My husband and I are complete opposites. While I’m extremely organized, my spouse isn’t. He regularly scatters important documents such as credit card statements, car insurance bills, and pay stubs around our home. Because I worry about losing important papers, I’m constantly developing smart storage solutions for our documents. I keep some of our papers in a safe. I keep other items in a handy storage folder complete with tabs. I’ve labeled some of the tabs with the types of mail my husband and I receive regularly such as bills, retirement information, healthcare documentation, and sales papers. Another great option for storing mountains of paperwork is a rented storage unit. By housing important documentation in this type of storage facility, you can keep it out of your home. On this blog, I hope you will discover some ingenious ways to store your pertinent documents.
Storage Solutions for Important Documents
8 Tips For Preparing Your ATV For Winter Storage
Alicia Rodriguez
If you are planning to store your ATV during the winter, you can opt to use a self-storage unit for it. Self-storage offers security for your vehicle until you are ready to use it again. Before placing it in storage though, it is important that you prepare it. Here are some tips to help ensure your ATV is storage ready.
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Clean it. Mud, grease, and bugs can damage the finish of your ATV while it is sitting in self-storage. After washing the vehicle, thoroughly dry it. Leftover moisture can potentially lead to the development of rust.
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Lubricate certain components. Corrosion can occur when your ATV is left sitting for a long period of time. Lubricating components, such as the chain, lug nuts, and sprockets, can help to keep rust away.
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Inspect the fuel line. While riding the ATV, it is possible to nick the fuel line. In storage, a damaged line can leak fuel into the unit and potentially cause a fire. If the fuel line is damaged, it needs to be replaced.
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Remove the battery. In storage, the battery could be exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Cold weather can cause the battery to drain significantly. Taking out the battery and storing it in room temperature helps to prevent this.
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Change the oil. As your ATV sits during the winter, debris in the oil can start to settle. When this occurs, it can start to congeal over the engine and its parts. Changing the oil will clear out this debris.
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Change your antifreeze. Antifreeze will help to prevent ice from building up in your radiator during the winter. Changing it before storing the ATV helps to ensure there is no harmful debris lingering in the fluid.
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Inflate the tires. Unless you plan to check your tires on a regular basis while the ATV is in storage, you need to slightly over-inflate the tires. The tires will slowly leak over the winter. If the tires are not inflated, flat spots could develop and you might need new tires.
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Cover the ATV. As an added measure of protection, cover your ATV before placing it in storage. Use a cotton or other fabric covering that allows in air. If you use plastic, moisture is not able to evaporate, which could mean the development of rust.
Storing your ATV for the winter is a smart move that protects your investment. Pay close attention to the condition of your vehicle to determine if there are any other maintenance steps you need to take before placing it in your self-storage unit.
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