How to use Self-Storage to Prepare for a Delhi Winter 

If you have lived in Delhi long enough, you will be acquainted with its extreme temperatures. Situated between the Himalayas and the Thar desert is the reason for particularly cold winters and scorching summers, respectively. But don’t worry here we have tips to prepare for a Delhi winter. 

Summer sets in around April and peaks in May. The average maximum temperature is 40 degrees Celsius, and the average minimum temperature is 25 degrees Celsius. In the height of summer, the daytime temperature even touches 45 degrees Celsius. The dry heat can really wear you down if you are not well prepared for it. 

Winter sets in towards the end of November after the monsoons have receded and the pleasant autumn weather makes way for foggy, icy days. In complete contrast to the sweltering summer heat, Delhi winters have a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature that barely touches 20 degrees Celsius. In peak winter there are days when the temperature drops to below 5 degrees Celsius, and the city is cloaked in thick fog. If you do not have warm clothes, you will be in trouble. Take care of your health in winter. If you are in Delhi, prepare for a Delhi winter and keep your body warm with woolen clothes. 

Given these extremes, in weather, you need to have a wardrobe that can give you the right kind of comfort and protection in both seasons and the months in between. Your home furnishings must also be adapted to extreme climatic conditions. That brings up the question of what to do with your summer items during winter and vice versa. The solution is quite simple actually – self-storage units! Renting out a self-storage unit is the best way to avoid cramping your home with clothes, accessories, and linen that you use only seasonally. 

Use this complete guide to manage your seasonal ware and continue living a decluttered life all year round:  

 
Putting Away your Summer Gear

 

The light cotton clothes, sleeveless tops, shorts, and skirts that get you through the sweaty days of summer, are of no use in winter. If you want to stay protected from the nipping cold, you just cannot afford to step outdoors clad in an airy shirt and a casual pair of shorts. As the summer ends and the temperatures begin to drop, you know it is time for winterwear to come. Before unloading the furs and fleece jackets, you need to put away your summer items. During winter no need for summer clothes, wash pack and store them and start prepare for a Delhi winter. 

Get yourself some storage boxes and garment bags and start packing away your summer things. You do not have to stuff them in your wardrobe or cabinet – instead, rent out a self-storage unit to store them in safely. Follow this step-by-step guide to make sure you get your summer clothes safely away: 

• Start by sorting your summer clothes. This is an opportunity to declutter. The clothes that took a beating this summer – sweat-stained and washed out, need to be discarded. There is no point in storing them. When you take them out in six months, you are not going to want to use them. 
• Assess the clothes that need repair. If you can get them fixed, do so promptly and then put them in storage. Make sure to throw away the ones that are beyond repair. 
• Pick the ones that you love and will reuse next year. Fold them neatly and pack them in proper garment bags or vacuum bags. 
• Do not forget to sift through your footwear as well. Make sure you have boots and warm socks, which is what you will need most of the time. You will require party shoes because it is the holiday season. Try to pick practical shoes. Skip the peep toes, flip-flops and sandals, unless you are planning a vacation to a warm place! These can go into storage. 
• Put away all swimming gear. The floaters, pool noodles, swimsuits, goggles, and everything you would use at the poolside can be safely stored for the next summer. Label the box you store these in, in case a beach vacation comes up! 
• Hiking and camping gear can go into storage as well. You might think that setting up a tent in cool weather is a good plan, but Delhi nights in winter are freezing and you will be back indoors before you know it. 
• The lightweight drapes and cotton sheets are not going to protect you from the winter cold. Put them away and bring out the warmer covers.  

Bring Out the Winter Gear 

With temperatures dropping to lower than 7 degrees Celsius on most days, you are going to need a lot of warm gear to get you through the winter. From woollen clothes to warm blankets and rugs, you and your home are going to need all the help possible to stay protected from the chilly weather that Delhi winters bring with them. Prepare for a Delhi winter and bring your winter gear like jackets, woolen caps, gloves, etc. 

With your summer clothes out of the way, you now have room for winter wear. This entails a visit to your self-storage unit to bring back the winter clothes you stored last season. Pick clothes that will keep you warm from head to toe. Here is a quick check-list for you to consider:  

– Jackets lined with faux fur, and woollen sweaters are a must-have in Delhi winters. 

– Warm scarves, mufflers and beanies will keep your head warm. 

– Mittens for your hands, woollen socks for your feet and any thermal wear for your body, will keep you protected from the piercing cold. 

– Throw blankets can keep your chairs and sofas snug. 

– Get thick fleece blankets for your beds, warm rugs, and carpets for your floor to keep you insulted. 

– You should bring your electric room heater and/ or humidifier for those particularly chilly winter nights. 

Most winter clothes and linen are bulky and heavy. Once the temperature begins to rise, you will use them lesser. It will soon be time to put them all away. Given their sheer size, even after neatly folding them, your winter gear will call for a whole lot of storage space. Swap them out for your summer gear later. While prepare for a Delhi winter collect your clothes from storage. 

  

How to Store Clothes, Accessories and Linen 

Storing clothes in a storage unit requires a lot of care and attention. It is not just a matter of folding them and putting them in a box. These clothes are going to remain in storage for months together. When you open a box to take out your favourite warm jacket, the last thing you want to see are holes in it or mould on it. You can avoid damage to your clothes due to improper storage by following these simple steps. 

 
Step #1: Wash and Dry 

Never store dirty clothes. Smelly clothes only get smellier and attract moths and mould. Check every piece of clothing and linen that you are going to put into storage. Most of them can be washed at home, some may require dry cleaning. Get them cleaned according to requirement. You do not need to iron your clothes, but you must make sure they are perfectly dry before packing them. Moist clothes will get spoiled when packed and stored for days on end. 

 
Step #2: Fold or Roll 

Always fold your clothes and linen neatly when packing them. They take up less space this way. Bunched-up clothes not only take up extra space in storage but lose their shape when stored that way for weeks or months. Thin and light clothes can even be rolled and stored. This will give you more space for storage and when you open them out later, there will be fewer creases. If you have clothes that should not / cannot be folded, invest in a storage box that comes with a hanging rail. 

 
Step #3: Pack in Special Containers 

– Garment Bags: While a plastic bag seems like a great way to store your clothes, the better choice is garment bags. These bags are made of material that is better suited to store clothes. 

– Vacuum Bags: You can also choose vacuum bags to store clothes, especially all those bulky winter clothes and linen. However, you need to ensure the vacuum bags are suited for long-term storage. They can cause damage to the clothes if used for months together. 

– Plastic Boxes: The best option is to stack your clothes in plastic containers that can be sealed. Using airtight containers ensures the clothes do not gather moisture and that they do not lose their shape. 

– Hat Boxes: If you have hats and caps, putting them in hat boxes will ensure they do not flatten out. Do not stack too many hats or caps in one box. 

– Shoe Boxes: Polish and clean your shoes before they go into storage. Stuff them with paper to make sure they do not lose their shape. Do not cram several shoes in one box. If possible, get individual containers for each pair so they will be able to breathe. 

Precautions to take for Seasonal Storage 

When you decide to rent out a storage unit to put away seasonal items, you need to remember that the items that go in will stay there for at least three to four months. This means you need to take extra care while packing and stacking them.  

1. Clean all Items 

Dirty and grime attract bugs and rodents. Moisture leads to mould and fungus. Before putting your possessions in storage, they need to be cleaned and dried. Before packing, dry your summer clothes properly and store them, and start prepare for a Delhi winter. 

2. Repair Damaged Goods 

The items that you put into storage are going to stay there for a long time. The next time you take them out will be only when you need them. It is less stressful at the time of unpacking to find items in a fully functional state rather than in need of repair. 

3. Pack with Care 

Whether it’s clothes or furniture or electronic equipment, you need to pack them carefully before putting them in storage. Clothes need to go in specialised containers. Furniture needs to be wrapped in packing blankets. Decor and other small items need to be carefully placed in boxes such that they do not get damaged. Do not place electronic goods directly on the floor because the floor loses heat faster than the rest of the room. This can damage the items when left unattended through the winter. 

4. Use Insulation (if needed) 

If you are storing items through the winter, it is a clever idea to keep them insulated from the chilly weather. Wrapping items in a breathable fabric like cotton is best. Avoid using vinyl or plastic wraps that can trap moisture. For items stored in boxes, use packing peanuts for protection against damage as well as insulation. 

5. Stack Boxes with Caution 

When you stack your boxes vertically you get more storage space, but you run the risk of the stack toppling over or the boxes at the bottom succumbing to pressure. If you decide to stack them anyways: 

– make sure to keep the heavy, sturdy ones at the bottom. 

– stack in descending order of box weight (heaviest at the bottom). 

– leave at least two feet gap between the ceiling and the topmost box. 

– make sure the stack is not wobbly. 

– leave room around the stacks for you to walk around and access boxes easily. 

6. Choose a Climate Controlled Storage Room 

It is not enough to pack your items such that they are protected from the weather, the storage room must also be suitably ventilated. Goods must be stored on a platform above the floor to protect them from the cold and from sudden floods. While prepare for a Delhi winter, pack and store your summer gear gently. So that you can use them next summer. 

Do not wait for winter to come to open out your storage unit and take your winter gear out. Start packing your summer goods at October end or early November. You can start swapping summer and winter boxes. Air out your warm clothes, blankets, and rugs. Check for any damage and get them repaired. By the time it is December, and the temperature drops to 5 degrees Celsius, you and your home will be warm and cosy, and your summer stuff will be safely tucked away in your storage unit.