Monday, April 11th, 2011
Did you know that you can use white vinegar for spring cleaning on just about any household item? You can buy many types of vinegar from your local supermarket but for cleaning purposes make sure you use white vinegar. It’s a safe, non-toxic and affordable alternative to clean your home rather than using commercial cleaning products that can be hazardous to the environment.
Vinegar will cut through the greasy dirt that forms on your oven by simply dampening a paper towel and wiping. It can also be used as a deodoriser and clear the air in your home by simply placing a bowl of vinegar in the middle of the room. White vinegar is a great cleaning solution however it is a mild acid and shouldn’t be used on items such as crystal, marble or stone surfaces.
To find out how you can benefit from self storage while Spring cleaning around your home, visit our Quote and Reserve Online page to get started.
Tags: armadillo self storage, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, clutter, de-clutter, declutter, Did you know?, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, Self Storage UK, spring, spring clean, storage solution, UK storage
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Monday, February 21st, 2011
Did you know that we’re not the only ones that suffer from too much clutter around the home? Even former Friends star Jennifer Aniston is selling her Beverley Hills mansion because she is desperate to de-clutter. The house has been placed on the market for an incredible £26million as she looks to simplify and clear the clutter. However, there are many solutions to help solve clutter and get organised in your home without having to move.
Your living space should only have items that are used on a regular basis as all the other items can be stored elsewhere. Ensure all of your items are sorted before you place them in the storage areas around your home as this will prevent clutter being moved from one area to another and for the items that you can’t find a space for you could consider putting them in storage.
You can view the article where Jennifer discusses the clutter in her home here.
Tags: armadillo self storage, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, clutter, de-clutter, declutter, Did you know?, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, Self Storage UK, storage, storage solution, UK storage
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Friday, February 18th, 2011
Did you know you could find old and forgotten items in your attic that could be worth a tidy sum? Recently a Chinese vase was found in an attic and sold at auction. The vase was found while clearing in an attic and put aside after the owner decided it might be worth something and when put up for auction, the owner was proved right.
The owners took it to their local auctioneer who estimated the vase between £800,000 and £1.2 million which was a nice sum. However, no one expected that the vase would be very popular with Chinese buyers who pushed the bidding up to a world record £43 million. It’s unlikely that any items you find will reach a figure close to the price of this porcelain goldmine, but you could turn unwanted items into a bit of extra cash.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, clutter, de-clutter, declutter, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, Self Storage UK, storage solution, UK storage
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Thursday, February 10th, 2011
Did you know that the average woman has 22 garments in her wardrobe that she will never wear but refuses to throw out? The average cost of unworn items left to take up space is £285 while men are no better as they hoard 19 items that they will never wear. Despite these items taking up valuable storage space, they’re rarely sorted.
It’s tough to decide what to throw out of your wardrobe but you need to be ruthless! Impulse buying is often the most common cause of wardrobe clutter as items seem like a good idea in the shop but when you get home they’re less appealing. Jeans are the most common item to be left unworn as well as tops that people would never be seen in. Many people refuse to throw out their clothes because they feel guilty about wasting money and hoard items just in case they wear them in the future.
Tags: armadillo self storage, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, clothes, clothing storage, de-clutter, declutter, Did you know?, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage solution, storing clothes, UK storage
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Friday, January 21st, 2011
Did you know you could burn calories by doing housework and de-cluttering? In an hours cleaning you could burn 500 calories. Polishing, dusting, mopping and sweeping are all great workouts for your arms. Planning your housework so it involves running up and down the stairs can also give you a good aerobic workout.
Instead of using spray polish try using a wax. This is because you will need to rub it much harder and requires more effort to create a shine. Bending and stretching when you make the bed, wash windows or do the laundry are all good for your flexibility. You can create an even better workout by doing more challenging chores around the home such as decorating and moving furniture.
Doing your housework in one burst could produce the same results as going to a gym without the added cost.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, clutter, de-clutter, declutter, Did you know?, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, UK storage
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Friday, January 14th, 2011
Did you know there is over £650 Million spent on wasted Christmas gifts each year? The huge amount spent each year is rising at a record rate in the UK. Many purchases are made because of last-minute panic buying especially this year as the poor weather conditions disrupted Christmas deliveries.
A third of Brits end up keeping unwanted gifts, leaving them to take up free space and never be used. A rising number of people are selling their unwanted items online or reusing them as presents to give to others – while trying to avoid the embarrassing situation of giving it to the same person that bought the gift!
If you’ve been given unwanted gifts over Christmas and have nowhere to keep them, visit www.bigyellow.co.uk/personal to see how you can benefit from self storage.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, christmas gifts, clutter, de-clutter, declutter, Did you know?, personal storage, self storage blog, UK storage
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Sunday, December 12th, 2010
Did you know there is a storage solution for post boxes which are no longer in use? A man from the Isle of Wight is storing so many old post boxes; he has had to build a new house to contain them all! Arthur Reeder is believed to own the biggest collection of post boxes and mail memorabilia in the UK (possibly even the world). He has almost 200 different post boxes from a variety of decades and countries. His collection also includes hundreds of pieces of old post equipment such as signs, stamps, scales etc.
Arthur started the collection over 15 years ago when he discovered an old wall mounted post box in a rubbish skip whilst on holiday in Wales. He took it home and restored it to its former glory. He then developed a passion for Royal Mail artefacts and began collecting and restoring other post boxes. His oldest post box dates back to 1861. Many of the post boxes in his collection are displayed outside in Arthur’s paddock and the rows of red pillar post boxes can be seen from the road in Newport.
The Royal Mail rarely sell post boxes to the public, most of Arthurs collection has come from donations after boxes are removed due to damage or vandalism. If the boxes were still in working order, they would still be in use. Strangely enough Arthur is not the only person who stores old post boxes in his home. Steve Knight in Essex also has an impressive collection of about 100 post boxes as well as 19 stamp vending machines, documents, uniforms and other associated artefacts. Steve has also had to construct a purpose-built outhouse for his assortment of postal relics.
If you have an unusual collection that is getting out of hand, or just fancy making some space in your home then click on Quote and Reserve Online page to see if you would benefit from our secure self storage rooms.
Tags: Big Yellow Self Storage, clutter, collectibles, Did you know?, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage solution
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Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
With 58,000 self storage facilities globally more and more people are benefitting from the extra space in their homes. Ever wondered how other countries self storage compares to ours? We’ve taken a look at the USA, France and Spain to bring you the juicy facts to help put your mind at ease.
The self storage market in the US is a huge industry with about 45,000 facilities compared to 1,200 that are situated in the UK. The first billion square feet of storage space took 25 years to build and the next billion only took 8 years thanks to a boom within the industry. This is mainly because of the vast space available and their national Self Storage Association that was formed in 1975. Even most of the 50 states have their own self storage association! Also, many self storage stores are based on US military bases and over 700,000 rooms are rented to its personnel.
The self storage market in France is growing rapidly with 112 storage facilities and is the second most in Europe. As recently as 2005, only 5% of the population was aware of self storage and it’s a long way behind the UK but has come far in a short space of time. Paris is the hub of all facilities as 54% of stores are located in the area meaning it is still unknown is rural areas.
Before 2002 there were no self storage stores in Spain but today there are around 70 self storage facilities. Around 40% of stores are located around the Catalonia region and is seen as the stronghold of the self storage market. Many of the self storage facilities in Spain are used for Britons that have moved abroad with many setting up their websites in English to cater to the demand. The market is still in its infancy compared to Britain, but many facilities are providing the ex-pat community with the extra space they need.
To find out more information about how you can benefit from self storage here on home soil, visit www.bigyellow.co.uk/personal to get started.
Tags: armadillo self storage, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, Did you know?, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, UK storage
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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Did you know the British banking industry came up with the idea of self storage? In the 1800’s business men about to go on long journeys asked bankers to protect their valuables for them until they returned. The bankers stored their clients possessions inside the vault, but this space quickly ran out resulting in the bankers finding an alternative storage solution, renting loft space from moving companies instead.
However it wasn’t until the mid 1960’s in Texas that self storage facilities as we know them today were born. The concept was instantly successful and was quickly replicated across the rest of America and Canada.
England was slow to react and didn’t adopt self storage for the general public until the late 1980’s. There were many risks involved for early entrepreneurs who developed the self storage industry in the UK. Land prices were much more expensive in England than the US, due to limited space. It cost in the region of two to three million pounds to set up a self storage business in the UK and there was no proof it would be profitable. The public were slow to take to the idea of self storage, but eventually as British lives changed, the risks paid off for the early developers of self storage and the businesses grew to into the thriving industry we know today.
At Big Yellow Self Storage we know there are lots of ways people could benefit from using our self storage rooms. To find out more visit us in store or go to Quote and Reserve Online today.
Tags: armadillo self storage, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, clutter, de-clutter, declutter, Did you know?, furniture storage, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, UK storage
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Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
Did you know a man from the UK earned the world record for his collection of 132 Traffic Cones? David Morgan achieved this unusual record in 2000, but according the Guinness World Records, the record is still valid today.
The record breaker, from Oxfordshire, has continued to grow his collection of traffic cones and now owns 550 different kinds. The 68-year-old has two thirds of all the types of cones ever made. His collection includes traffic cones from as far as Malaysia and Finland. His prize possession is a 1956 Lynvale rubber cone from Scotland – the oldest item in the collection. He even owns a rare black funeral cone used by undertakers.
David is the Sales Director for the world’s largest producer of traffic cones, which produces over 3.5 million cones a year. Dubbed by many as ‘cone head’, David started collecting cones in 1986. It all started when he was involved in a legal dispute with a competitor when he was accused of copying a cone design. Mr Morgan scoured the country for cones, to prove the design already existed and won the case. Sixty cones were used as evidence in the copyright lawsuit, all of which formed the basis for his collection. He found the different types of cones fascinating and has continued collecting cones ever since the trial.
Although David appreciates that road traffic cones are an unusual collector’s item, he is disappointed that so few people are enthusiastic about them. David keeps around 50 regular road cones in his car to swap for any unusual cones he comes across on his travels. His assortment of cones is stored in the garage, which has no harmful UV light to ensure they do not get damaged.
To find out how you can benefit from storing your collections in our self storage rooms in any of our stores visit our Quote and Reserve Online page today to get started.
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