Simplifying Your Storage Space
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Simplifying Your Storage Space

If you rent a storage unit to house your Christmas decorations or extra furniture, you might find it hard to remember what you have packed into that tiny space. I found myself with this problem a few years back, after I moved a bunch of extra stuff that I had inherited into storage. However, your storage unit doesn't have to become an unsightly mess. This blog is all about simplifying your storage space by helping you to organize things. Check out these articles to learn how a clean and tidy storage unit might help you, and how you can make changes today.

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Simplifying Your Storage Space

How To Get Your Lake Boat Ready For Storage

Jackson Russell

As summer starts to fade to a distant memory, it is time to clean up your boat and get it ready for storage. If this is your first year owning a boat, this quick and simple guide will help give you an idea of what you need to do in order to get your boat ready for storage. With the proper preparation, your boat will weather its time in storage just fine.

Remove Your Boat From The Water

The very first thing you need to do is remove your boat from the water. You are going to want to park it somewhere where you have access to a hose and can clean your boat, such as your driveway.

Drain All Water From Pumps & Storage Tanks

Once your boat is on dry land, you need to remove all the water from the pumps, engine and from the storage tanks. You don't want river or lake water to sit inside of your boat for the next six months or so. You may need to rent an air compressor pump to remove all the water from these locations. The owner's manual in your boat will provide you with specific instructions on how to drain all the water out – make sure that you follow these instructions.

After you drain out the water, you should flush all the systems again with clean water, to clean out any debris inside your pumps, storage tanks, and engines. This step is especially important if your boat was in salt water; the salt can cause these components to become rusted.

Clean The Interior Of Your Boat

After you have removed all the water from the pumps, engines and storage tanks, you need to start with cleaning the interior of your boat. Remove all items from your boat that are non-essential, clean them off, and place them inside a plastic storage bin for storage.

Next, use a pressure washing machine to rinse all the dirt out of your boat. You'll want to open the drain on your boat so that the water can easily flow out as you spray it down. Start at the top of your boat, and work your way down as you spray. Use sweeping motions back and forth as you work your way down your boat.

Let the inside of your boat dry out in the sun for a full day. Once your boat has dried, you are going to want to clean it again. This time, you are going to want to use a mixture of half apple vinegar and half warm water in a spray bottle to clean the interior of your boat. This is a strong but natural cleaning solution that will kill anything looking to spend the winter in your boat. Spray down all of the surfaces in your boat with the cleaning solution, then wipe them down with a rag or with paper towels. Once again, let your boat dry at least a day before you store it after cleaning the inside.

Clean The Outside Of Your Boat

You also need to clean the outside of your boat, using a similar process to the steps outlined above to clean the inside of your boat. First, you need to take a pressure washer to your boat and spray away all the dirt and debris that has accumulated on your boat.

Then, using either car washing soap or boat washing soap, you are going to want to take a long scrub brush and really scrub your boat down. Make sure you remove any water life that is attached to the sides of your boat.

Next, clean your boat with a solution of apple vinegar to kill any microscopic organisms that are still trying to hang out on your boat. Then, let your boat dry overnight.

The next day, you should add another coat of wax to your boat. This will seal your boat and will help protect it while it is in storage.

Set Up The Storage Unit

Finally, you need to rent a self-storage unit for your boat. You will want to rent a drive-up storage unit that has a lot of open space in front of it. Check out the unit beforehand, and make sure that you will be able to navigate your truck, trailer and boat into the spot. Try to rent a climate controlled unit if at all possible; keeping the temperatures consistent instead of allowing them to change with the outside weather will give your boat the best chance of not sustaining any damage while in storage.

With the right preparation, you can easily store your boat inside of a local storage unit for the winter. The key is to clean your boat thoroughly in order to make sure that nothing hitches a ride and damages your boat while it is in storage. 


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