When freezing temperatures fire up snowbirding daydreams in East Rockaway, NY, it's time to plan a winter getaway. Chilly residents across the country are raiding their storage units and putting together their best travel gear. They're on their way to these six amazing holiday retreats stretching from the West Coast to the Gulf of Mexico.

Six Snowbird Destinations

1. Sunny Palm Springs, California

Snowbirds love Palm Springs during the winter because its desert heat gives way to balmy temperatures. Don't leave your hiking gear behind in self storage when you vacation in this sunny spot. You'll want to explore the natural beauty of nearby Andreas Canyon.

2. Scenic Sedona, Arizona

Follow the snowbirding trail over to Arizona and enjoy some of the state's most affordable scenery. If you're on a budget, Sedona offers a wealth of inexpensive outdoor activities. The breathtaking landscape is all yours with more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails.

3. Beautiful Alamogordo, New Mexico

Veer just a little off the beaten snowbird path to the home of the world's largest pistachio nut. Immerse yourself in endless orchards of premier pistachio trees. Linger at Alamogordo's first-class vineyards and wineries. Treat yourself to a round of golf with the majestic Sacramento Mountains as your backdrop.

4. Peaceful Padre Island, Texas

When was the last time you spent Christmas on the beach? This time of year, Padre Island quietly serves as a peaceful holiday retreat away from the usual crowds. Stroll the beaches, stuff your stocking with sea shells, and watch glorious sunsets over Laguna Madre.

5. Gorgeous Gulf Shores, Alabama

Does the snowbird in your soul love to fish? Set that angler free on this island's 2,400-foot Gulf State Pier. Cast your luck off the decks of a saltwater charter. Enjoy gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico as you grill up the freshest catch of the day in the middle of winter.

6. Lively New Smyrna, Florida

Snowbirds celebrate New Smyrna for its small-town charm and vibrant arts scene. Spend a relaxing day drifting between galleries, boutiques, and unique cafes. Lounge on the beach and soak up that famous Florida sun. If you change your mind about excitement, Orlando is just an hour away.

Staging Winter Getaways

Turn your holiday vacation into a snowbirding adventure. When you're ready to head out, let Safeguard Self Storage help you stage a winter getaway with the best storage units in East Rockaway, NY. Have a great trip and stay safe on the road. Your belongings will be in good hands.

After the holidays are over, there’s an inevitable mess caused by gifts, wrapping paper, and Christmas decorations. If you have houseguests such as family members, the additional clutter and trash exacerbates the problem. How can you dig yourself out of the clutter? How can you transition away from the holidays? How should you determine what to do about holiday storage? At Safeguard Self Storage, we’ve had experience with this. Here are some tips that we’ve learned.

Organize, Organize, Organize

There are an infinite amount of holiday life hacks and Christmas storage ideas floating around the internet, but nothing beats creating an old-fashioned organizing strategy and checklist. If you’ve got one of those, you’re well on your way to banishing the mess from your home.

Make a List and Label Your Boxes

When your Christmas or holiday decorations are up, it’s easy to see where your stuff is and just how much space it occupies. Take this time to make yourself your own personalized holiday storage list. Any list will help, even if it’s just a few scribbles on a page. A detailed list, however, won’t just help you now. It will also help in the future as you take your holiday decorations out year after year. If possible, include the following details:

• Item categories
• Quantity of decorations
• Item attributes (fragile, flammable, sturdy, etc.)
• Room placement

Once you have this list, whether it’s in a spreadsheet on your computer or a notebook, you can use it to label your boxes as accurately as possible. Don’t be afraid to buy new boxes if you think it will help you. They can always be reused later on.

Take Special Care for Special Items

Some holiday items, like Christmas linens, figurines, candy tins, and the like are relatively straightforward to store. Others are not. You’ll want to pay special attention to these and buy appropriate padding or protection.

How to Store Your Artificial Christmas Tree

Your Christmas tree is most likely your largest individual item to store. While it’s easier said than done to put it back in the box it came in, an outside-the-box idea—literally—is to get a large roll of plastic wrap and shrink wrap your tree. You can even do so with the ornaments and lights still on the tree, making your unpacking next year easy as Christmas pie.

How to Wrap Christmas Tree Lights for Storage

The hardest thing to put away are holiday lights because of their extreme propensity for tying themselves into an impressive bunch of complicated knots. There are a few Christmas storage ideas that prevent this. One of the simplest solutions is to cut out a small square of cardboard and wrap each string of lights around their own square. That prevents lights from tangling with each other, and it also helps you understand more visually how many strings of lights you have.

How to Store Your Ornaments

Ornaments can be easily broken or damaged, so it’s important you have ornament storage that works. One option is to buy a purpose-built ornament holder, which does a great job in keeping ornaments secure and is easy to transport. If you’re more interested in a DIY solution, egg cartons and cardboard drink containers are your friend for small and large round ornaments, respectively.

How Self Storage Can Help After the Holidays

Even the best Christmas storage ideas only help so much, because you still have to find a way to stow them away until the next year. Putting them in your basement takes up valuable space you could otherwise utilize for items that you might need throughout the year. Storing them in your garage prevents you from parking there, which you might regret during the dog days of summer or the coldest winter nights.

That’s why self storage is an ideal option for holiday storage. By putting your holiday decorations in self storage, you’ll be able to keep your home clean and uncluttered and store your items in a purpose-built space rather than stuffing it anywhere you can. Safeguard Self Storage also offers the following features:

• Heated and cooled units
• Packing supplies on site
• Flexible access hours
• Drive-in loading areas
• Digital video recording

Uncluttering your home can result in multiple psychological and physical health benefits, such as increased confidence, increased energy, lowered anxiety, and more. Self storage can help you do that.

Safeguard Your Items with Holiday Storage

When the holidays are over, and you’ve finally figured out how to wrap Christmas tree lights for storage, Safeguard Self Storage can help you. With dozens of locations across Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, we’ve got a location near you to help you through the post-holiday blues. Don’t be overwhelmed with holiday items filling your home. Contact us and reserve a unit today!

You're finally planning that well-deserved holiday vacation from Ozone Park, NY. You want to make sure things stay safe while you're gone. Storage units are perfect for securing valuables, but how do you winter-proof things back at the house?

10-Step Winter Proof Checklist

Start Inside

Have the furnace inspected by a certified HVAC technician. Change the filters and program the thermostat before you leave.

Use Surge Protectors

If winter weather knocks out your home's electricity, a power surge could damage your valuable gadgets. Use surge protectors to minimize the risk to TVs, computers, and stereos.

Close the Damper

Cold air seeping down the chimney chills the house and fires up the furnace. Keep out winter humidity and save money by closing the fireplace damper and doors.

Pull the Drapes

This is another easy way to keep freezing temperatures from creeping into your home. Close the window blinds and pull and secure the drapes.

Declutter Your Garage

If it's vulnerable to winter damp, it's not safe in the garage. Move boxed belongings and lawn equipment to secure, climate controlled self storage (heated and air conditioned).

Wrap Outdoor Pipes

Don't let frozen burst pipes ruin your holiday vacation homecoming. Keep exterior plumbing from freezing by wrapping it with foam insulation sealed with weather-proof tape.

Protect Hoses and Faucets

Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Use faucet cover protectors to shield the fixtures from snow and ice. You can also wrap them with the same insulation you use on the pipes.

Check the Gutters

Winter storms can overflow gutters and leave the roof edge covered with ice dams. A little time on the ladder now can save expensive damage to shingles and soffits while you're on vacation.

Keep Critters Out

Squirrels, roof rats, and opossums love to nest in warm attics. Keep them out of your house by making sure gables, vents, and flashing are secure.

Trim the Trees

High winds can snap bare branches and send them crashing through windows. Cut back limbs so that trees don't bang against walls or scrape the roof. This helps keeps critters at bay too.

You're Ready to Go

As you hit the holiday vacation road, enjoy taking peace of mind with you. It feels good to know your things are safe in self storage and your home can handle the coldest winter. Here at Safeguard, we're glad to do our part with secure storage units that always make it easy to head out the door. What are you waiting for? Rent a storage unit in Ozone Park, NY, today!

You're ready to string lights and turn on the glow around your South Side home, so it's time to sort through those boxes of strands in self storage. Your Chicago, IL neighbors are headed for the roof too. Everyone in Beverly brightens up at the thought of putting up lights for the holidays, so make these smart tips part of your decorating scheme this year.

Stay on the Safe Side

You turn your home into a wonderland of dazzling lights every holiday season. You also make sure to play it safe, so review your list of precautions, and then check it twice.

• Give the ladder a solid safety check before you head up to the roof.
• Inspect light strands, extension cords, and plugs for any signs of wear.
• Clear plenty of safe working space by moving outdoor furnishings to your storage unit.
• Take a look around for power lines that can pose a danger while you're on the ladder.

Streamline the Job

DIY efficiency is one of your hallmarks, and that talent extends to handling holiday lights. As you retrieve the old ones from self storage and add new sparkle to your collection, streamline the job by keeping everything in working order.

• Test each strand for dead bulbs with a light tester.
• Tape measure all the lengths you plan on spanning including window frames and porch rails.
• Replace retired strings and garlands with energy-efficient LED lights.
• When the strands come down, coil them in large plastic buckets, or around egg cartons for easy storage in your unit.

Create a Holiday Showcase

Traditional lighting around the eaves is just the beginning. Extend that brilliant illumination with outdoor light tricks that turn your Beverly homestead into a holiday showcase.

• Welcome guests to the house with pretty pathway lights.
• Make shrubs shimmer with sparkling net lights.
• Dress up the post mount lantern with strands of twinkling stars.
• Brighten up your front porch with big glass jars filled with colorful lights.

We Wish You the Best

Don't forget to turn off those beautiful holiday lights before you go to bed. We want you and your Beverly neighbors to stay safe and preserve energy efficiency, especially this time of year. When everything finally comes down, we're ready for you with 15 Safeguard Self Storage Chicagoland locations. Safeguard Self Storage wishes you the best during this special season, and all year long.

You've never entertained the entire family before, but you're living in a city of firsts. If Philly could publish the nation's first daily paper and open the country's first zoo, you can make history too. Just take the time to do a little holiday planning, and give yourself plenty of room with extra space in self storage. No need to worry, your Philadelphia, PA festivities are going to run smoothly.

Prepare for House Guests

Party planning doesn't take practice, but it does take an eye for detail. Clean house like a pro by dusting often-missed baseboards, air vents, and light fixtures. Freshen bathrooms with scented soaps and extra guest towels. Let climate-controlled storage units help you get your home ready for company. Give them closet space for coats and hats by hanging some of your things in your storage unit. It's the perfect place to park extra furniture so that everybody has room to enjoy the party. You can even use storage to hide holiday presents.

Make Them Part of Your Plans

Making your guest list is easy because it's family and close friends, but stay in touch with everyone through social media. This lets you update the gang on any changes in plans, and it gives you a way to reach out for a little help. Streamline cooking by asking several guests to bring different dishes. Are youngsters part of the party? Ask for volunteers to take turns keeping an eye on little ones during the celebrations. Be sure to kid-proof the house by moving breakables to self storage.

Keep It Fun and Drama-Free

Make everyone feel welcome by making them all a part of the festivities. Organize drama-free fun like playing old parlor games or singing seasonal carols. Get the grownups busy baking desserts, and let the kids decorate cookies. And keep backup ice in a cooler so that holiday cocktails stay fresh. Offer a variety of music so that everyone gets to hear their favorite tunes. Encourage turning off the smartphones and turning on conversations. It's your party, so you get to set the rules. Just do it with a big smile and a warm hug.

You're Making History

We want to add one more very important tip: Relax, and have fun. You're starting new family traditions with this first celebration, and you can always count on Safeguard Self Storage for help. We like making history easy with convenient storage units in Philadelphia, PA.

The back of your closet can be very scary. Your favorite costumes collect cobwebs and gather dust while they wait for another Halloween here in Baton Rouge, LA. Self storage can save the spookiest wardrobe from wasting away by treating it to these easy tricks.

Keep It Clean

Take an important tip from our very own Theatre Baton Rouge, and always clean your costumes at the end of each season. Here's how our local thespians do it before they transfer stage-worn items to their storage units:

• Launder linen and cotton items in the gentle cycle with cold water.
• Save delicate detailing by turning things inside out before washing.
• Let costumes air-dry to avoid any chance of shrinkage and discoloration in a hot dryer.
• If you're not sure about how to treat costume fabric, ask a dry cleaning professional for advice.

Hang It with Care

Whether it's your costume for Evil Dead cosplay or ghostly garb for the downtown Halloween Parade, it deserves a proper hanging in self storage. You can invest in wardrobe bags or conjure up your own inexpensive covers in these ways:

• Pad hangers with generous layers of muslin or quilt batting to support fabric.
• Make garment bags from twin or queen sheets folded in half and sewn up one side.
• Increase your handmade covers' protection factor by adding drawstrings to tops and bottoms.
• Don't smother hanging costumes with plastic bags that seal out fresh air.
• Store your wardrobe on wheeled racks draped with sheets to ward off dust.

Watch the Devil in the Details

When the kids' outfits from their first Boo at the Zoo Day turn into precious keepsakes, archive those memories along with other costume treasures. Protect their little masks and your witches' hats with these storage strategies:

• Transform old pillow cases into costume catch-all bags with drawstring closers.
• Cushion small items by wrapping them in acid-free tissue paper, and store them in lidded plastic bins.
• Save hats and accessories from getting crushed by stuffing them with bubble wrap.
• Keep your costume collection refreshed by refolding and rotating things several times a year. 

We Make Magic Happen

Imagine never being afraid of beloved disguises falling prey to spider webs and hungry moths. Picture your finest getups stashed in the climate-controlled environment of our storage units. Let Safeguard Self Storage make the magic happen with our Baton Rouge, LA locations. Store with us, and save your costumes from the scariest depths of your dark closets.

Whether family drives up from out of state or drops in from the skies over O'Hare, their visits always fire up holiday fun. If you're expecting a full house this Fourth of July, expand your entertaining options with nearby storage units. From Addison, IL backyards to the shores of Lake Michigan, it's time for star-spangled celebrations.

Clear A Space

Get a jump on playing host with a little advanced planning. Keep everyone comfortable by giving them space with these self storage tricks.

• Make room for guest suitcases by sending your luggage to a storage unit for the holiday.
• Before you store those bags, free up closet space by packing them with jackets and coats.
• Turn trips to the storage facility into opportunities to declutter guest rooms.
• Clear the backyard for a Fourth of July cookout by moving lawn equipment to self storage.

Greet incoming family with plenty of room to stash their stuff, and then surprise your expected guests with the unexpected. Treat them to Chicagoland's favorite Fourth of July traditions.

Play at the Ballpark and the Pier

Show them how we play baseball here in Chicago with a game at Wrigley Field. This July 4th, the Cubs take on Tampa Bay for an afternoon as American as apple pie. The game should finish in time for the big Fourth of July blowout at Navy Pier. Light up the night for your out-of-towners with fantastic fireworks over Lake Michigan. It's one of the nation's biggest light shows, and it's all set to hot music by the city's coolest DJs.

Relax Back at the House

If you decide to celebrate at home, start with a walk back into our historic past. Visit the Addison Historical Museum and imagine village life in the 1800s. Take an afternoon stroll through the shade of Cricket Creek Forest Preserve while you work up an appetite for backyard cooking. Prepare your own Ribfest for a farewell feast, and don't be surprised when guests promise to come back next year for savory seconds.

Make Your Plans Easier

Count on Safeguard Self Storage to help you make summertime plans easier with the coolest storage units in Addison, IL. We join you in proudly saluting this great city and nation as we all celebrate the Fourth of July. Stay safe, have fun, and enjoy your family festivities.

If you've been in Manhattan on New Year's Eve, you know how chaotic things can get. Thousands of people come together to watch the ball drop at Times Square and to commemorate the event with a kiss. It might seem fun and exciting, but it can be quite overwhelming for those who don't like crowds. This year, your local self storage experts at Safeguard Self Storage suggest hosting your own New Year's Eve party, where you can stay comfy at home in Concourse Village and bring the festivities to you.

5 Tips for Hosting a New Year's Eve Party in the Bronx, NY

Keep the invites to a minimum.

One of the reasons to host a party at home is to avoid a huge crowd. Keep the party cozy by only inviting a handful of your closest friends. You'll connect with everyone more easily and enjoy the night yourself.

It all starts with the snacks.

You can't have a party without snacks. Although you could get by with chips and salsa, you'd make a better impression by having a variety of hearty bites for your guests, such as pizza-stuffed mushrooms and bacon skewers. Having some brownie bites, cupcakes or chocolates available will satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

Pick a worthy soundtrack.

The right music will get the party started and keep it going until the ball drops. Let your friends pick out some songs to make them feel included in the selection. You can also ring in the New Year by singing "Auld Lang Syne."

In the words of John Lennon & Paul McCartney - Get by with a little help from your friends.

You don't have to foot the bill for everything. Ask your guest to bring their favorite drinks or foods that they enjoy. You'll drastically reduce the cost of your party if everyone pitches in and helps. It's also a good way to try new things by having your friends share their favorite cocktails or appetizers with everyone who attends.

Nothing beats some fun party favors. 

You'll make a great impression if you give party favors to everyone when they arrive or before they leave. These small gifts could be anything from shot glasses to funny "Happy New Year" hats. Handing out party favors is a great way to give thanks to everyone for coming and to make people remember your party long after it ends.

Plan Ahead for Your New Year's Eve Bash

It's important to plan ahead if you want everything to go smoothly. Write down a list of all the supplies that you'll need for the party, including who you'll want to invite. If you're planning a huge New Year's Eve party, you may want to use self storage as a way to keep all of your supplies in one place and to reduce clutter in your home before the event. 

Safeguard Self Storage has convenient storage units located in Concourse Village, Wakefield, and throughout the Bronx, NY, giving you a convenient place to store your party supplies. You can rent storage units as small or as large as you need and have everything ready to go on New Year's Eve.

Most people think of storage facilities when they're planning a move or remodeling their homes, but self-storage units are essential to the holiday season, too. Whether you own a home or a small business, temporary storage offers a great solution for everyday problems. If you're not taking advantage of home and commercial storage in Hollis, NY this year, you could be missing out on making the holiday season less stressful and more fun. Here are five great ways to utilize Safeguard Self Storage this year.

How Storage Facilities Can Make the Holiday Season Easier

1. A storage unit is a great place to hide surprise gifts until Santa Clause arrives. Curious little ones who sneak into closets and basements will never suspect a thing. Keep the magic and mystery intact by storing your gifts out of reach. You can even use the space to wrap presents privately.
2. Lights, trees and inflatable lawn ornaments can take up a huge amount of space in your attic or basement. Pack them away safely in a storage unit until it's time to decorate. If you rent a climate-controlled unit, you'll never have to worry about temperature extremes or moisture causing damage to your most valued decorations, gift-wraps and cards.
3. Holidays often involve overnight guests. If you have a small home, it can get crowded quickly. A storage unit gives you a place to store large items, like exercise equipment, so that you have more room for your visitors. It also provides a place to store air beds, extra linens and folding tables when your guests leave.
4. The holiday season is all about good will. It's a perfect time to reach out and help those less fortunate. If you want to collect items to donate to charity or give to homeless people in your area, a storage unit is a perfect place to keep them safe until it's time to distribute them.
5. If you own a business, you can use extra storage space to hold promotional materials for holiday events, bulk gift items, office decor, party supplies and off-season merchandise or marketing materials.

Check Out Storage Facilities in Hollis, NY

Whether you need home or commercial storage, affordable options are available near you. The holidays are just around the corner, so don’t wait until the last minute to contact your top local storage facility for details about available unit sizes and types, facility hours and monthly rates.