February 2021 – U-Lock Mini Storage

5 Tips for Seasonal and Long-Term Classic Car Storage

s by investing in seasonal or long-term car storage (visit our Burnaby and Vancouver car storage and White Rock car storage pages for our car storage solutions).

Classic cars are beloved investments that should be kept in mint condition through the year. One of the best ways to keep your classic car in top condition is by investing in seasonal or long-term car storage (visit our Burnaby and Vancouver car storage and White Rock car storage pages for our car storage solutions). Using car storage assures that your classic car is stored in a safe and secure location and the temperature in the facility is suited for keeping a car in top condition.

Before storing your classic car in a car storage unit, you have to prep your car to assure that it is ready for long-term storage. Here are five tips to prep your car for long-term storage.

1. Fill the Tank & Change the Oil

Fill the tank with premium gasoline and add a fuel stabilizer per the manufacturer’s instructions. The fuller the tank, the less chance excess moisture will build up in open spaces, which can cause the tank to rust.

The fuel stabilizer will prevent the fuel from hardening and gunking up. Make sure you drive the car around for a few miles after adding the stabilizer so it can work itself throughout the system. Then top the tank off before leaving in storage.

Along with fresh gasoline, make sure the oil has been changed and the oil filter has been replaced. Leaving dirty, old oil in your classic car can lead to premature rusting within the engine. Remember to drive the car a few miles immediately following the oil change.

In addition to an oil change and refueling, remove the spark plugs and lubricate the cylinders before long-term storage. You can replace the spark plugs after lubricating the cylinders or keep them in a safe place if you don’t want anyone taking your car for a spin while it is in storage.

2. Get the Car Detailed & Prepped

This step may seem unnecessary and counter-intuitive, but it is important to store a clean and waxed car. Any dust or debris left on the car in storage can scratch or damage the exterior paint, while dirt and crumbs in the interior can attract unwanted pests and create undesirable odors. Before storing your classic car, give it a good, thorough cleaning and apply a protective wax finish on the exterior.

After the car wash, prep your classic car even further by doing the following:

Add a box of baking soda to the interior of the car to absorb unwanted smells.
Block off the exhaust using steel wool or aluminum foil to deter pests.
Lubricate door and hood hinges to keep them from jamming up.
Don’t forget the wheels! Make sure they are cleaned and dressed before storage.
Use a breathable cloth car cover instead of plastic. Plastic covers can trap condensation that can lead to rust.

3. Fill Tires with Air & Put the Car on Jacks

It is important to properly maintain your tires in storage because they can be very expensive to replace. First, fill up your tires to the maximum suggested PSI. Then, if you don’t plan on driving the car for a while, jack the car up using jack stands. This relieves the weight from the tires and suspension. The added support will also prevent tires from flat spotting.

Quick Tip: If you are storing your car on a dirt or stone surface, be sure to add plywood or another hard surface below the tires. This will protect the tires from ground rot.

4. Address the Car Battery & Fluids

If you plan on storing your classic car long-term, remove the car battery entirely. If the battery terminal is corroded, carefully clean it with a mixture of baking soda, petroleum jelly, and distilled water. Store the battery off the ground in a climate-controlled environment above freezing temperatures.

If you will be starting your car every now and then, consider a battery tender (or trickle charger) to keep the battery functioning over long periods of time. However, this option will only work if you have a power source in your storage area.

Do a quick inspection right before storage and make sure all the fluids are topped off, including antifreeze, brake fluid and transmission fluid.

5. Choose the Right Storage Location

Under ideal circumstances, a classic car should be stored in a clean, dark, and dry space. While it may be tempting to keep your car stored in an inexpensive old barn, the dirt floor and light exposure can be damaging. A garage attached to your home is not ideal either because the constant access exposes your car to the elements.

Over $101,000 Raised in the 2020 Festival of Trees

The Victoria Festival of Trees is a cherished community tradition that transforms the Bay Centre into a lush forest of beautifully decorated trees in an effort to raise funds for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Donations to the event help provide the best care imaginable for sick and injured kids from across the province, including the 3,300 kids from Vancouver Island who visit BC Children’s Hospital each year for specialized care they often can’t get anywhere else.

Despite the unprecedented challenges due the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanks to the generous support of local sponsors and volunteers from the community, the 2020 Festival of Trees raised more than $101,046 for the BC Children’s Hospital! These funds will help fund the research, technologies, and kid-focused care needed to conquer childhood illnesses and create a better future for children across British Columbia.

Congratulations to all the sponsors and participants for helping the Festival of Trees raise over $101,000 in funds to continue supporting children’s health in British Columbia!

To learn more, visit the Festival of Trees website.

6 Ways to Organize Your Storage Unit for Easy Access

Organizing your belongings into different categories helps you find items more efficiently in your storage unit. To improve the organization of your storage unit, use these six tips!

1. Pick one box size for most, if not all, of your items

Same-size boxes help with stacking and accessibility.Small or medium boxes will be perfect for most of your belongings. Keep in mind that large boxes are excellent for items that aren’t very heavy, but they may not hold up well at the bottom of large stacks. Large boxes are more difficult to remove if you need something out of them – especially if they are at the bottom of a stack. Need boxes? U-Lock has boxes of various sizes available for purchase at any of our six convenient locations.

2. Identify the items you may need to access while in storage

Things you do not use regularly when you are packing may be needed later on. Carefully consider the items you may need while they are in storage, giving extra thought to seasonal items.

Here are a few things you may need to retrieve from your storage unit:

Winter or summer clothing
Trip supplies (tents, sleeping bags, snorkeling gear, sleds, cookout utensils)
Holiday items (decorations, costumes, bakeware)
Kids’ toys (kids may enjoy a “new” box of toys when they get bored of the toys they held onto when packing)
Tools and hobby supplies
Office documents

3. Label each box you pack

Label each box on the top and on at least one side with a unique box number, the room it came from, and the contents of the box. Place a special mark on boxes you may need to access at some point while in storage and remember to put them in your storage unit last.

4. Create a master contents list

Make a list with all the box numbers and write down all of the contents of each box. This might seem like a cumbersome step, but a master list becomes very handy when you need to find a specific item – especially if some of your boxes will be completely out of view.

If you prefer to keep things digital, there are speech-to-text tools you can use to dictate text so you don’t have to type as you go. Additionally, if you want to take organization one step further (or don’t trust your handwriting), you can print each line from your inventory list to create custom labels for your boxes!

5. Plan an organized layout for your storage unit

If you are going to access your unit frequently, you will need to put some thought into how you arrange your storage unit. Ideally, you want to put furniture items against the wall opposite your boxes to leave a path in the middle of the unit. This way, you can access boxes and furniture without any hassle. If you need to use the space in the middle, place items that can be easily moved, to avoid difficulties.

6. Consider upgrading to a larger unit

Storing your items in a storage unit like a Tetris game makes retrieving them very difficult. A little extra space can give you room for shelving units and a path through the middle of your unit for easy access to most of your belongings.

Hence, it is good to rent a larger storage unit – just slightly bigger than your needs to give yourself some wiggle room. A slightly larger storage unit also gives a bit more leverage if you want to store more items in the near future.
If you have any questions about renting a storage unit, please contact us and we will be more than delighted to help!

6 Storage Unit Tips For Vancouver Homeowners Who are Downsizing

To help you maximize the space you have, we have come up with six storage tips you can use, including renting a storage unit, leveraging vertical storage, and more. Check them out!

With many homeowners downsizing and choosing more compact and cozier homes, finding additional storage space around the house to put items away can be challenging. To help you maximize the space you have, we have come up with six storage tips you can use, including renting a storage unit, leveraging vertical storage, and more. Check them out!

Rent a Storage Unit

Renting a storage unit in Vancouver or Burnaby is the best solution for your storage needs. By renting a storage unit that is approximately the size of a closet or slightly bigger than a storage unit, you will gain enough space to fit items that you have laying around your home.

To start, you can rent a 5 x 5 feet unit, which is equivalent to a regular closet. If you only have a few items around your home to store, the 5 x 5 feet storage unit will surely meet your needs! If you have more items to store and need a bigger space, you can rent a 5 x 7 feet storage unit.

Additionally, we have a 5 x 10 feet storage unit available. This storage unit size is equivalent to a walk-in closet and it is ideal for those who want to store documents, clothes, spare pillows, or other home items.

Renting a storage unit at U-Lock Mini Storage Burnaby is a top solution for your storage needs because you can choose a storage unit size that fits your demand, select a rental period based on your needs since we offer month-to-month contracts, and you will be storing your belongings in a secured, gated facility, which is monitored 24/7 with a digital surveillance system.

Shelving Above Toilets

Nothing is worse than a tiny bathroom overrun with towels on the floor and toiletries stuffed under the vanity. To keep your bathroom and powder rooms clutter-free, we suggest adding shelving above the toilet. If you are renting and unable to install free-floating shelves on the walls, you can try using a stand-alone shelf unit that fits over the toilet.

This extra storage frees up floor space in the bathroom, as well as shelf space inside your vanity.

Storage Beds

Do not waste precious bedroom space with armoires and dressers. Instead, opt for a storage bed when downsizing to smaller rooms. Storage beds typically come with four or more drawers underneath, attached to the bed frame. This provides more space to store clothes and necessities under the bed instead of inside a bulky, space-hogging chest of drawers.

Hooks

Need to get organized? One word: hooks! Hooks are inexpensive and easy to install – they are one of the best storage solutions for small spaces. We recommend installing them in your entryway, laundry room, mudroom, bathroom, garage, closets and pantries. You can use hooks to hang belongings such as clothes, towels, brooms, umbrellas, hats, and dog leashes – among many others.

Bins and Baskets

Storing belongings inside bins and baskets is one of the most affordable and most aesthetically pleasing ways to save space when downsizing. They can be placed almost anywhere, including entryways, kitchens, closets, bedrooms, bathrooms, and pantries. Decorative bins and baskets are easy to come by and they help make the home both stylish and organized. When using bins or baskets, we recommend adding labels to them as well.

Drawer Organizers

One easy way to help eliminate the mess in your various drawers is to simply add drawer organizers. These will save you space by allowing you to more easily and efficiently store everything from makeup and toiletries to office supplies and kitchen utensils inside your drawers. These organizational trays can be used in kitchens, pantries, bathroom vanities, and desks.

While downsizing to a more compact place means that you will have less space in your new place compared to your previous property, there are quite a few ways for you to maximize your space. By renting a storage unit or using bins or hooks, you can make the best out of the space in your home! If you have any questions about storage units, please contact us and we will be more than delighted to help!

Motorcycle Storage in Vancouver and Burnaby: 5 Motorcycle Storage Tips You Can Use

Using motorcycle storage to properly store your bike is critical in extending it’s useful life. Doing so will help prevent damage from rust due to rain or snow, or from other vehicles passing by and scratching your motorcycle.

To help you properly store your motorcycle, here are some tips you can use :

1. Remove all dirt and debris from exterior surfaces

First, thoroughly clean and dry all surfaces of the bike. This step seems like an obvious one, but its importance cannot be emphasized enough. Cleaning a bike that won’t be on the road sounds like a thankless job, but it is one that will save you time and headaches in the long run. Any dried-on bugs, dust, or spotting will only become harder to clean off once it has been sitting for a long season.

2. Lubricate all moving motorcycle parts

If you plan to store your motorcycle for more than a few months, make sure you lubricate all essential internal components with a light coat of oil to prevent unwanted moisture buildup.

One way to do this is to remove the spark plugs, then put about a tablespoon of oil into the holes. Turn the engine over and coat the cylinder walls by spinning the rear tire while the bike is in gear. Make sure to add back spark plugs when you are done.

Everything that is usually lubricated in a motorcycle should be checked shortly before storage. Check the chain, cables, and controls to be sure everything is freshly lubed up to withstand the cold and dry winter air.

3. Fill up the gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer

Stop by a gas station that is closest to your storage location and top off the fuel tank. Once you do, add a touch more. A full tank is essential for keeping moisture down on the tank walls.

After the tank is full, add a fuel stabilizer and then take the motorcycle for a short drive to the storage destination. Do not add the fuel stabilizer at the storage location or it will not have a proper chance to mix into the fuel system.

Another option worth mentioning for long-term motorcycle storage is to drain the tank of fuel completely. If you do this, you will need to line the tank with a fogging oil to prevent rust. We recommend this method if you plan on storing your motorcycle for six months or more.

4. Change the oil and replace the filter

Old oil that sits in storage can quickly corrode engine components. This is not ideal for any motorcycle that will be stored for longer than a month. After you took the motorcycle for one last ride and topped off the fuel, change the oil and replace the filter.

Purchase an oil that is primarily for winter use and follow the instructions. Remember to add the appropriate amount of antifreeze to your coolant system, which is an especially important step for winter motorcycle storage.

5. Remove the battery and hook it up to a trickle charger

You can either remove the battery entirely, or, for shorter-term winter storage, keep it on the bike. If you decide to keep the battery on, make sure you turn the bike on every month or so to charge the battery. The best way to go is to remove the battery and store it in an entirely different location that will not have fluctuations in temperature.

Once the battery is disconnected, and the electrodes are cleaned, hook it up to a trickle charger all winter long.

6. Take the weight off the tires to avoid flat spots

The best way to store a motorcycle is with all the weight off the tires. This can be accomplished by using motorcycle stands; the weight relief will prevent uneven tire wear or flat-spotting.

If a stand is not an option, try to hoist the bike up on the front tire and alleviate the weight from the back tire. Make sure to rotate the front tire every few weeks.

If your only option is to leave the bike on the ground, fill the tires to the maximum PSI. Next, line the floor with carpet or plywood to act as a barrier from moisture. Lastly, make sure to rotate the tires by rolling the motorcycle every so often.