The Central City U-Lock Blog

Media Storage Do’s and Don’ts

Of all the objects that one can be forced to put into storage, audio/visual media (CD’s, vinyl records, tapes, etc.) is one of the most important things to store correctly. If you don’t know how to pack these materials in the right way, all your efforts to archive and preserve your old discs and tapes could end up being for naught! Heed the following quick list of media storage tips and facts to save your collection.

Records-

Ah, those classic vinyl records! Many of us have record collections that we cherish and plan on preserving as long as we can. And when it comes to vinyl we are lucky; stored correctly, those old LP’s can last many lifetimes.

All LP’s should be stored vertically and packed tightly in order to minimize warping during changes in temperature. As long as records are stored in this way, (and NEVER experience any direct sunlight) they can usually survive drastic temperatures without suffering damage.

Other than heat and sunlight, the other big enemy to those old LP’s is moisture. I’m sure that most of us who have been to a garage sale or two have looked through the record box (that hopefully isn’t sitting out in the sun!) and found unfortunate records stuck to their cases with mold as the glue. Yes, record albums seem to attract that sort of thing easily, so it is important to store them in the driest environment possible. For example, if storing them in a basement or garage, one would be wise to have them on high shelves where moisture is less likely to exist. Also, it can be helpful to try to use the most air-tight packing materials for them to keep the moisture out in the first place.

If any of the records you are putting in storage are still covered with the plastic seal from the factory, it is best to remove it, believe it or not. That plastic was originally put on only to guarantee that the record had never been played, and actually tends to tighten up more so on one side than the other over time and can thus lead to record warping.

CD’s-

CD’s and DVD’s should be stored vertically as well, and much like vampires, will almost instantly be destroyed by any direct sunlight. Additionally, actual store-bought CD’s are much heartier and have a much longer survival rate than burned CDR’s. And the same applies for DVD’s and DVD-R’s as well. Usually CD-R’s and DVD-R’s don’t have cases, so it is best to use those CD books for storage. Tip: not only should you not eat that little desiccant packet that happily resides in most of these cases when you buy it, you should also not remove it as it helps keep the moisture out.

Tapes-

Like the others, heat and moisture will do cassettes in, so keeping them in cases and away from dust and dirt are of obvious importance. Another important thing to remember about any form of cassette tape is that, unlike records or CD’s, they are magnetic, so keep all tapes away from magnets of any type (remember, speakers contain large powerful magnets!).

Clear Garage Space by Storing your Tools

Is their a corner in your garage that looks like the above photo?

As money gets tighter,  homeowners seem to take  on more and more home improvement projects on their own rather than hiring professionals to do the work. While this do-it-yourself attitude saves money, it can also create many headaches. Most notably, while their intentions are just,  the garages of most “weekend warriors”  are cluttered with items like paint cans, drill bits and landscaping tools .  Thus, hard work designed to improve a home’s aesthetics may go unnoticed if the trade off for such work is a cluttered and unusable garage.

On the surface, tools don’t seem capable of cluttering up a garage. Most people simply plan to keep them neat and organized in a particular area of the garage.  Once you are done using a particular tool, the idea is to return that tool to its proper storage area. However, this practice happens rarely for most do-it-yourselfers’. More often than not, our tools are left lying on the garage floor.  Basically, after a hard day’s work, the last thing anyone wants to do is  put away their tools.  Personally, nothing sounds better to us than lying on the couch with an ice-cold beverage after a day spent working around the house.

A single tool being left out in the garage isn’t really a big deal. However, the more projects a homeowner takes on, the more tools he or she uses and most often leaves  out on the garage floor.  Thus after a weekend of say, fixing the deck, trimming the trees, and working on the hot tub, the garage of a hard working homeowner is a complete mess.

So is there a solution to the problem of tool clutter in the garage? Indeed there is and it involves forethought and self storage. Obviously, you don’t use all of your tools during every season of the year. For example, your not going to paint the garage during the sweltering heat of summer, nor will you be in the mood to clean out the gutters when it is pouring down rain in winter. Therefore, when you aren’t in need of your tools for a few months or seasons, take them down to Central City U-Lock and place them in a self storage unit. This simple step can keep the focus on your new home improvements and not on the clutter in the garage.

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5 Reasons to Store That RV!

Many things change for us as summer winds down: camping season ends, kids head back to school, and temperatures begin to drop. For recreational vehicle (RV) owners, this time of year also means that there are only a few road trips left to take while the weather is still good. Most likely in a few months, the RV will have to return to its most familiar home, parked in front of a house.

When not in use, most RV owners simply park their vehicles in front of their homes or in their driveways. While this type of vehicle storage is convenient and often free of charge, it can present many problems for the RV owner. Though we may be biased working at a self storage facility, we believe that moving an RV to self storage is a smart option that RV owners should consider. Therefore, we are happy to present (drum roll please…):

The Top 5 Reasons to Place Your RV in Self Storage

5. Your house can’t be seen behind an RV. Thus, all of your landscaping and outdoor decorating will be for naught.

4. Your friends have no place to park when they visit as your RV is taking up three or four parking spots.

3. RV storage can keep your RV free from vandalism.

2. Moving your RV often can be a hassle, especially if you have blocked the wheels.

1. Self storage rates for RV’s are extremely reasonable. So, why not contact Central City U-Lock today and store your RV with us until your next road trip?