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Organization

5 Ways to Pack a Storage Unit

10x15 Storage Unit - Total Storage Self-Storage - Winnipeg StorageA storage unit is a perfect way to house items you are no longer using but are not ready to get rid of. Instead of junking up your house with clutter, the ideal solution is renting a storage unit. Your home is organised and clutter-free, while your storage unit makes an excellent home for the items you are not ready to part with. Many times, things need to be stored for a certain amount of time, such as holiday decorations and baby furniture, until they are required. Whatever the case may be, using a storage room is a wise decision. However, the mistake that most people make is not considering how the unit is packed. Packing a storage unit well will ensure that you can find the items you need, when you need them, with no extra work involved! Read on to see how you can successfully pack a storage unit.

Place Everything in Containers/Boxes

When it comes storing items, anything small needs to be placed in a box or plastic container. Storage rooms can quickly become overcrowded when pieces are just strewn about. When you have everything in boxes, you can place similar items together and find what you are looking for, when you need it. Take for example holiday decorations. When you are ready for Christmas, you can easily find all of your holiday décor in boxes or bins marked ‘Christmas’. If you just throw things in the unit, you will be searching all over to find the pieces you need. Organizing like items in boxes and bins saves time and space!

Sort Your Storage room

Another important tip is to sort your storage room. Don’t just throw boxes or bins inside and let them be. Have areas for particular items, so you know where everything is. Perhaps you have a holiday decoration section, a furniture section, etc. By placing items in an order and sorting everything out, you will find your storage room stays nice and neat!

Back in Its Place

When you use items from your storage unit, be sure to put the things back in their place. By resorting your stored items, you will find the storage room stays neat and tidy.

Clean Out from Time to Time

When visiting your storage room, try to clean out from time to time. Look for items you haven’t used in a long time or will never use again. By donating items, you can free up space for more stuff that you actually will use!

Think About What You Are Storing

Take time now and then to think about what you are storing. Every time you plan on taking something to the storage room, think about if you will actually use it again or really need it? Perhaps you can give it away to a family member to use or donate the item. Consider if you need to store the item or if you will be okay parting with it.

At Total Storage, you will have access to plenty of storage space, easily able to store furniture or smaller items. Find a place for your things so you can have room in your home for items you use on a daily basis!

What is “Swedish Death Cleaning”?

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning - What is “Swedish Death Cleaning”? - Total StorageIf you are like most people, you may have never heard of the term, Swedish Death Cleaning. However, for some, getting to know the subject can assist and be helpful when caring for a loved one’s home, after they pass. Developed from the book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter” by Margareta Magnusson, the method of cleaning helps individuals learn how to deal with death and possessions.

In the book, Mrs. Magnusson discusses how she dealt with the death of her parents and husband. She had to figure out how to deal with their passing as well as their possessions after the fact. The book discusses, döstädning, the Swedish idea which translates into death cleaning. The idea is to learn how to remove clutter so that your death does not become a burden to loved ones you leave behind.

How can you start Swedish Death Cleaning?

Start the process of Swedish Death Cleaning with your closests - What is “Swedish Death Cleaning”? - Total StorageSo, how do you get started? To begin, you have to learn what to hold on to. To summarize from the book – if you have kept certain items in the home based on a memory or feeling, but you don’t need the object, this is something you are holding on to that you no longer need. The process of Swedish Death Cleaning is to learn how to hold on to what you need. But, also to be critical as to not keep what you don’t need, just based on sentimental value. As the book suggests, a good place to start the cleaning process of your home in closets. Most use the their closest space as storage space in the home. Many closets contain items that are not being used or needed.

Involve your family with your Swedish Death Cleaning

Involving your family is also important. Perhaps, you have items that you are saving and storing to give to loved ones once you pass. By involving your family in the cleaning out process, you can document what you want to go to who, showing loved ones where items are and discussing your final wishes.

When should you start Swedish Death Cleaning?

Process of Swedish Death Cleaning - What is “Swedish Death Cleaning”? - Total StorageThe process of Swedish Death Cleaning should begin at around the age of 65 or older. Possessions should be shed to avoid leaving loved ones with a pile of possessions that they have no idea what to do with. Seniors can start selling items or giving items away, via donations or giving to family members. Once you start this process and have the end goal in mind, it becomes much easier to get rid of extra items.

How can Self Storage play into Swedish Death Cleaning?

Renting a self storage unit can help kick-start your Swedish Death Cleaning process. The storage unit can act as a halfway point. You can transfer your belongings from your home to your storage unit. Then, when you are ready to tackle this task, you can simply visit your storage unit and complete all of your sorting there. This will prevent your home from being cluttered or obstructed with your belongings as you work through the process.

The introduction of a storage unit can give you freedom and additional time to focus on your Swedish Death Cleaning process, without feeling rushed. If you’re interested in starting this process for yourself, talk to us about a self storage unit today!

Get Rid of Kitchen Clutter

Get Rid of Kitchen Clutter Once and For All - Total Storage Self Storage WinnipegThe kitchen is the gathering place of the home, where meals are prepared and enjoyed. The kitchen can easily become cluttered with appliances and gadgets, even with items that do not belong in the kitchen at all! As the home owner, you can easily take care of kitchen clutter once and for all, if you know how to start. Below is a short guide for you to follow to remove clutter from the kitchen and enjoy a neat and clean space to cook.

Remove Items that Do Not Belong

To get started, you will need to remove items that do not belong in the kitchen. If you have a junk drawer or cabinet, start there first. As you clear out the clutter, think about if the item you are reviewing has a purpose in the kitchen. If not, toss it or find the appropriate place for it to go. Sort through each cabinet and drawer to remove items and see what all you have in the kitchen. Place boxes on the floor and label one for donation, one to keep, one for trash and one as the ‘maybe’ pile. By sorting your items efficiently, you can easily put your kitchen back together and avoid unwanted clutter.

Create Spaces for Like Items

Nothing can be more frustrating than an unorganized kitchen. When looking pots and pans or utensils, it can be maddening trying to find the right tool to use for the meal you are preparing. By creating spaces in the kitchen for like items, you know just where to go to find exactly what you need. For example, have a cabinet or area dedicated to pans and cookware. Have an area dedicated to mixing bowls and baking items. By having designated areas that are clearly organized, you will be able to enjoy your kitchen more, with less searching time when looking for specific items.

Let It Go

One of the main reasons a kitchen can become easily cluttered is due to too many items that are unused. We only technically need so many mixing bowls and only one toaster. When decluttering your kitchen, look at your items. If you find that some things have not been used in some time, try to let it go and donate. This will help you to free up space in the kitchen for items you need and use on a regular basis.

Total Storage provides essential storage solutions for your home needs. Contact us today to learn more about the storage options we offfer to assist in decluttering your home.

Storage and the 4Ds of Life (Divorce)

TGavel and wedding ringshis is the second part in our four-part series about the four D’s of life. This particular phase is about going through a divorce. While none of us wants that to be where our marriage ends up, the facts remain that around half of all marriages will face this problem at some point. If your life has encountered this obstacle, then you know just how many facets of your life it can encompass. Here are a few things that you can do when you are sorting through your life following a recent divorce.

The Emotions that Coincide with a Divorce Are Unique to Every Individual

How you sort through everything following your divorce is a personal choice. Some people are going to tell you to hurry up and move on, while others are going to tell you to get back out there when you are ready. The process you go through is as unique as you are. You need to process your emotions on your own time and in your own way. Some love indulging in going through each memento and grieving as it allows them closure and gives them the ability to move on. Others want everything out of sight so they can deal with it another day.

For you, go with what feels right. Take your time going through things if you want, or put everything aside for that proverbial rainy day. The best way to achieve this is to store the items until you are ready to process them. They are there, at the ready, when you want or need them to be. When you need them out of sight, you have that option, too. You don’t have to spend each and every day pouring through your belongings, trying to piece a new life back together. Take it as it comes, and follow what feels best to you.

Storing Items is Easy, So You Can Tackle the Hard Stuff

If you turn to Total Storage to store your items, you have picked an easy solution. Your items are there, any time of the day or night, for you to come pick up or sort through at your convenience. You can get as big or small of a unit as you need, and you can even downsize as you sort through some of your items. That way, you can function with your everyday life when you need to, and go through your divorce items when you want and are ready to.

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