Category: Storage Tips

Staying focused and motivated while working is key for success. However, with countless distractions, your productivity can become threatened.

Many people do not realise the amount of workload that can pile up on their desk or how lack of lighting and noise can throw you them off track, but by clearing their work space, their motivation and productivity levels will increase.

If you are ready to work in a more productive and happier environment, follow these tips to get started on decluttering your office.

Organise

The average worker can spend up to one week per year looking for items that are misplaced, so now is the perfect time to organise. Place everything in draws or on shelves in an order that makes sense to you – whether it be alphabetically, client related or by date/year, this will make folders easier to search for when needs be.

Keep Tidy

Between 2013-2016, 119,000 employees slipped, tripped or fell over in the workplace. To prevent injuring yourself or others, keep your desk and the area around your workplace clutter free.

Stay Clean

Germs and mould from food, viruses and hygiene levels can affect your and your colleague’s health – so make sure your workplace is kept spotless to ensure full health.

Avoid Distractions

57% of employee’s motivation and morale levels increase when their workplace is clean and tidy. Which means in the long run, having a tidy desk will not only make you happier within the workplace, you will enjoy coming into work every day.

 

If you take all of these tips on board, your brain will be able to focus on one thing at a time, without becoming distracted.

This is why more and more businesses are turning to Spaces and Places to store paperwork, furniture and seldom used items in order to declutter their working space.

By storing all items in a self-storage unit, you are able to keep the workplace as tidy as possible, while keeping all important items in a safe and secure place.

You can access your storage unit 24/7, making Spaces and Places the go to self-storage company when decluttering your workplace.

Many people use storage units as a place to store items they don’t use very often or don’t have space or a use for in their own home. However after a few years the unit may become disorganised or cluttered.

Here are some tips on how to organise a storage unit and make the most of the space available.

  • Firstly, start with a good search through all the boxes and stuff you have and decide if there are things you no longer want to keep. This will take time but be determined to have a proper clear out. Remove the unwanted items from the unit and take to the skip or charity shop straight away. If there are items you now want to sell get them on to eBay sooner rather than later to free up space in the unit.
  • Now all the surplus items are removed you can organise your storage unit correctly to protect your possessions from damage, and maximise space.
  • Protect large items from dirt and damage with a plastic sheet, leaving a small gap in-between items to allow air to circulate
  • Store smaller items in boxes. Use plastic boxes that are the same size so you can stack the boxes safely, and save space .Wrap fragile items up in bubble-wrap and seal boxes with tape. Avoid using sealed plastic bags as they produce humidity which can cause a build-up of mould inside the bag.
  • Label your boxes stating specifically what is in them and number them. This will make it easier to find things when you want them. To stack the boxes safely, place the heaviest and tallest boxes at the bottom and work your way up to the lightest and smallest.
  • Make an inventory of all the items in your unit and how much it is worth, this will make it easier to assess your insurance requirements.
  • Organising the layout of the unit is important. Always leave a walkway so you can access boxes. The best place for storing valuables is hidden at the back of your unit, and items that you are most likely to use keep at the front. If possible make a plan of where your numbered boxes are within the unit so it is easier to find things.

Having reorganised your storage unit you may find you have more space than you thought!

As the seasons change from winter into spring, more people may be thinking about putting their bulky winter clothing into storage instead of having it clog up their wardrobes.

Unlike some parts of the world where the climate remains fairly constant, in the UK we definitely have 4 seasons – sometimes in one day! This means that in the autumn and winter we wear thicker heavier clothes and in the spring and summer our clothes are generally lighter and thinner. Having all these clothes in our wardrobe and drawers can lead to overcrowding and difficulty finding the things we want to wear, plus there is a danger that the clothes can get damaged and spoilt if they are crammed into wardrobes and drawers ‘fit to burst’!

The best way to overcome these problems is to store the bulky autumn/winter clothes during the spring/summer months and the skimpy shorts, tops and dresses worn in the spring /summer should be packed away over the autumn /winter months.

Here are a few tips on the best way to store clothing to ensure it stays in perfect condition until you need it next.

  1. 1. Sort out clothes and accessories – Before storing clothes, shoes and accessories it is always a good idea to have a good sort through. There is no point in storing clothes you have not worn for the last twelve months. There is probably a good reason why you have not worn them- too small, too big, the fit is wrong, they are out of fashion or they are showing signs of wear. Be ruthless – get rid of worn out clothes –even if it is a favourite shirt and send items in good condition to the charity shop.

2. Clean /polish -Wash or dry clean all clothes before storing them. The clothes do not need to be ironed but it is essential to clean them properly to remove marks and stains. Similarly clean and polish leather goods like boots and shoes before storing. Keep boots and shoes separate from clothes and stuff tissue paper into them to help keep their shape.

3. Repair – Carry out minor repairs on clothes before storing them for example sewing on buttons, or repairing seams or hems.

4. Storage containers – Invest in good quality plastic containers with airtight lids to store your clothes. They will keep your clothes dry and free of mildew/mould plus mice and other small creepy crawlies will not get to your clothes. Avoid vacuum packing clothes – it may save you space but clothes made of natural fibres like wool can be damaged if crushed in a vacuum bag for a long period of time.  Contains should then be stored in a warm, dry place.

5. Packing – Although clothes don’t need to be ironed before packing, they should be packed carefully either by folding neatly or rolling. Heaviest items should be packed first and the lighter more delicate items should be at the top and whatever you do, don’t over pack the container!  

If you find that you’re struggling for space to store all your clothes, why not think about renting a self-storage unit.  We offer clean secure storage with 24/7 access.

Get in touch with Spaces and Places and get your wardrobe under control!