As the long summer days wind down and the school year begins, it’s time to start thinking about summer toy storage. Whether you cool off in a pool at home or by taking your inflatable kayak to the river on those hot sunny days, cooler evenings mean it’s time to pack up summer toys. Some may come in strange shapes and sizes, which makes finding the right storage space essential. Security Public Storage has tips for efficient summer toy storage, whether you’re storing them at home or in a storage unit
Storing Summer Pool Toys and Inflatables
Before storing your inflatable toys for the summer, it’s important to put them away clean and dry in order to prevent mold, mildew and pests. Before deflating your floaties, paddle boards or kayaks, follow a few basic steps to avoid an environment where mold might grow:
- Rinse inflatable summer toys off with a hose
- Scrub problem areas with warm soapy water
- Rinse soapy inflatables thoroughly
- Let inflatables dry in the sun
After cleaning your inflatable summer toys, deflate them completely. Next, fold them so they stack neatly in containers. We recommend storing summer toys and inflatables in airtight containers in order to minimize temperature changes from damaging your items. These types of airtight containers also help prevent mold, mildew and pests from ruining next summer’s fun.
Pool toys and other inflatable summer toys likely won’t be used again until next summer. If you don’t have the space in your home, summer toys can be stored in a storage unit. We recommend storage units for your kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, pool toys and safety gear, including life jackets and life preservers.
Bicycle Storage at SPS
We couldn’t talk about summer toy storage without mentioning the most tried and true summer necessity – bicycles. Security Public Storage offers storage units in a variety of sizes to meet your needs, including bike storage. If you live in an area where you know cycling won’t be on the agenda until the warm weather returns, bicycle storage at SPS may be a great solution.
Whether you have a fleet of bikes for your large family, or you’re an experienced cyclist with a garage full of your own bicycles, bike storage at SPS can help you reclaim space at home. Bicycles are typically among the larger and bulkier items you’ll store, and a storage unit gives you the space needed to protect them.
Bicycles can be difficult to store, especially in large cities. Their higher value makes them an easy target for thieves, which makes outdoor storage difficult in some areas. Storing bikes in a secure storage unit helps protect them from the elements and keep them out of sight of potential thieves. Storing bicycles in a storage unit helps protect your investment, allowing you to ride again next summer and many more to come. Here are extra precautions to take that will protect your bikes before you store them:
- Clean your bikes thoroughly before moving them to storage
- Properly inflate your tires to prevent dead spots from occurring
- Hang your bikes from bicycle hooks to prevent misshapen tires
- Apply a lubricant to prevent rust from forming on the cables
Summer Toy Storage Keeps Fun Afloat!
From inflatable pool toys to paddleboards, bikes, kayaks and small boats, you’ll find the perfect storage unit for your summer toys at SPS. All of our storage units include individual security alarms, and our facilities are all monitored by state-of-the-art security systems with 24-hour high-def video surveillance. Choosing a storage unit to protect your summer toys over the winter will help protect your investments, keeping the fun afloat!
As summer winds down, find an SPS location near you to protect your summer toys, from pool toys to bicycles and everything in between.