Be Organized Archives - Zippy Shell Blog

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020

Tips for Transitioning Your Home from Spring to Summer

Summer is here and it’s the perfect time to update your home with a summery feel that will make you feel like you are in permanent vacation mode. No matter your budget or style there are simple ways to welcome the summer months into your home. It is also time to check off those summer home maintenance tasks. Then everyone can shout, bring on the sunshine!

Summer Decor

Summertime begs for more vibrant colors. It is time to replace spring pastel accent items with brighter colors. Keep the same neutral fabrics on large pieces of furniture, but add bold-colored accents such as flowers, throw pillows, area rugs, or artwork. Cheery yellows, oranges, coral, and marine blues and turquoise will transport you to the tropics.
Bring the outdoors in. Nothing says summer quite like flowers and tropical looking greenery. Decorate with botanicals by placing plants on the entry table, on the kitchen counter, in the dining area, or add small potted options on bookshelves in the living or bedrooms. Another idea is to incorporate brightly-colored floral fabric prints in your accent pieces.
Transform your patio or deck to a place that can be enjoyed all summer long. Incorporate simple furniture and fun decorations to create a comfy outdoor living area. Place some potted flowers and string some lights to create the perfect sanctuary for friends and families to gather.
Add storage for summer activities both inside and outside. Summertime means the kids will be home from school. Keep your organized home from being turned upside down by providing storage for activities that will keep them entertained all summer.

Summer Maintenance

Annual maintenance is essential for keeping your air conditioner running as efficiently as possible this summer. And if it has been more than 3 months since you changed the filter on your air conditioner, do that now! The dirtier your air filter, the harder the system has to work to keep your home cool.
Dust all the ceiling fan blades and check that fans are working properly. During the summer, ceiling fans should rotate counterclockwise to push cool air down to the floor.
Sweep your porch or deck thoroughly and then scrub all the spring pollen off with soap and water. Look over your deck at this time for signs of rotting and hammer in any nails that are poking up.
Give your outdoor grill a deep cleaning to get it ready for all those summer bbqs!
Add a layer of mulch to your plant beds. This will keep weeds down and help the ground retain its moisture during the summer heat, giving your plants a chance to grow.
Wash your windows. If you didn’t tackle window washing in the spring, now’s the time to get your glass clean. Replace curtains and window treatments with light, neutral colors to allow in natural light.
Trim any landscaping that is overgrown. Deadhead both perennials and annuals to keep them producing well into the summer.

By checking off the items on this list, you can refresh and relax this summer in a beautiful space. Zippy Shell sends you wishes for a summer filled with wonderful memories!

May 14, 2020

Organizing Tasks To Complete This Week

The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused rising levels of anxiety around our country. While social distancing, many people have an abundance of time on their hands but also an abundance of worries. One way to combat the worry and anxiety is to tackle the organization of your home. While it won’t change the behavior or the repercussions of the virus, it can give you a feeling of control over what is happening within the confines of your home. With home organization comes order and with order comes calmness.

Decluttering is the first step to organizing. The less items you have in any space, the easier it will be to organize them. Get started in these areas:

The Pantry: Many of us are cooking more at home these days, so a well stocked pantry is a must. But before you stock it, be sure it is decluttered and organized. The ability to spot every single can of soup, snack, and box of pasta at a glance can cut down on trips to the store. Start by removing everything from the pantry, checking expiration dates, and wiping down the shelves. If you have an excess of some items, consider reaching out to elderly family and neighbors or donating what you don’t need. Use clear baskets and bins to group like things together. Use labels on the bins and the shelves themselves to make sure everything goes back to the proper spot.

The Refrigerator: When you’re hungry, you don’t want to spend time hunting for the right ingredient. You want to easily find the item you’re looking for, so let’s get the refrigerator organized also! The goal is to make it easier for you to cook healthy meals at home and cut down on trips to the store. Working in sections, take food out to clean away crumbs and spills inside the refrigerator. Using clear bins in the refrigerator is also a great way to get organized. Group like items such as a bin for fruit, one for drinks, one for sandwich fixings, etc. Another pro tip is to use a lazy Susan for open jars and condiments that sometimes get lost in the back.

The “Office”: Not every home has a dedicated office, but If your job has shifted to working remotely, or your kids are doing their schoolwork at home, you’ll need to clear some work space. Set aside a clutter free space to help you stay focused and be more productive. Now is also the time to organize important papers in your office area. Having your identification, employment documents, tax documents, insurance paperwork, and medical forms in one easy-to-locate spot can be incredibly helpful during this time.

The Entertainment Collection: Entertainment, it means many things to different people. During this time period, it could mean your bike riding gear, fishing gear, puzzle collection, craft supplies, garden tools, board games, card games, books, music, movies, and the list goes on. Pull out and discover some old favorites to pass the time and set aside items you don’t enjoy anymore for donation at a later date.

Take the opportunity to cross things off your organizing list that you wouldn’t normally have time for in a pre-coronavirus routine. Decluttering and organizing can help you feel more in control and more productive. While you are organizing, Zippy Shell is open and ready to serve your storage needs in the safest way possible. Call today or click here to get a quote!

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020

8 Tips to Maximize Your Walk-In Closet Space

If you recently moved or getting ready for a big move, you probably have ideas on how to better organize your new space and make it work more efficiently for you and your family. One space in particular—walk-in closets—can pose a challenge when trying to find ways to organize your things to allow for easy access and at the same time, a place for things you do not use as often but do not want to put into storage. Out of sight equals out of mind—so how do we find a happy balance? Look at our tips for easy ways to organize your new walk-in closet.

START FRESH, EVALUATE, AND DECLUTTER

Once your closet is completely empty, give it a good deep clean. This will be your best opportunity for washing built-in shelving and cleaning the flooring. Next, you should go through all the things that you plan to keep in your closet. Each piece should be categorized. As you go through each item one at a time, be sure to ask yourself if you want to keep, donate, or sell. The more you can let go, the easier your task will be.

GET INSPIRED AND MAKE A PLAN

If you just are not sure which direction you want to go, take some time to do some internet browsing. Pinterest is full of ideas for every type of closet. Small or large closet, you will find inspiration that helps you move on to the next step. Before you start moving everything back into the closet, take some time to plan and gather all the tools and supplies you need to make your vision come to life.

INVEST IN THE RIGHT KIND OF HANGERS

If you open Amazon and type in ‘hangers’, you will enter a world you may not have known existed. There is a hanger for almost everything you can think of: pants, belts, ties, scarves, skirts, sweaters, double hangers, space-saving hangers, and more. If it fits within your budget, consider purchasing type-specific hangers that will help you save space in your closet, as well as improve the look and functionality of the space.

COLOR CODE

One easy way to organize your hanging or folded garments is to separate by type and color. This will make it aesthetically pleasing and make finding what you need a breeze.

LET NO SPACE GO UNUSED

Whatever space your closet offers needs to be used to its fullest extent. Don’t be intimidated if you have a lot of vertical space and not much else. You can find inexpensive shelving units that are quite easy to install yourself. You can then organize your things in a way that the least used items go up high and the frequently used items are within your reach. Don’t forget to label anything that goes into a box, bin, or bag!

TRANSPARENT BOXES AND BINS

Using see-through or clear plastic bins to store things will allow you to still see what is there without them being in the open. When we put things in boxes, we tend to never use them again because we forget about them. Clear bins can help solve that issue.

GET CREATIVE

If you prefer to not purchase specialized items for your closet—create your own! You can affix hooks on your closet wall to hang certain items like jewelry or belts. Curtain rings can be used to hold scarves or ties. We have even seen someone use soda tabs to slip over one thin metal hanger to allow for a second hanger to be placed—allowing for two pieces of clothing to be stored in the same space as one.

SEPARATE AND STORE

Be sure to take any offseason apparel and shoes and put them into space-saving storage bags. Label each bag with a detailed description of the contents just in case you need something before that season rolls back around. This should free up a good bit of space allowing you room to easily find the things you need every day.

We hope these tips help as you get settled into your new walk-in closet. If you have any interesting tips, stop by our Facebook page and share it with our community. We’d love to hear from you!

March 5, 2020April 24, 2020

Jumpstart Spring Cleaning with These 5 Tips

Although it seems like we just celebrated the holidays, spring is around the corner. This is a great time for a fresh start to ease into spring cleaning without being overwhelmed. If you are considering storing away some items, you will really be glad you got a jumpstart on your spring cleaning to-do list. While the hardest part is getting started, here are 5 tips to help you tackle this chore head on!

Declutter: A good purge always puts someone in a good mood. “Stuff” weighs us down and streamlining your “extra stuff” can be like a weight-loss tool! Focus on your spring cleaning by decluttering so you can attack the deep cleaning. If the item hasn’t been used in over a year, you may want to consider selling, donating, storing or trashing. If you are having a yard sale, put items away from sight or box up, tape up, and label “yard sale.” This will eliminate the temptation to dig back into the box.

Supplies: Keep an eye out for specials throughout the year on cleaning supplies. Stock up when discounts are available. Get a vehicle, such as a shower caddy, to hold the supplies so you can easily take them from room to room. Look for supplies that cover multi-tasks to eliminate lugging too many cleaning supplies around.

Make a plan: Once you have decluttered and made an inventory of your cleaning supplies, make a plan and set goals if you haven’t already done this. Decide what rooms to tackle first. Some professionals suggest clean each room in a circle or from top to bottom. These suggestions can help with the flow of cleaning making it more effective and manageable.

Think outside the routine: Keeping the surface areas clean is important, but don’t forget to think of areas outside the routine cleaning zones. Here are a few suggestions: between refrigerator coils, on top of ceiling fan blades, inside the washing machine, around HVAC vents, inside light fixtures, on and around windows, around door frames and crown molding, behind the toilet, etc. It’s also a good time to check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Lighten up: Many people aren’t jumping up and down to tackle their spring cleaning to-do list. But with a shift in attitude, you can make this often-overwhelming feat much easier to bear. Crank up the stereo with your favorite tunes and jump in. Buy yourself something as a reward when you are finished. Another idea is to get the family involved. Assign age-appropriate tasks for the kids and make it a competition. As long as they aren’t adding to the chore list, the extra help should help you whittle down your spring cleaning to-do list quicker!

We hope these tips will help you attack spring cleaning with a positive, yet productive force. Just pretend that every room you clean will put you one step further to enjoying the fruits of your labor! And remember, if you need to store some items that aren’t being used right now, consider storing your things with Zippy Shell!

February 25, 2020April 24, 2020

How to Store Your Belongings During a Piedmont Triad Move

Do you need to store your belongings during your Piedmont Triad move? Many times a move will require putting some or all of your belongings into short- or long-term storage for a variety of reasons. Maybe you need to move out some furniture or personal items to stage your home for selling. Or maybe your new place will not be available for immediate occupancy by the time you need to leave your current residence. No matter the reason for storage, you will, of course, want your belongings to be safe and secure until reaching your final destination. This is where the friendly folks at the Piedmont Triad Zippy Shell can help!

Consider the following tips when packing your items for an extended stay in storage.

Clean everything before it goes into storage. News flash – if you store something while it is dirty, it’s only going to be dirtier when you unpack it one, two, or twelve months later. Clothes, furniture, and all appliances should be as clean and dry as possible before storing them away during your move.
Make an inventory list. This is important during any move, but especially during a move that will include some or all of your belongings to be in storage. Take photos and make lists of how and where each item is packed.
Pack your boxes with intent. Use as many of the same sized boxes as possible to allow for easier stacking. A fully packed box will provide greater protection than one with gaps, so aim to fill each box without overloading it. Reinforce the bottom and top of each box with secure packing tape.
Fill your storage container with purpose. Pack heavier items such as furniture and appliances on the bottom, placing the heaviest items in the center of the storage container. Pack your items from floor to ceiling, creating wall-like layers. Fill any open spaces with boxes and other small items to provide stability. Odd-shaped items can go on top of boxes or near the doors. Furniture pads, blankets, and pillows work well to cushion fragile items. You can wrap couches, mattresses, and other soft furniture with stretch wrap. Taking the extra time and planning to pack your storage container carefully will make unpacking easier and keep your belongings secure while they are being transported and stored.

Zippy Shell storage containers are a particularly good choice when moving items to or from a more urban environment in the Piedmont Triad. We offer “street legal” containers with license plates and wheels, making it easy to park these containers in street parking spots.

To keep your belongings safe and secure while you move, Zippy Shell storage centers are equipped with climate control and added security. When you are ready, we will redeliver your storage container or move it to your next destination. The Piedmont Triad Zippy Shell provides storage for moving that is convenient and hassle-free!

January 29, 2020April 24, 2020

How to Store Items During a Home Renovation

A growing number of homeowners are making the choice to renovate their home instead of relocating. Home renovations are fun and exciting. You get to transform the home you already love into a better version of itself. There is a reason so many shows are dedicated to the process! But unlike the edited version of home renovation on TV, there are messy parts to upgrading to your dream home. One of the biggest challenges you will face is figuring out what to do with all the furniture and other personal belongings that are currently being held in the room or rooms you want to update. You don’t want the added stress of worrying about your possessions getting broken or covered in dust or paint during the process. Have you considered using a portable storage container?

Convenience

A portable storage container is like having your very own storage facility located right on your property. You gain the convenience of packing up your storage unit right from your home as opposed to making several trips driving to and from a storage facility.

On-site storage containers provided by Zippy Shell feature barn-style doors and ground level design making the containers very easy to use. There’s no need to worry about going up and down a ramp! Our innovative design allows for placement in tight spots and at tough angles. Zippy Shells can fit anywhere including city streets. While the containers are on your property, a block will be placed on the hitch that only we can remove to prevent anyone else from taking off with your valuables.

Flexibility

Portable storage containers are a popular option during remodeling because they provide you with the ability to completely clear items out of your home while also maintaining the flexibility of having those items on hand when you need them. If your project is going to take a few months and you don’t want to keep the container on your property, that is okay too. We can pick it up at your convenience and store it in a secure, climate controlled facility until you’re ready to have it back. Of course, any number of things out of your control can cause delays during a remodel. Delivery dates and storage dates can all easily be rescheduled when you use a portable storage unit.

Sounds easy, right? Zippy Shell makes storage during a home renovation simple, convenient, and affordable. You can feel confident knowing that your furniture, appliances, and personal belongings are safe and within easy reach during the chaos of remodeling. Learn more about our storage solutions by visiting www.zippyshell.com today!

November 15, 2019November 15, 2019

4 Steps to an Organized Garage in the Piedmont Triad

With the temperature dropping in the Piedmont Triad area, now is the perfect time to give your garage the organizing attention it deserves. Garage organization presents some unique challenges. The garage is a place that can house automobiles, tools, toys, lawn equipment, cleaning supplies, outdoor gear, seasonal decorations and more. How can you effectively organize all of these different items into one space? The Piedmont Triad Zippy Shell team is here with tips to help you reclaim your garage and restore order.

Remove everything. The only way to begin a major organizational overhaul is to start with a clear slate. As you are cleaning out, you can begin the decluttering process by tossing anything you know at first glance should be in the trash. An empty garage opens up the possibility to do clean-up, maintenance, and upgrades. This is the time to sweep the floors, clean up stains, get rid of spiderwebs, add some extra lighting, and maybe give the floor some love by installing a protective epoxy floor coating.
Utilize the walls. Get the most storage space out of your garage by taking advantage of the available wall space. Pegboards, cabinets, wire grids, and shelving are all options for getting your gear up and off the ground.
Look up. The ceiling in your garage is also valuable square footage. A garage ceiling is a perfect place to hang bikes or suspend a hanging platform to place boxes of seasonal decorations or rarely used outdoor equipment.
Categorize and group like items. This will save you frustration down the road when you are searching for a particular item. Also, use your garage storage in a way that makes sense to you. Make sure you can get to your most used gear with the least amount of effort.

If you are working on a big reorganization project in your garage or any other area of your home and need temporary storage, the Piedmont Triad Zippy Shell has options! Visit Zippy Shell online or call your local Piedmont Triad location at 336-499-3386 to receive a quote for all your storage needs.

November 8, 2019November 8, 2019

Ingenious Ways to Make Small Spaces in your Home Bigger

Whether you’re in a cramped apartment, the kids are home for the summer, or your in-laws are coming to stay for a few weeks, we’ve compiled some creative ways to give your home some space. Goodness knows, we love their personal space.

Consider these top four ideas for enjoying a spacious, clutter-free atmosphere in your home.

Spread out your living space. If you have outdoor spaces that are adjacent to your indoor ones (balconies, decks, patios and porches), consider how you might arrange those areas to compliment your spacing needs. Maybe a decorative cover or an umbrella outside will invite folks to sit there. Add some cozy furniture and a small television and boom! you have a whole new room.
Put the excess in storage. Clutter – it can make you crazy. Even if you’re not having extra people in your home, the clutter has got to go. One quick way to clear it out, is to put it in storage. This way you still have access to your things, but they aren’t in the way. You don’t want to trip on that magazine rack from 1974! Separate what you need from what you don’t and save yourself some space in your home and peace of mind.
Invest in some space-saver bags! These things are amazing. You can find them at most big box or home improvement stores. Put your out-of-season wardrobe, winter coats, extra pillows, and even those crocheted family blankets in these ingenious bags. Pile your stuff in, use your vacuum to suck out the air, and voila! It’s all been reduced to a third the size. Slip the bags under your bed or in a closet and you’re done.
Consider multi-functional furniture. Some people are so clever and the ones who design and manufacture furniture that can be used in multiple ways need to be applauded. Benches that open and can store shoes by the front door. Tables that can be transformed into desks. Even beds that can be turned into tables. Really cool!

Then, when everyone heads back to school and back home, you can bring all your favorite things back in your home. If you think you may want to employ the use of a portable storage container, we hope you’ll think of Zippy Shell, too. Give us a call at 888-947-7974 or go online for a free quote to see how we can make moving and storage simple for you!

October 29, 2019May 8, 2020

How to Maximize the Space in Your Bathroom

Is your bathroom feeling a little cramped? Small bathrooms can be a challenge and adding square footage through a renovation isn’t always an option. But you can use these tips to make your cozy space feel larger and stay more organized.

Give the Illusion of Space

There are several tips and techniques you can use to provide an expansive feeling in a small bathroom or any small space:

A monochromatic color scheme or even varying shades of the same color can make your bathroom feel larger. Soft, pale, neutral colors on the walls and floor will give the biggest illusion of space.
Use reflective surfaces like glass and mirrors. Replacing a shower curtain with a clear glass door will open up the shower space giving the appearance of a bigger overall area. Larger mirrors will bounce light from windows and create the illusion of more square footage.
Keep your floor space clear and uncluttered. Less breaking up of the floor lines equates to less visual chopping with your eyes. Also freeing up your floor space gives you more room to move around!
Draw the eye upward with a fun light fixture, crown molding, tall window treatments, or high shelves.

Organizing Your Way to More Space

Even a large room that is cluttered will feel small, so let’s get organized:

Create storage where there once was none by adding floating shelves to your walls utilizing the vertical space.
An over-the-toilet shelf or storage cabinet is a great space saver and will give you more storage options.
Installing floating shelves or recessed storage in the shower can keep all your shower necessities organized. Another option is to use a hanging shower caddy.
Use a Lazy Susan or other revolving storage underneath your bathroom cabinet to corral cleaning supplies or hair products.
When you are really low on storage options, find an alternate place in the house for things like medicine, first aid supplies, and extra rolls of toilet paper.

Zippy Shell’s portable storage containers are perfect for storing items from the home, giving you more space to renovate, rearrange, and organize. Check us out today for answers to any questions you may have!

October 17, 2019October 21, 2019

Follow These Tips to De-Stress Your Move

There are so many emotions to process during a move. There can be feelings of excitement, anticipation, hope, nervousness, and even relief. But the emotion that can infringe on all the others is stress, which can take a toll on your mind and your body. Moving is often ranked as one of the most stressful events in life. Zippy Shell aims to make your move as stress free as possible with the following tips:

We cannot stress (pun intended) enough the importance of making a list or even more than one list. Make a list of everything that needs to be done before moving day comes, during your moving day, and in the days after your move. Seeing a clear outline of your completed and uncompleted tasks will help you stay more organized and less stressed.
Give yourself sufficient time to devote to each step of the moving process. The more you leave to the last minute, the more stress you’ll inevitably feel.
Lean on your family and friends when you feel overwhelmed. Those close to you want to help, they just might not know how. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Get rid of anything you won’t need before the move. Don’t make more work and stress for yourself by moving unnecessary items. If you won’t have an immediate need for an item but are not ready to part with it just yet, consider storing it for a period of time.

Storage solutions from Zippy Shell can take the hassle and stress out of your move. Your stored items are always safe in our street legal mobile containers because you are the only one with a key and it will be securely stored in a climate-controlled environment. When you are ready, all you have to do is call Zippy Shell to have your additional items brought to your home for unloading and unpacking at your convenience. Visit www.zippyshell.com today to learn more about the services we offer.