It’s that time of year again to start thinking about spring cleaning, which means some serious scrubbing, decluttering, redecorating and reorganization.

How did the concept of spring cleaning start?

According to the Washington Post, spring cleaning was necessary; “homes were lit with whale oil or kerosene and heated with coal or wood” which left a layer of soot throughout the house. “With the arrival of spring, women would throw open windows and doors, and take rugs and bedding outside and beat dust out of them and start scrubbing floors and windows until sparkling.”

Consider this diary entry of a housewife from 1864:

Swept and dusted sitting-room & kitchen 350 times. Filled lamps 362 times. Swept and dusted chamber & stairs 40 times.

Whew! That sounds like a lot of work!

In modern times, our homes are heated and lit with cleaner options. So why do we still feel the need to spring clean? And why, when we are done spritzing and scrubbing do we feel so good?

Spring Cleaning Reduces Stress:  It’s hard to relax when you wake up every day to a mess. When you are trying to relax after a long day at work, and your house is messy, you feel like you should be cleaning instead of binge watching tv.

Having a Clean Home Helps You Focus: When your home is clean and organized, your brain can better engage in decision-making and it is also freed up for creative and intellectual pursuits

Spring Cleaning is Good for Your Health: Spring cleaning helps rid your home of dust and pollen which can help you avoid pesky symptoms when allergy season is at its peak.

A Organized Home Increases Productivity: When you have to dig through piles of items to find your keys or mounds of clothes to find matching socks, you lose valuable time and increase frustration levels.

Whether you love or loathe it, spring cleaning is beneficial in many ways. And unlike our ancestors, we have modern tools to make it easier. Besides vacuum cleaners and dishwashers, renting a storage unit is a great way to help clear the clutter and create a harmonious home.

The post Surprising Reasons Spring Cleaning is Good For You appeared first on STORExpress.

Due to the popularity of shows such as Storage Wars and Auction Hunters, people all over the country clamor to self-storage auctions with hopes of finding treasure in abandoned units.

While most units contain typical items that the average person would store, sometimes high value items are found:

James Bond Car

In 1989, a man in Long Island purchased an abandoned unit -sight unseen – for $100. The next day, when he and his brother cut the lock off, they found a white car with no wheels and a dented roof.

At first they thought the car was junk, but when as they loaded the car onto a flatbed truck for transport, onlookers informed the brothers what it was: one of the submarine cars from the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me.

The man put the car up for auction and it was purchased for $1 million by Tesla founder Elon Musk.

Action Comics No. 1   

In 2011, a man bought the contents of a San Fernando Valley storage unit and found a near-mint copy of Action Comics No.1 aka the first Superman comic book.

The comic book was worth $1 million, however when the buyer of the unit tried to sell it to a dealer, he  discovered that the comic had been stolen from actor Nicolas Cage’s home 11 years earlier.

The comic was seized by authorities and given to Cage’s insurance company. It was later sold for $2.1 million.
           

Jackson Pollock Art Collection

A trove of 32 paintings by abstract artist Jackson Pollock was uncovered in a Long Island storage unit by a man cleaning out his mother’s storage unit after her death.

The paintings were created between 1946 and 1949 before Pollock was well known. The collection was valued to be worth $10 million.

Beach Boys “Lost Archive”

An abandoned Florida storage unit purchased at auction yielded a collection of thousands of Beach Boys documents, including handwritten scores for 150 songs, their first royalty check, and dozens of signed contracts and photographs.

The items had been placed in a storage unit for safe-keeping by a relative of one of the band members who decades later, fell behind on the storage payments.

The buyer of the unit, once realizing what he had, turned the collection over to The Fame Bureau, a London-based firm who put the collection up for sale at $7 million.

To all you auction-goer’s who will be attending our March 25th auction, good luck and may you find lots of treasure!

The post The Thrill of the Hunt – The Most Valuable Things Found in Abandoned Storage Units appeared first on STORExpress.

Looking for a little St. Patrick’s Day trivia to discuss over beer and corned beef and cabbage?

Regardless of your heritage, everyone is Irish today. So get your green on, bust out your brogue, dig into some corned beef and cabbage and impress your friends and family with some fun St. Patrick’s Day trivia!

• Patrick’s real name was Maewyn Succat.  
• The national symbol of Ireland is the harp – not the shamrock.
• In Ireland, pubs were closed on St. Patrick’s Day from 1903 to 1970.
• The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in America took place in 1737.
• 33 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry. This is seven times Ireland’s total population.
• Approximately 13 million pints of Guinness will be consumed worldwide on St. Patrick’s Day.
• There are 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every 4-leaf clover.

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448 Studios – home to artist workspaces and band rehearsal rooms in Etna – was captured on film recently for a commercial promoting Zoom Internet, a division of Armstrong Cable Company.

Video producer Jud Stewart chose 448 Studios for the shoot because “the staff was very friendly and accommodating – they fit us right in.” He also noted that 448 Studios was “very usable for the commercial.”

Jud says the commercial is meant to showcase people who use Zoom internet in their daily lives – in this case, a band who uses the company’s internet services to record and mix music.

The 30-second commercial is tentatively scheduled to air in April and will be seen throughout the Armstrong Cable footprint, which encompasses 11 different markets, including Ohio, West Virginia and Northern PA.

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Refer someone who rents a storage unit at STORExpress between now and April 30, 2017 and choose either a Referral Reward based on your current tier level,  or a pair of Pirates tickets ($112 value.)

Check out the current tiers and rewards here.

Questions about what tier you are currently in? Call our corporate office at 412-449-0123.

Referral Rewards Program may change at any time. Tickets are subject to availability.

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The end of the semester is near, which means cramming for finals, embarking on summer internships, and moving out of dorm rooms.

For some students, packing up and transporting their belongings to their parents’ house or a new apartment is not practical. Instead, renting a storage unit for the summer offers a more affordable and convenient solution.

Check out the following tips to make storing your items easier!

1. Make sure your mini-fridge is defrosted, cleaned and dried before placing it into storage. Leave the door open to allow air to flow. Do not store food or drinks in your unit.
2. Pack books in smaller boxes. STORExpress sells heavy-duty file boxes that are perfect for carrying and storing books.
3. Keep your gate access code and storage unit number card in your wallet so you will always have it when you need it.
4. To save money, rent a larger storage unit and split the costs with friends. Just make sure you have hammered out the financial responsibilities each person is responsible for.
5. Pack fragile dishware in bubble wrap and place heavier items at the bottom of the box.
6. To prevent mold and damage to electrical components, clean and dry your microwave and AC unit before placing into storage.
7. Label your boxes clearly so you know what is in each box when you return to school.
8. Disassemble and stack furniture to save space. 

Following these tips will not only help make storing your items easier, but make unpacking easier when you go back to school.

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If you want to sell your home fast, you need to stage it! Many people hire professional stagers, but if you follow these simple steps, you can save money!

Cut all emotional ties. In order to make your home appealing to potential homebuyers, you need to look at your house objectively.  During this process, try to accept the fact that you will likely need to make changes to your house that may not necessarily appeal to you.  Remember that these changes will sell your home fast!

Do your own walk-through. Walk through your home as if you were the buyer.  Take a pencil and paper to write down all of your objective opinions regarding the things that need to be done.

Update your home. Tackle those weekend projects. Improvements such as painting, retiling, replacing fixtures and knobs, as well as cleaning or replacing floors will make buyers much more interested in buying your home.

Improve curb-appeal.  If a house is not appealing on the outside, then buyers assume that it is not going to be appealing on the inside.  So, make your home more inviting.  Trim your lawn, plant fresh flowers, and paint an old fence.  Buyers will be much more interested in touring your home.

De-clutter.  Make your home seem more spacious for homebuyers. De-clutter your rooms, closets, drawers, and countertops.  Consider storing your extra belongings at STORExpress until you are ready to move.

Take down wallpaper.  Wallpaper has become a thing of the past.  Not only does wallpaper give your home an out-dated look, but it is often very personalized and can turn buyers away immediately.

Let there be light.  Light gives homes a very spacious and open feel, so brighten it up.  Increase the bulb wattage in your lamps, clean your windows, and trim any outside brush that may be blocking light from entering your home.

De-personalize.  Remove family photos, awards, certificates, and refrigerator magnets.  These things are a sure indication that this is your home, and homebuyers need to feel like it’s theirs.

And remember, when you are ready to stage your home and store your belongings, our staff and the services offered at our ten Pittsburgh locations can help!

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Easter is days away, and with Easter comes lots of sweet treats. From chocolate eggs and bunnies to jelly-beans and everything in-between, here are some fun facts about Easter candy!

-Egg dyeing is not a new tradition. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Zoroastrians (Persia) dyed eggs to celebrate the start of spring.

-The first chocolate eggs were made in Europe during the 19th century.

-Every year, almost 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced.

-74% of children eat the ears of the chocolate bunny first, 13% eat the feet first, and 10% eat the tail first.

-Americans spend 2 billion dollars on Easter candy and eat 7.1 billion pounds of Easter candy each year.

-The first Easter baskets were made to look like birds nests.

-In 1953, it took 27 hours to make one Peep.

-Rabbits and eggs were associated with Easter because they are symbols of fertility and rebirth.

-The most popular jellybean color is red.

-Jellybeans were first introduced as an Easter candy in the 1930’s. They were invented by a Boston candy maker in 1861.

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Restaurants and caterers typically purchase supplies in bulk to take advantage of significant cost savings and to be prepared during especially busy periods. But there’s obviously a limit to how much you can store in your restaurant at any one time. In this article, we’ll explore three self-storage tips for restaurants and caterers near Pittsburgh that could help you operate your business more efficiently and provide a better experience for customers.

1. Keep Your Restaurant Running Smoothly

Tablecloths. Place settings. Candles. Silverware. Napkins. Aprons. Outdoor patio furniture. The list goes on. Obviously you need this stuff, but it takes up valuable space in your restaurant. And, depending on how busy you are, you may need more or fewer of these items than you currently have. When restaurant traffic increases, you can obviously purchase more supplies and wait for it to arrive. But if you don’t have time to wait, you can stock up on the things you anticipate needing now and store the excess in a self-storage unit. This way, when you get busy, you can simply grab the items you need and put them into rotation immediately.

 2. Provide a Fresh Dining Experience for Guests

Think about all of those trendy restaurants in the South Side. Café Du Jour, The Urban Tap, Doce Taqueria… they all do a great job providing customers with a fresh, clutter-free dining experience. You can do the same thing at your restaurant – without a trendy South Side budget. Create a seasonal “look” for your establishment and rotate it throughout the year. Your guests will love the change of pace, and you can store the decorations you aren’t using in a self-storage unit to free up space.

3.Expand Your Wine List without Expanding Your Space

When it comes to your wine list, customers love seeing their favorite labels alongside interesting new selections they haven’t tried. But, proper wine storage for restaurants  requires special accommodations you may not have. Rather than a costly add-on to their current space, some Pittsburgh restaurants and caterers are using climate-controlled self-storage units to store and protect their investments. These units are maintained and insulated at 55ºF with 50% humidity to ensure proper wine-maturity as well as cork, box, and label protection.

Learn More About Self Storage for Pittsburgh Restaurants and Caterers

At STORExpress we help restaurants in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas operate more efficiently, provide a better experience to guests and free up space for staff members to work. Enjoy a wide variety of available features when you choose to rent a self-storage unit for your restaurant or catering business:

• Free Truck and Gas with Move-in
• Month-to-Month Contracts
• Video Surveillance
• Indoor Loading Docks (Carts and dollies available!)
• Moving and Packing Storage Supplies

If it’s your first time using self storage , our experts are standing by to help you find a solution that is right for you. Find a self-storage location near you  and request a unit today!

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One of the biggest financial challenges facing small, upstart businesses, entrepreneurs and creatives is the cost of office space or work space in Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities. As you already know, commercial real estate is expensive to rent, and it can present a stifling barrier to the success of your new venture. But, what you may not know is that finding affordable office space to rent in the Pittsburgh area is actually easy – if you know where to look.

Got your attention? Stay with us and we’ll show you how to find some affordable Pittsburgh office space of your own… Space that you can use to run your business, rehearse your band or create a masterpiece.

Self Storage for Offices & Businesses

Savvy entrepreneurs and startups can take advantage of self storage office space for rent  that is specifically designed for running a business. Rest assured, these aren’t just any old self storage units. These spaces are fully equipped with all of the features you’d need to conduct day-to-day operations. Features like:

• Wi-Fi access
• Heating and cooling
• 24/7 access

With locations near Pittsburgh in the neighborhoods of Etna, Murrysville, Monroeville, Oakmont, Forest Hills and New Kensington, you’ll never be too far from the heart of the city. And, with a wide variety of sizes to choose from, it’s easy to find the perfect solution for your unique needs.

Creative Space for Artists & Bands

If your venture is more artistic in nature, you’re in luck here too! Dozens of sculptors, painters and other artists, as well as musicians and bands, have found affordable, convenient creative space near Pittsburgh. Learn more about 448 Studios , a collection of artist workspaces, located just outside of Lawrenceville.

Want to rock out without upsetting the neighbors? Check out band rehearsal rooms in Etna, the South Side, and South Hills.

Learn More about Office and Creative Space for Rent in Pittsburgh

Don’t let the cost of rent deter you from realizing your dreams. Whether you’re hard at work inventing the next Terrible Towel or you’re perfecting your Iron City House Rockers tribute act, STORExpress offers affordable office space or creative space right here in The ‘Burgh! Contact us today  for more information.

The post How to Start Your Business for a Fraction of the Cost appeared first on STORExpress.

Going to a self-storage auction for the first time can be fun and exciting (not to mention, profitable!)

In order to make the most of your time at the auction, here are some tips to make things go smoothly.

DO dress appropriately. Wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and shoes that protect your feet.

DON’T bid on units you don’t want. It’s easy to get caught up in a bidding war, but winning a storage unit filled with items you have no use for is not smart.

DO bring a lock. When you place a winning bid on a unit, you will need to secure the unit with a lock. Bring your own from home, or purchase one from a STORExpress facility manager.

DO bring a big vehicle. Unless you are going to rent the unit you bought, you will need a way to transport the treasures you just won. Consider renting a truck for the day if you do not have a large truck or SUV.

DO know which items are worth buying. Research which items are selling on the resale market so when you do come across a treasure, you will be able to identify it.

DON’T expect to make a profit on every unit your buy. No matter how much you research the resale market and how careful you are, you won’t always be able to make a profit on a unit.

DO bring the right tools. Use a flashlight to illuminate dark corners of storage units during the viewing period.  Protect yourself with a dust mask and gloves when you are cleaning out a unit.

The post Do’s and Dont’s of Attending a Self-Storage Auction appeared first on STORExpress.

Whether you are building a house or building the next iconic Pittsburgh landmark, storing your power tools properly is imperative to your business running smoothly and profitably.

Determine your needs. How often will you need access to your tools? Are some tools seasonal? Do you have large items like forklifts and table saws? Do you only need to store tools or do you also need a space to work out of? 

Utilize plastic bins. Plastic bins offer easy transferability between job sites and your storage unit. Plus, using plastic bins will help protect your tools from common irritants to their motor systems, such as water and dust. Label the bins and make sure all accessories are included.

Get your tools off of the floor. To prevent sprawl and maximize your storage space, utilize a sturdy shelving system to store your tools. STORExpress offers heavy-duty shelving for your contractor or storage unit.

Pay attention to cordless tool batteries. For tools that will be sitting unused for a long time, try to store them at a 40% charge. NiCad batteries can be stored for five years or more at zero voltage.

The post Storage Tips for Contractors appeared first on STORExpress.

Refer someone who rents a storage unit at STORExpress between now and May 31, 2017 and choose either a Referral Reward based on your current tier level, or receive a gift certificate for two rounds of golf.

Check out current tiers and rewards here.

Questions about what tier you are currently in? Call our corporate office at 412.449.0123.

Referral Rewards Program may change at any time. Tickets are subject to availability.

The post Hit the Links with STORExpress! May Referral Rewards are Here! appeared first on STORExpress.

Declutter your home and lose weight? Really?

Recent research suggests that people who live in cluttered homes are more likely to be overweight then those who don’t. Sound crazy? It really isn’t.

Think about it: It’s dinner time, and you want to steam your veggies, but if the kitchen counter is a mess and you can’t find the steamer, frustration sets in and dinner will inevitably be take-out. Or you want to take a walk after work, but you can’t find one of your sneakers because it’s buried under a pile of shoes and clothes in your closet.  How long until you give up looking for it and plop down in front of the tv?

When your home is simplified and organized, you have more space to grow, both mentally and emotionally, and you can practice healthy living habits.

Here are some tips to get you started on weight-loss decluttering:

First, throw out real garbage. Go through your house and throw out old bills, magazines, boxes, bags an anything else that is genuine junk. At the same time, go through your kitchen and throw out junk food, expired food and condiments that never get used.

Clear a room that you spend a lot of time in. This could be the living room, an office or your bedroom.  Throw out or donate old books, files, clothing, gadgets and anything else you don’t use or don’t need.  Place items that you want to keep but don’t use on a regular basis into self-storage. Remove and rearrange furniture to create space. Having one decluttered room will make you feel more in control.

Continue clearing the rest of the house.  Spend the next few weeks working your way through your home, room by room, until you have cleared out all of the excess clutter.

Simplify your kitchen. Replace processed junk food with fresh fruits, veggies and meats. Arrange your cooking utensils and pans so that they are easy to grab when you need them. Free up time by cooking enough for next day leftovers.

The post Declutter Your Home and Lose Weight appeared first on STORExpress.

Motorcycles are a fun and fuel efficient way to get around. They are also much more dangerous then a car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) motorcycle fatalities are up over 8% from 2014 and motorcyclists are 29 times more likely then passenger car occupants to die in an accident.

As a new motorcyclist, you can minimize the chance of an accident by following these steps:

Buy a bike that fits you. When bike shopping, don’t buy more bike then you can handle. Choose a model that you can easily reach the controls and handlebars. Your feet should be able to rest on the ground flat and you should be able to get on and off of the bike with ease.

Take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) riding course.  An MSF course will teach you basic riding skills, advanced techniques and how to perform emergency maneuvers.

Wear proper gear. Tee shirts and shorts will not protect you from bugs, debris, road rash and wind. For the best protection, opt for a padded leather jacket, gloves, boots and full pants. Also, don’t forget to protect your eyes with either a helmet or goggles.

Don’t drive in bad weather.  Motorcycles can easily slide when they come in contact with wet pavement. If you do need to ride in inclement weather, remember that the road is most slippery right after the rain begins. Try to avoid braking suddenly or making abrupt turns.

Make sure your bike is in good condition before each ride. Before hitting the road, do a walk-around to make sure everything works and inspect the tires for wear and that they are inflated properly. To help protect your motorcycle from the elements, consider storing it in a climate controlled facility.

The post Tips for Beginner Motorcyclists appeared first on STORExpress.

As a small business owner, the To-Do List is never-ending. There’s always something to do and usually it’s not the stuff you hoped to do when you started your business. Record keeping is a crucial part of being and staying successful in any business.

STORExpress provides small businesses with the records storage solutions they need to manage their records efficiently, while freeing up the real-world space that is needed to grow. Storing documents with us helps clear clutter and saves you time and money. We help business owners of all sizes with a free certified record storage consultation that will pinpoint the best solution to meet your storage needs.

For everything our records storage program does provide, it’s what it does not have that really makes it great. STORExpress does not charge delivery fees, set-up charges or exit fees. Plus, you have access to your records at any time, day or night and you don’t have to call ahead.  With TEN convenient locations your files are always safe and never out of reach. Set up a tour today!

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For every minute of stage time, there are dozens of hours of rehearsal time that go into making a song performance ready. Here are some tips to make sure you are rehearsing effectively.

Rehearsal Time is NOT Practice Time

Practice is the work done individually that prepares a musician for rehearsal. Rehearsal is a group effort that is used to write and learn new music, improve tonal balance and timing. To make band rehearsals more effective, each band member should be practicing for rehearsal. That way, more time is spent on improving the cohesive sound of the band.

Plan Your Next Rehearsal

Your rehearsal plan should include break times, setup and tear down times and a set list. If there is band business to be discussed, auditioning or equipment testing, these things should also be included in the plan. Email the rehearsal plan to the other band members along with a reminder that includes the time and location of the rehearsal.

Take Notes

Songs can radically change during rehearsal. Make sure you write down any changes that occur. Keep a binder or a specific notebook for all changes.

Set Up Rules

Expectations for band rehearsal should agreed upon and posted somewhere visible. Things like showing up on time and being prepared, eating before rehearsal and keeping personal phone calls and texts to a minimum will help your band rehearse more efficiently.

The post How to Make Your Band Rehearsals More Effective appeared first on STORExpress.

Looking to strike gold at a storage auction? Chances are, you probably wont, but then again, it is possible. Every now and then, a high value item is found in a storage unit. So what do you do if you are the lucky winner of one of these units?

Keep Quiet

Your first reaction may be to get on social media and tell the world, but experts warn against doing that. In the case of the man who found $500K in a San Jose unit, the auctioneer John Cardoza from Storage Auction Experts warned him ” First of all, tell nobody else. Then hope the guy who put that money there is no longer with us, because if it’s that much money, more than likely it’s drug money and they’re going to be back – if they can,” Cardoza recalled. “You want to keep a low profile on something like that.”

Find an Expert

But what if you don’t know what you have? Or you know what you have, but don’t know the value of it? In this case, it makes sense to make your find public – in a strategic way. For example, if you found a painting, contact art experts who can help you identify the artist and give you an estimate on it’s worth. If you decide to liquidate the painting, contact reputable auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

Don’t Forget About Uncle Sam..and a Lawyer

The U.S. tax code requires citizens to report their income, regardless of where it came from. If you don’t report your treasure, you could be prosecuted and fined. Getting a good accountant and lawyer can help you navigate the complicated tax code, and keep you in the clear.

The post You Scored Big Time at a Storage Auction. Now What? appeared first on STORExpress.

Following these bicycle storage tips will keep your bike in excellent condition, which in-turn will allow you to peddle farther down the roads of Pittsburgh this summer. Storing your bicycles in a dry, clean, and secure space is critical for preserving their condition and performance. To help with your bicycle storage, we’re offering easy bike storage tips that cycling enthusiasts can use to keep their bikes in the best condition possible.

Clean Bikes Before Storing

Before you place your bike into storage, it’s important to first clean your bicycle. Take a few minutes to wipe and polish the frame, reflectors, handle bars and seat. Use a brush to remove any mud and grit from the wheels, joints, and brakes, and then you’re ready for bike storage. This will also help you prepare your bike for riding as soon as it’s removed from storage.

Store All Your Bicycles Together

To help stay organized, and get you on the road quicker, it’s best to store all bicycles together. As a cyclist, you could own a wide variety of bicycles. This ranges from mountain bikes, to touring bikes, 10-speeds, and everything else in between. Whether in a garage, basement, shed or self-storage unit, keeping your bikes together helps maintain their condition and prevents damage to the bike or other items that you’re keeping in storage.

Beware of the Garage for Bike Storage

Cars, snow blowers, shovels and tools could be hazardous to bikes stored in your garage. It only takes a simple bump from your car door to knock a nearby bicycle over, causing damage to the bike and any number of other items. If you must use your garage for bicycle storage, consider hanging them from the ceiling with manufacturer-approved bike hooks. But if this can be avoided, we recommend keeping your bicycles out of the way of everyday items and placing them in year-round storage at a self-storage facility near you.

Bike Storage with Self-Storage Units

Storing your bicycles in a self-storage unit will keep the chains and tires out of the elements, preventing rust or cracking. It will also help keep your garage organized. At STORExpress, our 10 storage facilities throughout Pittsburgh offer 24/7 access to your unit. This means that you will have the ability to grab your bike for that early morning ride through Pittsburgh as well as that late-night trek after work. We have many sizes of self-storage units so you can store a single bike or entire stable. Self-storage units also provide a more secure storage option, remaining locked at your storage facility until they need to be accessed. You could even pull out one bike at a time during riding season, leaving the others in storage until you need them.

STORExpress offers bicycle storage as well as all other household, business or car storage solutions. Visit one of our 10 self-storage locations today to speak with our customer service team to find the storage unit that’s right for you. When you’re out on your bike, enjoy the ride this summer!

The post Bicycle Storage Tips to Keep You Peddling Farther appeared first on STORExpress.

Taking your car out of long-term storage involves more then just turning the key and driving down the road. Below is a checklist of what to do before driving your car after it’s been in storage.

Air Out Your Car

Roll down the windows and let the fresh air in. Even in a climate-controlled storage unit, the air in your car can be stale and unhealthy.

Check Your Tires

The air pressure in your tires should be checked, and if necessary, more air should be pumped into them. Also, check for cracks and bulges in the rubber.

Check and Test Your Battery

Remove the trickle charger and test the charge.  Inspect your battery for any corrosion that can build up over time on connections and posts. If the battery cannot hold a full charge, replace it.

Replace Fluids

Refill all of your car’s fluids – oil, gas, transmission fluid, power-steering fluid, windshield cleaner, brake fluid, etc. Once everything is filled, check for fluid leakage and cracked hoses.

Check Your Engine & Brakes

Start your engine and let your car warm up for at least 20 minutes. Start driving slowly and test your brakes. Some stiffness or noise is common, and it should go away. If everything seems to be in good working order, take your car out onto the road. Drive slowly for a few miles to let the car readjust and distribute fluids properly.

Wash Your Car

There may be a layer of dust or dirt on your car, depending how long it was in storage. Thoroughly wash the body, undercarriage and tires.

After following these steps, you should be all set to hit the open road!

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