storage for kids' stuff

My kids are pretty spaced out in age. I have two teenage boys, a 7 year old boy and a sweet toddler for a girl. I spend a small fortune buying the kids the things that they want so I want to be sure to get as much use out of it all as possible. My blog is all about using a storage unit to keep things around the house organized and keep your kids interested in the toys that you have spent your money on. You will find tips for storing clothes to be handed down to the younger kids and so much more.

How To Prepare Your Refrigerator For Moving Storage

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If you need to move cross country and want to take your time while you pack and move your things, then it may be wise to think about using a moving storage service. The service will involve the use of a pod or a mobile storage unit. The pod is dropped off at your home and you are advised to contact the moving company when you are ready to have the pod delivered to your new residence. Many people will take several months to pack their things, and this may include moving your appliances into the pod if you have made other arrangements to cook, clean clothes, and store food. While it may seem easy to simply place appliances into the storage container, this is not wise for your refrigerator. To prepare the item for the pod, consider the following tips.

Clean The Refrigerator Carefully

Your refrigerator will contain bits of food as well as bacteria and mold spores once you remove the vast majority of the whole foods from the interior. Typically, the temperature of the refrigerator that is set below 40 degrees Fahrenheit prevents the spread and multiplication of the bacteria that can make you ill. These bacteria are called pathogenic bacteria and cold temperatures keep the microorganisms in check. The same is true for mold spores that make their way into the refrigerator. However, when you unplug your refrigerator, the food bits feed the microorganisms and the warm temperatures and moisture also encourage growth. This can lead to a dangerous and disgusting combination of bacteria and fungal growth in the refrigerator. To reduce this concern, you will need to clean out the appliance thoroughly.

The first thing you will need to do is defrost your refrigerator and make sure that all moisture evaporates. Unplug your refrigerator, open the door, and place several towels around the bottom. Wait two to three days for all moisture to evaporate. Afterwards, scrub the refrigerator with warm water and dish soap to remove food debris. Afterwards, fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide and spray the entire inside of the refrigerator. While some people choose to use white vinegar to clean the refrigerator, the fluid will not kill some of the more virulent and dangerous bacteria. Ammonia and bleach likely will, but these cleaners are not food safe and may contaminate food placed in the refrigerator. This makes hydrogen peroxide the best choice since it is biodegradable and safe at low concentrations. Once you use the peroxide, gently wipe down the inside of the refrigerator with a cotton cloth.

Make Sure There Is Enough Room

Before you go to place your refrigerator in your storage pod, you should make sure that there is more than enough space in the unit. This is important because refrigerators must be kept upright while they are stored or moved. If they are slightly tilted or placed on their side, the compressor is likely to fail. When the refrigerator is tipped, the oil that helps the compressor run smoothly will run to the condenser and up through the condenser cooling coils of the refrigerator. Some of this oil will get trapped in the lines when the refrigerator is set in an upright position. When the refrigerator is turned on, the oil will solidify in the coolant lines. This will cause the compressor to fail due to the lack of oil and it will also keep the coolant lines from working properly.

Use a dolly to move your refrigerator so it stays as upright as possible and place it into the storage pod in the area where you made space for it. To keep the refrigerator from tipping or shifting during the move, secure refrigerator tie-downs to the appliance. The tie down system will include angled ties that secure around the fridge and connect to a steel structure that sits underneath the appliance or to metal clamps that adhere to the bottom of the pod. Click here for more info on moving storage.

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22 January 2016