The CASTER GROUP

How To Make Your Pumpkin Last Longer!

holidays, halloween, decoration and people concept - close up of woman with pumpkins at home

 

holidays, halloween, decoration and people concept - close up of woman with pumpkins at home

Halloween is just around the corner, it’s time to transform your pumpkin into a masterpiece!The biggest challenge year after year is, how to keep pumpkins from rotting and molding before Halloween arrives. Here are some tips to help ensure that your pumpkin lasts as long as possible:

Pick the Right Pumpkin – Choose a pumpkin that is fresh, with a sturdy stem and that has no bruises. Also make sure to find one that has a flat bottom so it does’t roll.

Scoop Out The Pulp – When prepping your pumpkin make sure to scrape out as much as the pulp possible.  The cleaner and drier of the inside of the pumpkin, the slower the rotting process will take.

Use Bleach – Give your fresh and carved pumpkin a bleach bath.  You will want to use one teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water. This is a great way to hydrate your pumpkin and also eliminate any bacteria.

Refrigerate Pumpkin Overnight – If you live in warmer climate area it is recommended that you place carved pumpkins in fridge at night instead of keeping them on the porch. This will help to re hydrate your pumpkin.

Use A Fly Trap –  There is doubt that Pumpkins attract fruit flies. Fruit flies will enhance the rotting process of a pumpkin therefore it is essential to keep a fly trap near by.

Let us know if you have any tips tricks you would like to share for this Halloween season.

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Fall Is Upon Us

Label with the Words Hello Autumn and Autumn Leaves in the Background

Label with the Words Hello Autumn and Autumn Leaves in the Background

Fall is almost here! As we transition into fall, this calls for the opportunity to organize and tidy up our houses to prepare for the next season. While you can take advantage of a storage unit at any time of the year, with winter (and the holidays) around the corner it makes it especially important to gear up and protect your belongings. In case you are wondering how to store your seasonal items safely we have some tips to help better prepare you.

  • Store your yard equipment – There is no need to take up extra space in your garage if you aren’t mowing your lawn or gardening. Make sure to drain all the liquids from your lawnmower and other tools as this will help prevent corrosion. Are you planning on storing any outdoor furniture? Remember to clean your furniture items to avoid damage and also use a climate controlled storage unit for extra protection.
  • Store Season Outdoor Toys –  It’s time to secure your boat, bikes and any recreational vehicles. The winter holiday season can be hectic with all of the family and guests arriving. To provide you with more space in your driveway for holiday guests, keeping your summer toys in storage can guarantee extra protection from theft and damage.
  • Switch out seasonal clothing items – One easy way to free up a jam-packed closet or dresser is to swap out your summer wardrobe for warmer items. Pack away your swimsuits and shorts. Take the opportunity to sort through your clothing items and decide if it’s time to donate them. You may find that some of your clothes are either too small, worn out or out of style. Consider doing this in your entryway coat closet as well.
  • Don’t forget about the grill- Give your BBQ grill a deep clean before covering and storing it. Be sure to scrape down the grates and, wipe down the inside as well.
  • Clean Out Gutters – While the weather is still nice it’s recommended to  clean out your gutters. Cleaning gutters for winter will mean less work when spring rolls back around.

How do you store your seasonal items? Leave a Comment below. We would love to hear of your tips on how you prepare for the upcoming seasons.

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Bathroom Organization Tips

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Is your bathroom an unorganized mess? Learn how to clear bathroom clutter with a few simple tricks and ideas.

  • Organize medicine cabinet – Start by responsibly disposing of  outdated medicines. A smart way to keep your medicine cabinet organized is to magnetize all your small objects. Keep bobby pins, tweezers, and nail tools in tact with a stick on metal strip.
  • Hair Product Clutter – Gels, sprays, and hot irons take up a lot of space in the bathroom. For a quick way to organize you can plastic containers for under sink. If you are feeling crafty attach PVC pipes to the inside of cabinets and use them as holsters for
  • Drawer dividers – Bathroom drawers are always messy and unorganized.. Use wooden or plastic trays to help categorize your items so you will no longer have to deal with cluttered drawers.
  • Use Stickers –  For a simple way to track how long you have had a product, write the month and year on a small sticker and put it on the bottom of the jar or tube. If the item starts to look old or tired you can refer to sticker and see if you are in the clear or not.
  • Create more towel storage – If your towel rack isn’t big enough to hang all the towels you need, add hooks to the bathroom. Towel hooks are easy and inexpensive!

How do you organize your bathroom? Leave us a comment and let us know if you have any tips or tricks

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How to Move Out of Your Storage Unit

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A-1-Self-Storage-Summer-Storage-Tips-300x266Is it time to say goodbye? Do you have your move scheduled, but you’re not sure what to do next? We’re here to help! Follow these easy steps to help make the process of moving out of your storage unit as smooth as possible.

  • Notify Us of Your Move Ahead of Time.For your convenience, our contracts are month to month. Please be sure to let us know you’re leaving in advance. We recommend giving notice prior to paying your next month’s rent. This will help you save money, so you aren’t paying for more days than you are using as we do not offer refunds. If you happen to change your mind, or need a few extra days, just let us know!
  • Empty Your Space.Clear everything out of your storage unit so that we can close out your account. If you find something that you can no longer use, consider donating it to Serving Hands International to give it a new life.
  • Clean Your Storage Unit. Help us make the next customer’s stay a great experience just like yours.Sweep out your unit and clean up any spills.
  • Remove Your Lock. The lock on your storage unit belongs to you, so don’t forget to take it with you! You can use it again if you need to rent with us in the future. Because you have the only keys, if you leave your lock on, the space is still occupied by you even when it’s empty.
  • Fill Out a Vacate Form. After you’ve moved out, stop by the office and fill out a quick Vacate Form. It’s quick & painless, we promise!
  • Tell Us How We Did. Our goal is to make each customer’s stay convenient, safe, and enjoyable. If we have accomplished this, please let us know by writing a review! Ask an Associate for more details.
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Do You Need Climate Controlled Storage?

Regulator climate control. Vector image.

Regulator climate control. Vector image.Climate control storage units are extremely handy when it comes to storing your furniture, antiques, musical instruments, or any fine art. Climate controlled storage units keep items in a constant set temperature. If you are going to be placing valuable items in storage, you will want to consider a climate controlled unit.

  • Furniture – Wooden and leather furniture are sensitive to extreme climates and will want to be stored in climate controlled units. Wooden furniture (bed frames, tables, chairs, dressers, and more ) can be damaged when it is exposed to too much moisture.
  • Appliances – Your household appliances including washers, dryers, microwaves, refrigerator all need climate control storage. Climate control protects electronic parts from cracking and rusting,
  • Musical Instruments-  Musical instruments are very delicate and need to be handled with great especially if storing for a long period of time. Humidity can dry out wood instruments such as guitars ans pianos. Climate control will reduce moisture and help eliminate dust which will preserve your musical instruments.
  • Photography & Artwork – When storing photos climate control is a must. If temperatures get too hot and humid and photos are stacked on top of one another, the prints can start to blend together.

Properly storing your items during the warm summer months will help protect your items from the heat. Climate control is offered at select A-1 Self Storage locations. Check with your facility to confirm.

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