Tips & News

Tips & News

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6 ESSENTIAL MOVING SUPPLIES TO CONQUER YOUR NEXT MOVING DAY

Moving can be stressful. Just the thought of it makes everybody let out a collective groan full of frustration and exhaustion. There are a lot of moving parts (pun intended), things to pack and a lot of things that can go wrong. On the other hand, moving often means the beginning of a new chapter. It means leaving the past behind and anticipating new adventures. When done right, moving can also be stress free and even joyous. The first and foremost thing to cover when you plan your move is to buy all the proper moving supplies needed. When all your goods are packed in neatly labeled boxes, and your fragile belongings are safe from breaking in transit, your stress levels will be much lower; leaving you free to be excited about the future. This article will help you figure out the essential moving supplies you need to make your next move as easy as it gets. It’s worth mentioning that you can find all these supplies at our own One Stop Supply Shop! So here they are:

Boxes

The quintessential element of any big or small move is a box. Boxes to pack your clothes, crockery, fine china, dog toys etc. Naturally, you need various sizes of boxes to match your needs. Downtown U-Lok offers many different sizes of boxes for precisely that reason.

  • 2 Cube Box – The small 2 cube box measures at 18” x 15” x 12” and is perfect for smaller items such as your books, kids’ toys etc.
  • 4 Cube Box – the medium 4 cube box is measured at 18” x 18” x 20” and can accommodate things such as small electronics, kitchen supplies and utensils etc.
  • 6 Cube Box – The large 6 cube box is measured at 22” x 22” x 22” and is a good fit for your extra bedding, pillows, larger items etc.
  • Wardrobe Box – For all your clothes, we have the wardrobe box that can hold up to 30 clothes on a hanger, nicely covered and ready to move. This box takes away the need to fold your clothes and put it into a box individually, just take it off your closet bar and hang it up the wardrobe box!
  • File Box – As the name implies, our smallest box size is perfect for all your files, whether it be for storage or your office move.

Pro Tip: Did you know that most places that sell moving boxes sell regular packing boxes that are flimsy and low grade? Our moving boxes are moving grade, meaning extra thickness in the material and sturdier construction. What’s better is that the prices are comparable!

Moving Blankets

The floor of your rented moving truck is dirty and abrasive; making it the easy place to scratch your precious furniture. Moving blankets provide the necessary protection from unnecessary scratches and makes it easier to move furniture in and out of the truck! You can even use your extra moving blankets to bundle up your TV, picture frames/artwork and mirrors, protecting it from any accidental damage during transit.

Wrapping Paper and Bubble Wrap

One of the main things often overlooked during moving is the protection of fragile items such as glass vases, fine china and other showpiece items. It is heartbreaking to find these items broken when you finally unpack the boxes after the move. We recommend using wrapping paper for your glasses and fine china to protect it in transit, while bubble wrap is a must for larger items.

Mattress, Sofa and Chair Covers

Mattresses, sofas and chairs can get damaged, scuffed or get stains on them due to accidental spills. Putting a cover on them provides protection from these unwanted outcomes and keeps your furniture undamaged. These covers are also good to have if you are putting any of these things in storage, the covers keep the dust off the furniture.

Downtown U-Lok offers mattress covers for all mattress sizes and sofas.

Packing Tape

Perhaps the only thing as important as your boxes? The packing tapes! You will need this to pull off the big move and you will need a lot of it. The high adhesive packing tape can be purchased in single quantities or you can buy a pack of 3, which comes with a free dispenser.

Miscellaneous (but important) Items

Hand gloves with grippy rubber on the palms to ensure you hold on to the slick boxes and avoid injury. Bungy Rope with hooks on each end to hold down certain items in transit and Sharpie pens to properly label all your boxes, making it easy to place them in the right place at the destination.

As you can see, Downtown U-Lok Storage has it covered when it comes to providing you with the supplies needed to ensure a stress-free move. If you need any of the things mentioned above for your next move, give us a call!

TIRE STORAGE TIPS

Spring is in full swing, with cherry blossoms and warmer temperatures around. If you drive your vehicle all around the year, you know everything about the twice a year tire swap that goes along with it. There are summer tires (or all-weather tires), fit for use for most of the year, and then there are winter tires, made with special rubber compound that help you get traction in the snowy, icy conditions of the harsh Canadian winters. Therefore, you need to store your other set of tires till the weather switches again, prompting you to do the same. So, if you are working with multiple sets of tires for your vehicle, you need to store them properly. This blog will outline the tips below for safe and efficient storage of your winter/summer tires.

Proper storage of your tire ensures the appearance and performance is maintained at peak level. Before you store your tires, inspect each tire for damage and uneven wear.

Tip: If you do notice some uneven wear, it might be a good idea to check your suspension components to make sure the tires don’t have any unnecessary camber and all parts are in good shape. It is also worthwhile to do an alignment once you mount your new tires, to make sure the new set wears evenly.

1) Store your tires indoors in a cool and clean space away from direct sunlight. Be sure to keep the tires away from sources of heat such as any hot pipes, baseboard heaters or electric generators.

2) Make sure the tires, and the surfaces you are storing the tires on, are clean and free of grease or other substances that may damage the rubber on your tire.

3) If you plan on storing your tires outdoors, make sure to cover them up with a waterproof layer and provide some breathing room to prevent moisture buildup inside.

4) If your tires are on the vehicle, make sure to store the vehicle on blocks, taking the load off the tires. Keeping the tires stationary and under a load can deteriorate the structure of your tire leading to egg shaped tires that create wheel-hop when riding on the road.

5) If the tires have whitewall or raised lettering, make sure the white lettering sides are facing each other while they are stored. The black rubber on your tire can stain the white lettering, diminishing some of the beauty of the whitewall or lettering.

Following the above tips will make sure your tires are stored away properly and ready to use for the next season. If you are looking to store your tires, your vehicle or any other belongings, we’d love to help and create some space in your life. Enquire today!