Hey college students, your finals are coming up soon and the holidays are just around the corner! Students everywhere are getting ready to head home for the upcoming academic breaks, but before you pack your backs and leave the dorms, it’s worth taking a little time to organize your space and safely store what you’re going to be leaving behind. Don’t worry about the safety of your things while you’re chilling at home, smart storage now will save you stress later.
Start by sorting clothes and personal items. As the temperatures drop, you should pack away the lighter clothes you probably won’t need for the rest of the season and set aside your winter essentials for the trip home. If you’re leaving campus for a few weeks, you should wash and fold everything before storing it back in your closet to prevent odors and wrinkles from setting in.
Next, it’s time to take a look at your electronics. Unplug everything before you go and make sure anything else is turned off. Store your cables and chargers together in labeled pouches or put them away in a Ziploc before you pack them away. For bigger items like monitors or speakers, do a once over and wipe away any dust collected before you leave. Not dusting and cleaning your electronics every once in a while will invite some unwelcome guests such as cockroaches!
With the end of the quarter or semester coming up, you’re going to be taking new classes next year. Whether you’re tossing out your old notes and books are storing them away, it’s important to pack them away properly. Books, notebooks, and other study materials should be kept in study containers that can handle weight without bending. Try to avoid placing them in garbage backs or thin cardboard boxes. It’s important to also label everything, you’ll thank yourself when you’re looking for that one paper down the road.
This is also a good time to clear out your fridge and pantry. Toss out anything that might expire while you’re gone, and give the surfaces a quick wipe-down to prevent bacteria from growing. Cleaning out your space now will make room for the leftovers that your family will send you off with when you return.
Finally, think about what stays and what foes. Take home valuables or items you know you’ll want to take home over the break. Many students find short-term storage options helpful, especially for bulky items or things they don’t want to lug back and forth between academic years. Luckily at StorAmerica, our leases are month-to-month basis, meaning you can choose however many months you want to rent with us.
A little planning goes a long way and when you return after break, you’ll come back to an organized, stress-free space that’s ready for the brand-new quarter or semester!