff doesn’t get damp or bitten away by mice in your garage. One of our smaller storage units up to 50 Sq Ft is a great alternative. You won’t have that last-minute fear that you’ll put your tent up with a huge hole right in the middle!

Outdoor furniture & BBQs

Not enough garage space? Outdoor furniture such as tables and chairs, sun loungers, other patio furniture, BBQs (or maybe that pizza oven you didn’t get much use out of) can be bulky and take up a lot of space. Quite frankly you will have probably only used it for about 2 or 3 months of the year. No fear, a storage option is here!

Our medium storage units are around the size of a single garage (75 – 100 Sq Ft) and are a good size for a typical two-bedroom home.

Your summer wardrobe

Are you one of those people that has a (slightly unhealthy) obsession with your wardrobe, but don’t have the space for your seasonal items to be hanging around? A smaller storage unit could be the answer.

Storing your clothes in a garage or similar can lead to them becoming damp and subsequently ruined, so a storage unit is a great option.

Our storage units start from 25 Sq Ft which coincidently is the perfect size for a small walk-in wardrobe.

Ready to sign on the dotted line?

Whether you are looking for a small 25 Sq Ft unit or the biggest we have at 150 Sq Ft, we are sure to find the perfect solution for your summer belongings.

We have storage sites at both Dorchester and Weymouth in Dorset. We always try to accommodate people, but if we don’t have availability you can always join our waiting list and we will be in touch with you.

For Weymouth self storage call our Weymouth branch on 01305 830000, and for Dorchester self storage call us on 01305 889777. If you are looking for vehicle storage, please call our Dorchester branch on 01305 889777.

Don’t forget, no deposit is required, so start storing today!

The telltale signs that you need a storage unit… ASAP!

Unsure if you need a storage unit in your life, keep putting it off, or don’t think it’s quite ‘necessary’ (trust us, if you’re reading this article, you probably already know you need one). If you need some convincing that a storage unit is the right solution for you, have a read of this article and see if you fit into any of these categories.

Your garage is bursting at the seams

Gone are the days when garages are actually used to store your car. In most cases they are now the home of garden tools, outside furniture, your tumble dryer, old paint pots (that you feel totally acquired to keep just in case one day you feel the need to ‘touch up the hallway’), mountains of bikes, kid’s toys, sports equipment and more.

Whether your garage has some kind of order, or it’s a complete jumble sale, could some of these items be better placed in a storage unit to come back to in the future?

Your spare room has turned into a dumping ground

You started with great intentions for your spare room, you’d have a constant stream of visitors staying over, and always keep it tidy and up together (much like a hotel room, with choccys on the pillows). Then one day you cleared out your wardrobe and chucked your unwanted clothes in there, then you bought a new sofa and the old one ended up in the spare room of doom too… a year later it’s full to the brim and uncontrollable. We know the feeling, but you can get back from this!

You have a big life milestone coming up

Moving house, starting university, having a baby – these are all occasions that are going to cause a lot of ‘stuff’ to build up in your home, before it gets out of control… store it!

Whether you are making room for your new arrival and need that extra double bed to be out of sight, out of mind, or you’re downsizing and not sure what you want to keep just yet, this all calls for a flexible storage solution.

You have plans for redecorating or renovation

Making changes to your home can be a little stressful at the best of times, with tradesmen in and out, dust sheets covering your home and paint brushes filling up the sink, it’s always a little easier to start with a clean slate.

By putting your large furniture pieces into storage, such as sofas, beds, wardrobes, and TV’s, you’re avoiding breakages and making more space for the renovations to take place.

Your driveway is looking a bit like a game of Tetris

You may be surprised to hear that the average number of cars per household in the UK in 2021 is 1.2, and with more houses being built, and less having those huge driveways, off road car parking is looking pretty sparse.

So, if you’re a bit of a car fanatic, or have recently purchased a caravan or motorhome, you may find it difficult to keep those vehicles parked. Plus, if they’re your pride and joy, you want to keep them scuff and bump free!

Car storage and caravan/motorhome storage is becoming increasingly popular. With wide bays, inside and outside options, your vehicles will be in safe hands.

Your business is rapidly expanding

With the end of this pandemic in sight, there has been a huge change for all industries in terms of the way business works, and for many, it’s now just starting to pick up.

Whether it’s storage for physical stock or you’re looking for document storage, business storage units can free up some space and allow you to look at the bigger picture. Smashing your business goals on the way!

Did you fit into any of these categories?

If any of this sounds a bit familiar, it’s nothing to be ashamed of, it happens to the best of us. But what you must know is that self storage can and will help you!

Whether it’s long term or short term, large or small, a clearer home or business is a clearer mind.

Learn more about our self storage and vehicle storage and get in contact with us for a quote. We get very full (despite having over 400 units) so if you are thinking ahead, you can always book in advance.

Call us at Dorchester on 01305 889777 or Weymouth on 01305 830000, alternatively, send us an email on info@hogleazestorage.co.uk.

How to make moving day less stressful

Did you know that July and August are the most popular months to move house in the UK? And if we’re drilling down to the exact day, it’s the last Friday in August! With this in mind, we thought we would share our top tips to make your moving day a little less stressful, calm and simple as possible.

As a large storage company in Dorset, we talk to our fair share of homemovers, so we’ve seen house moves of every size, from small 1 bedroom apartments to 5 bedroom mansions. At the end of the day, your moving day should follow a few simple rules regardless.

Preparation is key

If you’ve previously moved before, you’ll know that unfortunately moving house in the UK doesn’t always go as planned. But if you can prepare for every eventuality you’ll be putting yourself in the best position.

Keep a folder of all the house moving documents

Moving house comes with a lot of paperwork – from solicitors, estate agents and mortgage companies. Keep everything in one folder (ideally with sections for each!) so it’s all easily accessible for when you need it. Keep it at the ready on moving day in case you need any of it.

Start packing early

Realistically, you don’t want to wait until the exchange of contracts to start packing up your possessions, especially if you’re packing up 20 years worth of belongings. We know some people say it’s tempting fate by starting early, but it will make moving week much easier.

Label everything

And we mean everything, from the box of fancy dress clothes that have been in the loft, to your special china that no one actually uses, labelling your boxes saves tons of time.

We recommend writing on each box: Room | Items | Fragile / Not Fragile

Pull in the cavalry

Firstly, we would suggest you get your children (and/or pets) looked after for the day if possible, keeping them occupied is then one less thing you need to worry about.

Next up, get a few close family members or friends to help with the move, simply moving boxes in and out can be pretty exhausting if you don’t have support. They can also help with cleaning duties at both properties.

Top tip: Ask the buyers, or the estate agent to leave a little list behind with some key information, such as when bin day is, what keys are for what door, how the heating or alarm works etc. This will make everything much more manageable for you.

Create an essentials box

The last thing you want to happen is that you get your keys to your new home, start moving in and then realise some items you NEED are just nowhere to be seen. Create a moving day essentials box, we’d recommend the following:

Toilet roll
Tea / Coffee / milk and a few mugs
Chargers
Biscuits and snacks
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Change of clothes

Top tip: Take a photo of the back of your TV unit and wifi box, there are so many cables that you may not know where each one goes when you get to your new home.

Try not to do too much

As long as you’re out of your old home, and have done a triple check (don’t forget the loft) of that house, take your time to move into your new one.

Try to enjoy the process as much as possible, crank up the party tunes, pop open the bubbles and once you’re done for the day, find your local takeaway and relax… don’t forget the hard part is done now, you’ve got your keys you can celebrate!

Book help if you need it

Not everyone is in the position to move their belongings straight into their new home, or maybe you want to buy new furniture but haven’t arranged for your old beds and sofas to be sold yet. You may also decide to re carpet or paint before you move everything in – it’s far easier without all the furniture in.

Having a storage unit ready to move some of your possessions into can just take a weight off your shoulders.

At Hogleaze Storage we work with a local moving company, so we can pick up your stuff, and bring it here without having to burden you whatsoever.

Get in touch with Hogleaze Storage

Hopefully, this article has eased your mind a little bit about the prospect of moving house soon. If you are looking for a storage unit, we have storage facilities in Weymouth and Dorchester. Give us a call on 01305 889777 (Dorchester) or 01305 830000 (Weymouth).

Top tips for storing valuables in a storage unit

At Hogleaze Storage, we see a wide range of items being left in our Dorset storage units. From sentimental pieces to higher worth items like antiques and furniture – we’ve seen it all!

With this in mind, we wanted to provide you with some top tips for storing your valuables.

Label everything and keep a record of it

Regardless of which valuables you are storing, for peace of mind when you come to take it out of your unit, labelling everything is essential. It will allow you to also know what items will be fragile as well, avoiding any breakages along the way!

Before you fill up your storage unit, it’s important to also make an inventory of what is being stored. This way you will have documented every item and won’t have to worry about forgetting where you’ve put it.

Protect those precious antiques

A very common item to be stored at Hogleaze Storage is antiques, as many people don’t want to sell them but just don’t have space in their home anymore.

Fortunately, by storing these valuables in a secure storage unit, you can be rest assured that you won’t have any damp problems, which is a frequent issue people can get when storing antiques in garages, sheds or outhouses.

Antiques come in all shapes and sizes so it’s important you protect them as best as you can:

Use cardboard corners – these are handy for sharp breakable objects such as mirrors or units
Use bubble wrap for smaller items
Cover with sheets or fabric covers to avoid scratches, bumps, bruises and further damage
Box ‘em up!

Keep your storage unit and valuables clean

The last thing you want to do is get your valuables dirty or ruined when moving them from your home into your unit.

Some items, such as books, need to be kept dust free to preserve them, you especially don’t want a case of mould building up on your precious items. A quick dust around your unit every now and then can make a big difference.

Remember: Don’t use harsh chemicals on valuables as this can tarnish them.

Make full use of your storage space

You want to make sure you make use of every inch of your unit whilst still making sure it’s accessible and has been stacked safely to ensure breakables or valuables stay intact.

So whether you have a 25sqft or 150sqft space to play with, think carefully about your storage stacking:

Stack longer items such as mirrors horizontally to avoid them falling over
Stack similar sized items on top of each other
Don’t try a balancing act just to get more in your unit, know when enough is enough
Consider if you will need to access items at the back, make a small galley if your unit is big enough
Use boxes to avoid things falling over
Use the labelling technique we mentioned earlier
Ensure all boxes to be stacked are full, especially when storing books

Check the security of your storage unit

When choosing somewhere to store your valuables, your first thought will probably be ‘are my valuables safe?’ Hogleaze Storage puts the safety of your items first with the following measures:

CCTV cameras
Key fob entry
Surveillance
Alarmed entry
Number plate recognition on entry
Insurance for your goods stored can be arranged

Contact Hogleaze Storage for your storage units

Hopefully, this article has given you some food for thought when it comes to keeping your valuables safe in a storage unit.

For more tips and advice, follow us on Facebook, alternatively, for a free storage unit quote, get in touch with our Dorchester team on 01305 889777 or Weymouth on 01305 830000.

Our Top Tips on How to Create a Home Office

It’s no surprise that now more than ever, most people you talk to will be doing some kind of working from home, whether that’s to homeschool the children, part time or full time to keep out of the office. For many businesses, there are plans to make this a more permanent fixture as stats are showing that those who work from home tend to be more productive.

In fact, a study by Employment Hero shows that a whopping 55% of people would look for another job if the remote working option was taken away!

With this in mind, the team at Hogleaze Storage are here to help you work out how to create a home office. Whether this is something you’ve been planning to do for a while but you’re still sitting on your sofa getting a sore neck, or you’ve only recently been introduced to the ‘WFH’ life, Hogleaze Storage has got your back.

Establish where in your house your home office will be

This is a really important first step, you need to consider the following:

Is it a busy part of the house? – Will you get the peace and quiet you need?
Are there too many distractions? – If you’re setting up your home office in the lounge for example, will you be tempted to switch on daytime TV?
Is there plenty of natural light? – If you can avoid it, you don’t want to be stuck in a room with very little natural light or ventilation. Especially when spring and summer arrive, a bit of sunlight and fresh air can do wonders for your mental health whilst working from home.

Don’t forget, you will likely be spending 8 hours a day in that one spot… so you need it to be right. Once you’ve decided your new office space, make sure everyone in the home knows it too… You don’t want your kids putting all their homework over your newly acquired desk space!

Declutter the space

A clean desk is a clear mind… right? Whether you have a 1m x 1m space to call your home office or a whole room, you’ll more likely work much more productively if you declutter some of that unnecessary furniture or rubbish.

If you’re repurposing a spare room as your new office then you will probably have lots of ‘stuff’ that you don’t need in there… This is where Hogleaze Storage comes in!

With business storage spaces from as small as 20 sq ft you can utilise them to hold extra beds you may not need at the moment, sofas that will be replaced by desks or wardrobes that will be substituted for filing systems.

Alternatively, if your business has had to close due to COVID-19 and you’ve suddenly had to move everything online, you may have a lot of stock that needs moving around. With storage sites in both Weymouth and Dorchester, we look after many local businesses in this way too!

All of a sudden, once you’ve stored your bits and bobs in one of our storage units, you’ll have one less thing to worry about and can easily get motivated to complete your work.

Buy a new organisation system

As well as your office space looking super organised and ‘Pinterest-ready’, your new organisation system can help you to separate work and home life, and get that right balance that everyone is looking for right now. Whether you treat yourself to some new stationery, boxes or go all out with new filing systems you’ll feel much better for it!

If paperwork and to-do lists are just left on the side in full view you won’t be able to get work out of your head!

Get yourself some (home) office plants…

Ok, so this may not seem like a priority but honestly, a bit of greenery can do a world of good! Many studies have shown that house plants can make you feel more relaxed, reduce stress and anxiety and make you more productive. Plus, indoor plants actually make for cleaner air! It’s all quite scientific but believe us when we say plants help in more ways than you may think!

See if you can get some extra pennies in your pocket

Lastly, did you know that the government is offering tax relief for employees that are having to work from home? You can find out more about this here >> https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

It’s also worth checking with your employer as to whether they offer any scheme for home workers to cover certain costs such as phone bills, electricity and heating. You may also be able to reimburse you for new furniture costs such as office chairs and desks if they’re required (this way you’ll have extra money to put towards your business storage unit!)

Contact Hogleaze Storage today for storage for businesses

Hopefully this article has inspired you about how to create a home office, we would be happy to help you! If you’re looking for document or business storage solutions get in touch today for your self storage quote. We offer a range of units to suit your needs both short and long term. Don’t worry, we won’t tie you into long term contracts, so once it’s time to get back in the office, you can get your spare room back to normal again.

Learn more about storage for businesses here and call us at Dorchester on 01305 889777 or Weymouth on 01305 830000. For more top tips follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.