It’s fun to play retro games that were popular when gaming was still a young industry. Unlike modern data storage technology, however, video game cartridges can degrade and become unusable if they’re not stored properly. Whether you’re putting your collection in a storage unit because you don’t have room at home or you’re in the process of moving, here are two tips for safely storing video game cartridges long-term. Put in Individual Plastic Boxes The biggest enemies of video game cartridges are dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures. That’s because these cartridges are open ended, allowing particulates and other environmental elements access to unprotected electronic components. Before you place your games in storage, it’s essential that you clean them to remove existing dirt and put them in moisture-resistant plastic cases. You may be tempted to leave the cartridges in their original cardboard boxes. However, this is not an ideal solution for a couple of reasons. The cardboard won’t protect the cartridges from water, crushing, or impact damage. Second, some bugs are attracted to and feed on cardboard, which can lead them to damage your games. The only time storing the cartridges in their cardboard boxes is acceptable is if you’ll be putting them in a larger plastic bin. If you’ll be packing them in a cardboard or wood box, put the cartridges into individual plastic cases. Opt for a Temperature-Regulated Unit Extreme temperatures can also damage cartridges. If you live somewhere that gets extraordinarily hot or cold, it’s a good idea to get a temperature-controlled storage unit. The storage facility maintains these units at a steady temperature, usually between 55 and 85 degrees, to ensure stored items aren’t affected by intense hot or cold weather. The other benefit to using a temperature-controlled unit is to avoid wild swings in temperature and humidity. Dramatic temperature changes and excess humidity can cause moisture to condense inside plastic bins, which can ruin your games if you left the cartridges in their cardboard boxes rather than moisture-resistant plastic ones. As a bonus tip, you should use a moving and packing app that lets you create a list of items stored in the boxes and print out barcodes with that information on it. This will make it easier to find specific games later on, as all you’ll need to do is scan the barcode to see what the bin contains. This is a good option for large game collections. For more information about storing game cartridges long-term or to rent a storage unit, contact a facility such as Route 37...
read moreExperts estimate that the average American will move 11.7 times over the course of his or her life. Packing up your home not only creates a lot of stress, it can create a lot of waste as well. If you want to minimize the amount of waste created during your upcoming move, here are three tips you can use to ensure your move is as environmentally friendly as possible. 1. Use clothing to wrap breakable objects. Getting breakable objects (like dishware or collectible figurines) from your old house to your new house in one piece can be a challenge. While many people rely on bubble wrap to insulate breakable objects against damage during transit, bubble wrap can serve as a source of waste. Rather than relying on a product that you will just throw away once you have unpacked, try using clothing items to wrap your breakable objects instead. Clothing can provide the buffer that your breakables need to stay intact during transit while reducing the amount of garbage you generate during your next move. 2. Rely on suitcases and plastic totes instead of cardboard boxes. Moving boxes can serve as a significant source of waste during a move. If you are hoping to cut the number of disposable products you use during your upcoming move, try relying on suitcases and plastic totes instead of cardboard boxes to house your belongings. Filling suitcases with heavy items (like books or cutlery) will not only reduce waste, it could make the moving process a little less physically demanding. If your suitcases have wheels, you can simply roll them into your new home to prevent back and shoulder strain. Investing in some plastic totes to be packed during a move will provide you with additional storage space once you get settled into your new home. 3. Leave items in furniture drawers. Instead of removing all of the items from your furniture drawers, eliminate the need to box these items by moving the drawers while they are still full. You can take the drawers out of your furnishings, move the empty cabinets, then replace the drawers once the empty cabinet is on the moving truck. Not only will you eliminate the need for packing materials that will be thrown out once your move is complete, but you can save yourself some time by preventing the need to unpack items from boxes and organize your drawers when you arrive at the new house. Be sure that you are finding unique ways to use objects you already have around the house as packing materials to help you reduce the amount of waste your upcoming move will create. Click on the link for in-state moving companies or do an online...
read moreIf you are in the process of preparing for a long distance move, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that will need to be done. Sadly, making mistakes and oversights during this process can result in major damages to your property. Luckily, you can utilize the following couple of tips to help ensure that your next moving experience is as stress-free as possible. Have Outdoor Furniture Treated For Insects Your outdoor furniture can represent a sizable investment, and it is common for individuals to want to transport these pieces of furniture to their new homes. However, it can be a common mistake for individuals to overlook the need to treat these pieces of furniture for insects. Failure to do this step can allow insects to spread to your belongings for the interior of the house while these items are in the moving truck. When treating these pieces of furniture, you will want to use insecticides that can kill spiders, ticks, ants and fleas. After you have treated these items, you should consider wrapping them in plastic to help prevent the smell from the insecticides from containing your other possessions. Protect Your Possessions From Moisture Damage When moving a long distance, it is important to note that your possessions can be subjected to intense stresses while in the moving truck. Whether this is high temperatures or changing humidity levels, it is possible for electronics, art, and other sensitive items to be permanently damaged as a result of these problems. Luckily, you should be relieved to learn that there are some simple tips that you can follow to reduce the prevalence of this problem. One of the most effective will simply be to hire a climate controlled moving truck. These trucks are outfitted with sophisticated equipment that can keep both the temperature and humidity levels in the truck stable. For those that do not want to pay this additional fee, it may be possible to help protect your possessions from moisture damage by placing silica gel packets into the boxes with your items. A move can be an exciting time, but it can also be a remarkably stressful experience for someone to go through. By making sure to properly treat any outdoor furniture for insects before packing it and considering using a climate controlled moving truck, you may find that your possessions are able to avoid these routine sources of moving related damage. For further assistance, contact a local long distance moving company, such as Walsh Moving &...
read moreMoving an office business from one location to another can be a challenging task, especially if you want to make sure your business can reopen its doors quickly at its new location. If you are preparing for a move like this, you will need to select and hire a company that specializes in commercial moves. When you choose a company, you may want to find one that offers these three commonly needed services for office moves. Shredding Most office businesses store information and records on computer systems, but using a computer system does not completely eliminate the need for paper documents. As you get ready to move, you may discover that you have boxes of paper documents you do not need to keep. If these documents contain any sensitive or confidential information, you will not be able to toss the boxes in the trash. Instead, you will need to have the documents shredded, and you can talk to a commercial moving company about this. Some commercial movers might offer shredding services, and this could be extremely helpful during your move. If the movers will do this for you, it will eliminate the need to do the work yourself or hire a separate company to handle this important task. Electronics Recycling As you begin cleaning out your current office building to prepare for the move, you may also discover that you have a lot of old electronics you no longer need or want. Unwanted electronics should not be thrown in the trash, because these items contain materials (such as cadmium) that are hazardous for the environment. If you want to save time, you may want to ask your mover if they will take these items for you. If so, you could save time and effort by not having to bring them to a recycling company yourself. Furniture Installation Finally, you may want to look for a commercial moving company that offers furniture installation. This will be important whether you are keeping all the same furniture or purchasing all new furniture. If your moving company will assist you with this task, it will make your office move a lot easier and faster for you. Commercial moving companies specialize in moving all kinds of businesses, including office businesses, and they often offer services like the ones mentioned here. To learn more about the services available, contact a commercial mover in your area...
read moreIf you have a move coming up in the near future, you may be tempted to do it all yourself. This can be stressful and can mean that you won’t have help if something goes wrong. It’s best to hire a professional team so that you can better enjoy your moving day. Take a look at the following information to better understand the reasons as to why you should hire a professional moving team. Get the Job Done Quickly When you work with a moving team, you can utilize their experience and skills. If you choose to move on your own, it can take hours, if not days, to move. If you only have a short time period to get moved in and settled, it’s best to hire a professional moving company. They will get the job done well, but fast. Have Access to a Truck If you’re planning to do your own moving, you may not have the proper truck or vehicle. This may mean that you will have to ask around to borrow a vehicle off of friends. If you can’t find one, you may need to invest in a truck rental. Why not make the entire process easier and hire movers? They will have a truck ready to go. They will also handle loading and driving the truck, which can lessen stress. Having to drive a big vehicle in a new area can be overwhelming. Don’t Worry about Damage When moving your own items, it can be easy to break something because of your lack of experience. If you want to make sure that your belongings get to your new home safely, it’s best to work with professional movers. They know how to handle boxes correctly and also how to best pack up a moving truck to minimize damage. Get Access to Other Services By hiring movers, you can also get access to other benefits and services. These include quality moving supplies, such as packing tape, blankets, and boxes. Some movers also offer professional packing services. A team can come to you and do the work for you so that your items are safely stowed away. As you can see, it’s beneficial to hire movers for your upcoming move. If you want to be less stressed and make sure that you have a successful move, it pays to get help. If you have any questions or if you’re ready to discuss your moving needs, contact a local moving company today, like Wheaton World Wide...
read moreWhen you are planning to move out of your home and into a new one, whether it is something that you have been contemplating for months or something that has popped up as a last minute necessity, it can be a challenging and stressful time. However, what you may not realize is that the stress is not just yours but also can affect your pets. And because you cannot just sit a pet down and explain the situation to them, you should get to know some of the steps that you can take to try to minimize the stress on your pets and to keep them safe and happy during the moving process. Try to Keep Clutter and Blocked Walkways to a Minimum Your pets can get stressed out easily if they cannot navigate your home as they are accustomed to doing on a regular basis. As such, you will want to try to keep the clutter and blockages in your home to a minimum. While you will be packing up and need room for boxes try to start stacking your boxes in areas that you and your pet do not frequent. If you can, start by packing up closets in spare rooms or hallways. Once those items are packed, you will have extra space in the closets to put boxes of items from other areas of your home. Storing the boxes out of the way will minimize disruptions and confusion for your pet. You may also want to leave a designated area that is specifically for your pet untouched until the day of your move. You can keep a pet bed, their food and water dishes, toys, and any other items that they could want and need in that area. And because you will not pack anything from that area until the day you move, they will have comfort and familiarity in at least part of your home. Have Your Pet Stay With A Friend Or Family On Moving Day And The Days Just Before As your packing continues and your house becomes more and more in disarray, your pet will suffer more and more stress and anxiousness as a result. If at all possible during the final days of your packing process and on the actual day that you move, you may want to have your dog go stay with a good friend or a family member. If they do not see their home being taken apart and taken away, they will suffer fewer negative consequences and will not be as stressed. Many pets may fear that they are going to be left behind when their owners move and they begin to behave in odd ways. This can lead to them getting out and running off on moving day as the door to your home will be opening and closing repeatedly throughout the course of the day. In order to best minimize the possibility of your pet getting out or getting hurt because they are in the way while you are moving your possessions, they should not be in your home while this is occurring. If you have many possessions to move, consider hiring last minute movers to help you out so that you and your pet can get settled into your new home as soon...
read moreRefrigerators and stoves can be pretty expensive to replace. Thus, if you’re putting these large appliances into a storage unit, you want to make sure you take the time to prepare them properly so they emerge intact and ready to use again. Here are a few tips for preparing each of these large appliances for time in a storage unit. Refrigerators You must make sure your fridge is spotless and free from bacteria on the inside, or else it will emerge smelling absolutely unappetizing. Start by removing all of the drawers and shelves. Clean these separately in a mixture of bleach and water. Be sure to scrub away any caked-on debris, and then let them sit somewhere until they are completely dry. Use the same bleach and water mixture to wipe out the entire fridge. Spend plenty of time on the gaskets, since mold and spilled liquids tend to accumulate here. If there is caked-on grime in your refrigerator, sprinkle a little baking soda on it, and then tackle it with an old toothbrush. When you’re finished, wipe away the baking soda with your bleach water. Then, unplug the fridge (if you have not already) and let it sit open for a whole day before putting the shelves and drawers back inside. You want to make sure all traces of moisture are gone so you do not end up with mold. Put a big, open box of baking soda inside to help absorb any residual odors, and shut the door. Make sure you keep the fridge upright during transport and storage so the coils do not become damaged. Tape the door shut with duct tape to keep rodents from making their way inside. Stoves/Ovens Run your oven’s self-cleaning cycle a day or two before you plan to put it in storage. When the self-cleaning cycle is complete, wipe the whole oven out with a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water. This will remove any last traces of ash or grime so they don’t attract any pests in storage. To clean the burners and drip pans, remove them from the stove completely. Scrub the drip pans with some baking soda and water to remove any caked-on grime. If you cannot get them clean, consider just tossing them out and purchasing new ones when you remove the stove from storage. (Drip pans are only a few dollars apiece.) Wipe the burners themselves down with disinfectant wipes or a bleach-water solution. Even the smallest traces of spilled food can attract bugs. When you’re done cleaning, let your oven dry completely. Then, stuff it with newspaper. This will keep the grates and heating elements from rattling around too much during transport. Wrap a shower curtain or another thick sheet of plastic over the top of the stove to keep dust from falling into the burners. If you follow the steps above, your stove and refrigerator should emerge from storage in perfect working condition. Click here for more information on self...
read moreAn absolutely essential part of any disaster bug out plan is the bug out vehicle. A bug out vehicle is what you will be using in the event of a disaster to flee the area and get to safety until the disaster is resolved. Listed below are three vehicle types to consider when creating your bug out plan. SUV SUVs are often among the most popular choices when it comes to disaster planning because of their versatility. An SUV is not only capable of transporting a lot of supplies to keep you stocked up on food, water, medication, and fuel until the disaster has passed, but it can also carry more passengers to safety than most other types of passenger vehicles. This is especially useful if you have a large family that you will want to take with you when you bug out. An SUV is also a great choice if you want to make sure that your supplies are protected. Since an SUV will carry most of its cargo inside the cabin, the weather will not be able to ruin all of your supplies. In addition, the cabin will also serve to hide the supplies from desperate or unscrupulous people who may want to steal them. Truck A truck is another popular choice with many disaster preppers because it is hard to find a vehicle that has more cargo capacity or that is as durable. In many cases, a truck is going to be able to survive rougher driving conditions than most other vehicles, which makes it ideal if you want something that is reliable enough to keep going even during a disaster. In addition, the open bed that a truck has will be able to transport more cargo than even most large SUVs. Hatchback Finally, a hatchback can be quite useful as a bug out vehicle because it can provide some of the same benefits as the other two vehicle types listed but in a smaller package. While many hatchbacks cannot hope to match the cargo capacity of an SUV or truck, they can transport a surprisingly large amount of cargo. In addition, there are hatchbacks on the market that are also very capable of handling rough terrain because they were designed with off-road driving in mind. These features combined with better fuel economy means that this vehicle type should not be overlooked by any disaster prepper. Stop by your local auto dealership (like Hertz Clifton-Passaic Rent A Car) in order to check out the many vehicle options that you can add to your disaster plan. Trucks, SUVs, and hatchbacks are all great options that can help you get your loved ones to safety during a disaster...
read moreIt doesn’t take long for your little one to outgrow the items that he or she has. In fact, it often seems like as soon as your baby finally gets a certain toy down, they outgrow it and need something new. In the event that you’re planning on another child, or you would like to save your baby gear in case a friend or family member may get some use out of the gear in the future, you may want to consider storing these items for later. However, before you throw everything into a local storage unit, you need to first consider a few things. 1. Check Current Safety Recommendations and For Recalls. Health and safety recommendations for baby products occur rather frequently, which makes it easy to miss that your high chair no longer meets current safety recommendations. So, before you pack anything away, double-check to ensure that your items still adhere to the current and most up-to-date safety regulations. You will also want to check these regulations again when you remove the items from storage. In addition, you will to make sure that your baby gear isn’t on a nationwide recall list. This can easily be checked on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website. This should also be done before and after storing. 2. Check Expiration Dates. Also, before you store something, make sure that it hasn’t already expired or it isn’t about to expire. An example would be car seats. Although it may meet safety regulations, your car seat is likely only good for several years. Usually, car seats only last for roughly six years after being manufactured. There should be a manufacturer label on the base or the side of the car seat that will show the expiration date. 3. Keep All the Accessories Together. No matter how simple a baby item is, it probably has at least a dozen different pieces that go with it. For example, play yards often come with a toy pouch, bassinet, mobile, canopy, carrying bag, and sometimes more. Before you store your gear, make sure you’ve taken the time to find all of the little pieces that go along with it so that you can store it all together inside the storage unit. Otherwise, if you wait to try to find all the pieces when you remove the gear from storage, you will likely be unable to find the pieces that you need. It is better to know ahead of time if you need to order a replacement piece than to have to throw the entire item away because you can’t find an integral accessory. 4. Clean, Sanitize, Then Store. Before you place any baby gear into a storage unit, make sure all items have been fully laundered, cleaned and sanitized. Your baby’s mouth has likely been on everything, which means that there are germs. Allow all items to dry thoroughly before putting into a self-storage unit to help prevent the development of mold and mildew. Batteries should be removed from electronics since they can leak and cause damage. For more information, contact Island Movers or a similar...
read moreHaving an online sales business that operates from your home can be a very lucrative way to earn some extra money. Many people across the country have taken what was once a hobby and turned it into a growing business. If you have recently started out and have run out of room for your inventory, a storage unit rental, at a location like American Storage, could be the solution to your problems. Here are a few tips that can make storing your inventory a little easier to do and easier to find what you need when your items sell. Find the Storage Unit The location of the storage unit will have a large impact on how easy it is for you to take care of business. Keep three things in mind – How easy it to get in and out of the facility? Traffic can sometimes make it impossible to get in and out easily. Where is it located? Is it close to your home or maybe the post office? Having a unit that is nearby to your home or the post office will reduce the number of miles that you have to drive to take care of things. Is access limited? Some facilities don’t allow access between certain hours. Find one that will allow you access during the times in which you need access. If you live in an area with extreme temperatures, choose a climate-controlled unit. This will protect all of your things from heat, cold and moisture damage and make it less uncomfortable while working in the unit during the dead of winter or the peak of summer. Organize your Inventory Before your inventory goes into the storage unit, take pictures, package, weigh and label the packages. Create a file on your computer that lists all of the inventory, includes the pictures, weights and inventory numbers. Once you have everything ready, take it to the storage unit and file it in a way that makes it easy for you to find what you need when the items sell. This could be by category or simply using the inventory numbers. Protect your Investment If you own a home, contact your homeowner’s insurance company to discuss protection on the items being stored in the unit. Many insurance policies include this type of protection but it may be limited. In some cases a rider will need to be added to the policy to protect you from loss if the unit should catch fire or get burglarized. If you have renter’s insurance, you will likely need to add a rider to the policy. Talk with your agent to learn exactly what needs to be done. Your business can continue to grow without taking over your home. Use a storage unit for your inventory and your growth potential is nearly...
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Retirement is great. What isn't so great is when you decide that your retirement should include a new home. That brings a whole lot of work, stress and decision making into the whole retirement thing. If this is something that you are currently, or will soon be experiencing, take some time to browse through my blog. My blog contains some tips, advice and information that can make your retirement move more fun and less work. If anything can help, it is taking the time to get organized, plan and invite your friends and family to help you get through this transition.