In This Guide
Every home has them: the belongings that matter enormously for a few months of the year and are pure clutter for the rest of it. Christmas decorations in July. Garden furniture in January. The ski gear, the paddling pool, the fan heaters and the camping kit. Long-term self storage is the simplest fix for the seasonal storage problem, and it is far more affordable than most people assume.
The Seasonal Storage Problem
Seasonal items are awkward precisely because you cannot throw them away, yet they occupy your best storage space year-round. The loft fills up, the garage becomes impassable and the spare room stops being a room. Meanwhile the items themselves often live in conditions that slowly ruin them, with damp garages and baking lofts doing quiet damage every year.
Moving them into a home storage unit solves both halves at once: your house gets its space back, and your seasonal belongings sit in a clean, dry, indoor unit until their season comes around.
What Counts As A Seasonal Item?
- Christmas trees, decorations and lights
- Garden furniture, parasols, the barbecue and outdoor toys
- Summer gear: camping equipment, paddling pools, sports kit and bikes
- Winter gear: skis, snowboards, heaters and heavy bedding
- Seasonal wardrobes, from winter coats to summer holiday clothes
- Hobby and event equipment used a handful of times a year
Six Benefits Of Long-Term Storage
- Your home works better. Cupboards, lofts and garages return to storing the things you actually use, and the garage might even fit a car again.
- Your items last longer. Indoor units protect fabrics, wood, electronics and decorations from the damp and temperature swings that destroy them in garages and sheds.
- Everything stays organised. One labelled unit beats seventeen hiding places. When December arrives, the decorations are in one place, intact, in labelled boxes.
- Serious security. Rather than a shed padlock, your belongings sit behind 300+ CCTV cameras, monitored alarms and high security fencing, and only you hold the key.
- Total flexibility. Swap items in and out with the seasons. Access is 7 days a week, 8am to 10pm, so the summer kit can come out the same weekend the winter kit goes in.
- It costs less than moving house. Which, ultimately, is the alternative when a growing family runs out of room.
How Long-Term Storage Saves Money
Long-term customers get the best deals we offer. On top of 50% off your first 9 weeks, our prepayment discounts reward commitment: 5% off for 4 months paid upfront, 10% for 6 months, 20% for 12 months and 25% for 2 years. A small seasonal unit on a 12 month prepayment costs less per week than a takeaway coffee habit.
There is also no deposit, and the unlimited free packing boxes mean the set-up cost of storing properly is essentially zero. Check the full price list to see what your size would cost.
Packing Seasonal Items Properly
- Clean and fully dry everything before it goes in, especially garden furniture and tents.
- Wrap decorations in tissue and pack them in sturdy boxes, labelled by room or theme.
- Store clothes washed, dried and in sealed boxes or vacuum bags.
- Drain fuel from mowers and strimmers, and remove batteries from anything electronic.
- Keep an inventory list taped inside the unit door so the January hunt for the fairy lights takes seconds.
A Seasonal Storage Calendar That Runs Itself
The households that get the most from seasonal storage treat it as a simple quarterly rhythm rather than an occasional chore. A calendar that works for most families in the North West:
- January: Christmas comes down and goes into storage properly boxed, and the winter sports gear comes out for trips. While the decorations box is open, cull the broken lights rather than storing them for a tenth year.
- April: The big spring swap. Garden furniture, the barbecue and outdoor toys come home; heaters, heavy bedding and thick coats go in, washed and sealed.
- July: Camping and holiday gear rotates as trips happen, and the loft gets its annual clear-out while the weather makes the job pleasant.
- October: The reverse swap. Garden furniture is cleaned, dried and stored before the first frosts, winter wardrobes and heaters come home, and the Christmas boxes move to the front of the unit ready for December.
Each swap is a single trip in the car, or none at all if you time it with our free collection service. After the first full year the rhythm becomes automatic, your loft and garage stay permanently clear, and nothing seasonal ever gets rained on, chewed or lost again.
Getting Started
Most seasonal customers need only a 10 to 25 sq ft unit, which starts from £4.80 per week. Use the size estimator to gauge your space, then get a free quote or call 0161 826 2869. Your loft will thank you.
