According to the United States Department of Energy, twenty-five percent of houses that have two-car garages are not able to park their cars inside them. It’s a common sight in American homes: the garage is so full of tools, sports equipment, holiday decorations, and other seasonal items that there is no hope of actually getting the car in there.

Especially during times of severe weather, homeowners may wish that this were not the case. Scraping snow or ice off of the car before driving to work can be a frustrating start to a winter day. And in the summer, homeowners may feel safer during storms knowing that their cars are safely parked in their garage, away from hailstones or falling branches. Even on a mild spring day, cars parked outside are often covered with unsightly pollen.

If your garage is functioning as a catch-all for random things that don’t seem to belong anywhere else in your home, it’s probably a good time to take stock of your possessions and do some cleaning. If you’re finding junk and damaged or broken items, throw them away. Rent a dumpster if needed, or schedule special trash pickup with your city for large items such as old appliances. If you find items that are in good condition but that are no longer useful to you, or if there are items that only need very minor repairs but that you haven’t used in years, donate them to a local charity or thrift store. You can also sell items on Craigslist or eBay, or try using a service like FreeCycle. Discard anything that has been damaged by water or pests such as mice or moths.

For items that you want to keep but only use during a specific time frame each year — such as holiday decorations; skis, cornhole sets, or other bulky seasonal sports equipment; lawn and patio furniture; or seasonal clothing in airtight plastic bins — consider getting a storage unit at a self storage facility near your home. Storage units can be an economical way to free up space in the garage while also ensuring that your items are in a safe, climate-controlled place that is still easily accessible.

If you have a very messy garage, this may seem like an impossible task. But tackling the clutter can lead to greater peace of mind when there’s a storm outside and your car is parked in the garage, safe and sound.

Do you live in a home where you fear an avalanche every time you reach for the closet door? Surely all of us have at least one compact area that is stuffed floor to ceiling with everything from winter coats to old photo albums – stuff we rarely use but can’t give away for sentimental or practical reasons. Eventually, though, something will give and you’ll be faced with a decision: get rid of something or move everything. If you have not considered off-site storage because of expense or surplus space, you may find that storage facilities are able to accommodate you regardless of the amount of items you have.

When you drive past a storage facility, you might notice that the buildings have uniform garage-style doors, signifying large storage spaces for customers. This may lead you to believe that were you to rent space from such a facility, that you have only one choice of size and therefore must pay a set fee for keeping your items, and some wasted space you do not need. This is not always the case. Storage facilities do offer a variety of units that vary in size. If you know you do not need more than a walk-in closet to keep extra belongings, you can rent just what you need and pay a reasonable monthly fee.

Some advantages to renting storage space include:

1) Security. You will have your belongings in a locked closet or garage-sized area, and if your unit is accessible only from inside a building you have the added protection.

2) Temperature control. With air-conditioned units, your belongings are less likely to mold or wither than if you had kept them in a sweltering garage at home.

3) Access. As the renter of the unit, you can access your belongings when you need them. Choose a reputable facility close to your home.

What should go into your rental unit? You may be reluctant to part with everything that is stuffed in that bulging closet, but taking the time to sort belongings for seasonal or indefinite storage gives you the opportunity to decide exactly what you have that is useful and what needs to either be set aside or removed from your home altogether. Sometimes we hang onto things because they were gifts, or because we used them when we were younger. Removing items off-site gives you room to breathe in your own home, but also helps you become better organized. Consider renting a storage unit today for that surplus stuff.

People may use storage facilities for a variety of reasons. Your current home may not be large enough to contain everything you own, and perhaps you are not quite ready to get rid of some things. You may be moving to a new house and need a place to temporarily keep furniture and other items until the transfer is complete. If you are in the military or plan to be overseas for a temporary job, you may want to keep everything you own in one place without paying rent on an apartment. Storage space is a reasonable, affordable option for you regardless of the circumstances, but you’ll need to ask yourself how big of a space you need to hold your stuff.

When you visit your local personal storage facility, you’ll find a variety of spaces available for your use. People may store everything from furniture to books, seasonal decorations and clothing, and even motorcycles until they wish to use them again. The unit you rent is largely determined by what you own that’s going in, how often you intend to access the storage unit, and how much you can budget for rental. Let’s take a look at some of the more typical sizes of units.

The walk-in closet-size storage space usually measures five by ten feet, or about 50 square feet. One can keep some furniture in this space, and a number of packed boxes or clothing bags. If you don’t have much to move, or want to keep items on hold for a sale or move, this small size is probably a good deal for you.

The next size up will likely be about ten by ten feet, and allows for more furniture storage. If you have a one-bedroom apartment and need to put everything in the space while you move, this size should cover you.

To accommodate furniture from a small, two-bedroom home, a unit sized ten by twenty-five feet is roughly the size of a one-car garage. Units this large will also have garage doors for easier access.

Units larger than ten by twenty-five may be considered if you are storing a larger home, or even an automobile. Ultimately, the best way to gauge the storage unit you need is to group together what you plan to put away and measure the pile. Then visit your storage place and measure potential units. Make sure the unit provides enough room to keep your things and allow you to move inside to get what you need when you need it.

Are you tired of constantly tripping over things in your own home, not because the house is a mess but because you simply have too much stuff cramped in your rooms? Do people tease you about auditioning for a show like “Hoarders” because you seem to have everything in the world packed into a small space? This may be the time to consider renting a unit from a self-storage facility. Perhaps you haven’t done so yet due to the expense involved – prices will vary depending on the size of the unit and the duration of your rental. If you’re still on the fence, here are five reasons to consider going through with a rental.

1) You get your house back! If your home is cluttered with holiday decoration that see the light of day one month a year, clothes that don’t fit anybody, and other items you may not need right at this moment, what is the point of keeping them in valuable space? If you’re not ready to give up these things, but know you don’t expect to use them anytime soon, put them in storage. You can collect holiday decorations when needed, and retrieve the clothes to hand me down when it’s time. In the meantime, you create space in your home and don’t feel so closed in.

2) You provide a secure place for your stuff. Many reputable self-storage units are equipped with security cameras and locks, so you can feel better about keeping certain things out of the home. If you have antique furniture or other items you want to store for later use, the storage unit provides for a secure environment for your belongings.

3) It’s not as expensive as you think it is. Depending on what you have and the size of unit you want, you may pay as little as fifty dollars a month to store your goods. If you are military, you may receive discounts. Do your research to see what storage companies are charging, and work it into your budget.

4) If you live in an area susceptible to bad weather, you may find the durability of a storage unit is better for some of your items than your garage. Furniture is better off stored in a facility that is temperature controlled and secure.

5) Lastly, you owe it to yourself to live in a less cluttered environment. When you make the space, you also improve your quality of life. You’ll feel less agitated and annoyed by clutter, and productivity and attitude will improve.

Consider renting a storage unit for the stuff you don’t need on a daily basis. Storage is safe, affordable, and helps keep your home cleaner.

At some point in our lives, we face the prospect of moving. It could happen within our city or cross country, but whatever the situation there is the chance long-term storage comes into play. If you find yourself in need of a storage unit to rent you may have researched your options and discovered climate-controlled rentals are available. You may think to yourself that since you don’t have anything perishable – like wine – the climate-control feature is not an issue. Your stuff will do just fine, right?

Well, this might not always be the case. The question of whether or not you need a climate controlled storage shed for your things will depend on a number of factors:

1) Location. Are you looking for storage in the South, where the weather ranges from moderately warm to scorching hot throughout the year? Weather and location may have an effect on the items you store if you use a unit that doesn’t have some methods of air control and cooling.

2) Items. Even if you aren’t storing wine for the winter, non-perishable items may not fare well in a storage unit that gets hot. The amount of items you plan to keep while you move or clean out your current home may also determine your rental needs.

3) Price. What can you afford in terms of long-term storage? Prices will vary, so it’s always a good idea to shop around for the best deals.

You will find, as you comparison shop storage rental facilities, that units are typically ventilated in some manner. This is to help keep the units from becoming too unbearable, though a rental facility may inform you that they will accept no responsibility for damage to items. That said, you may wish to consider a climate-controlled unit for the purpose of keeping your possessions safe and free of mold and mildew. There are also a number of items one should not keep in storage in the event they succumb to the elements. These include:

1) Antiques. If you have anything of value – a fragile vase, an old chest of drawers, or a painting – you may be cautious to use storage that is not climate-controlled.

2) Papers and plastics. Leave items made of these in a non climate controlled storage unit after a while, and you may find the material has become brittle.

3) Anything flammable and/or corrosive. This includes paints, batteries, and lighter fluids.

If you are unsure this type of storage is for you, visit a rental facility and tour the available units. Knowing where you stuff will go will give you a better idea of its safety.

When we think of renting a storage unit, most likely we are more concerned with smaller objects like clothing and boxes of books, Christmas decorations, and other items we don’t use on a regular basis. We may also be more inclined to obtain storage for furniture as we transition to a new home. Some may not realize that one can also stow away a vehicle for an indeterminate amount of time. Depending on the storage facility you use, you can keep your car or motorcycle safe while you are not using it.

This is especially handy for those in the military who are stationed overseas, or for people taking temporary work where a car is not needed. If you need to put your car storage while you are away, it’s important to make sure the automobile is prepared before you leave it with the facility. Here are a few things to remember as you get your car ready.

1) Make sure all valuables are removed. Don’t risk leaving something like all your CDs or a removable MP3 player in your car. Even though you’re stowing the car, you never know what will happen while you’re away. Clean out the car as much as possible before leaving.

2) Wash the car inside and out. Give your auto one last, good wash and wax, and use cleaners to treat the seats, floors, and dash. Make sure the interior is dry before closing the windows – you may wish to keep a box of baking soda in the front for freshness. Make sure the windows and sunroof (where applicable) are closed.

3) Change the oil and fill the tank. Your first inclination may be to deliver the car with as little gas as possible, since you won’t be using it. Actually, when an empty tank sits for a long time, moisture can accumulate and eventually cause problems. It’s a good idea to properly lube and fuel your car – it keeps it in good working order and it’s ready to drive away when you come home.

4) Use a car cover. For added exterior protecting, a cover that fits the car well can help preserve the shine.

Lastly, choose a storage rental facility that offers high security and, where applicable, indoor storage for cars. If you live in an area prone to bad winter weather, you’ll want to keep your car safe from the elements so it’s in good driving condition when you come home.