Storage Outlet - Southern California Storage Specialist

City Information: San Bernardino

San Bernardino is a city that has a rich history and cultural diversity. You can find influences in the city of Native Americans, Mexican settlers, Spanish Missionaries and Mormon emigrants. The city was given its name in 1810 by a Franciscan missionary, Father Dumetz. It has long been recognized for its scenic beauty and strategic location. San Bernardino is nestled south of the San Bernardino mountains and west of the lower desert. It serves as the county seat and is the largest city in the county with a population of over 205,000.

San Bernardino began in the 19th century when the first settlers, Spanish missionaries settled the region. The missionaries, along with the American Indians, diverted water to the valley from Mill Creek and as a result the area flourished.

San Bernardino residents and visitors can enjoy over 40 parks, 6 community centers, swimming pools, adult and youth sports, special interest classes and excursions. There is an extensive public library system with one main library, and three branches.

The city also is committed to enhancing public safety, and sees this as a key part of improving the quality of life. In the last 3 years the city has seen 40 new sworn police positions and additional support personnel. In addition the city implemented Crime Impact teams on major corridors in the city, added a police helicopter and continues to establish recruitment incentives for new officers.

There are many different recreational opportunities in the city. Visitors and residents can enjoy playing golf at one of many public and private golf courses. The city also is close to the mountains and the sandy coastline, which offers other activities like skiing, swimming, surfing and many other opportunities.

Packing and Storage Tips

Let’s Start With The Ten Commandments of Self Storage

1. Use boxes that are uniform in size – they will stack up much easier and utilize the space you have much better.
2. As you stack, place heavy boxes on the bottom and lighter on the top.  Seems logical but we have seen many a crumbled box.
3. Leave walkways between boxes so you can have ready access.
4. Half full boxes tend to collapse easier during stacking.
5. Leave a little space between your unit walls and boxes – helps air circulate
6. Storing a refrigerator or washer/dryer? Leave doors slightly ajar – this can help prevent mold from growing.
7. NO flammables or combustibles allowed in any of the storage units.
8. Photo or Video document your stored items thoroughly.
9. Label your boxes for quick identification.
10. Bubble wrap and newspaper fragile items.

How to Prepare Your Items for Storage

Place all smaller items in uniformly sized boxes. Completely fill each box with heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top. Uniformly sized boxes stack easier and conserve storage space.

> Appliances. Clean and dry you appliances prior to storing.  Do not leave anything inside of appliances to be stored. Store all appliances upright with doors ajar to allow ventilation.
> Blankets, Draperies and Clothing. Have blankets, draperies and clothing cleaned, then pack them on hangers in wardrobe boxes.
> Books. Pack books flat, not standing on end. This will protect the spines, which will bend and warp over time if stood upright. Books are very heavy. So, pack them in small boxes, and don’t put them in boxes with other, more fragile, items.
> Breakable Items. Wrap breakable items inside bubble wrap and store with linens.
> Dishes and Glassware. Store these items in specially made boxes called dishpacks.  Dishpacks are worth every penny.
> Furniture and Tables. Place blankets over furniture to protect from scratches and dust.  Also, be aware of weight disruption for
> Label boxed items. You’ll know what is in each box without opening it.
> Lawn Mowers. Drain gasoline and oil from all small engines. This precaution will protect both your stored property and the property of others from the dangers of fire and explosion.
> Leather Items. Treat leather items (couches, clothes, etc.) with a leather conditioner prior to storing them. Keep furniture items off the floor by placing them on pallets.
> Mattresses. Place mattresses in plastic slip-on covers to protect them from dust and moisture.
> Mirrors and Pictures. Store mirrors and pictures inside similarly sized knocked down boxes. This affords them protection from scratches and dust.
> Photos. Photographs tend to curl over time. To keep them flat, place between pieces of cardboard and tape them together. Do not store irreplaceable photos. Photos and negatives take up very little space. Try to keep these items with you.
> Pillows and Toys. It is smart to store smaller items like this in large plastic bags.

DO NOT STORE THESE ITEMS: Furs, jewelry and other expensive items, irreplaceable items, any living thing, used tires, firearms, explosives, flammables of any kind (gas, diesel, oil, paint, etc.), drugs or drug paraphernalia, stolen items, any type of hazardous items, perishable items of any kind, hazardous waste materials of any kind, items that produce odors or any item that will in any way make other tenants or the manager unhappy.

Organizing your Storage Unit
> If you can, place wooden pallets or boards underneath furniture and boxes. This will prevent condensation from damaging them.
> Leave a small airspace between your stored items and the wall of the storage unit for ventilation.
> Store items that will not be needed to the rear of the storage locker, and items you will need to access toward the front of the unit.  This will save a lot of time and hassle.
> Store heavy items on the bottom and lightweight items on top.
> Store smaller, more valuable items to the rear of the storage locker and larger items toward the front of the storage locker.
> Cover everything with plastic sheeting. Wooden furniture should first be covered with blankets to avoid abrasion and moisture damage. Plastic sheeting will protect your stored goods from both dust and water damage.
> Pack your storage unit as tightly as possible. Tighter packing helps to protect stored items from moisture and dust and reduces the space needed to store you property.
> Use a high quality disc (round) padlock to secure your storage locker. This type of lock is difficult to cut or break and offers maximum protection for very little money.