Summer is the perfect time for breaking your tent, RV, or camper out of storage and hitting the open road!

S’mores, fishing, hiking, and being one with nature are just a few of the activities calling your name this camping season.

Upstate New York offers a variety of camping opportunities. Some of the best campgrounds in New York are just a few hours away from New York City but offer a variety of experiences to fit your needs.

With over 8,500 campsites in New York state parks alone, how do you narrow down what campground will best fit your needs?

First, evaluate what you want out of a camping trip.

How do you like to camp?

Maybe you are a rustic tent camper traveling with the bare minimum. Do you prefer to air on the side of “glamping” and rent a cabin? Are you traveling often with your big family and prefer to stay in your RV?

Some campgrounds provide sites for tenting and very little else. Others, such as RV campgrounds, accommodate everything from RVs to tents, pop-up campers, and cabin rentals. A few like the Adirondack Safari in Warrensburg even have yurts available to rent.

What kinds of activities do you want to do while camping?

Common camping experiences aren’t limited to campfire songs and hiking. Many campgrounds offer the chance to explore local spots in nature through tubing, fishing, canoeing, biking, or even just enjoying a nearby beach.

What do you want to see?  

In upstate New York, you can see everything from Niagara Falls to lakes or hills. A variety of landscapes are available in all seasons for you to explore. Wildlife, rushing rivers, and clear, starry skies are just a few options of scenery you could explore at some of the best campgrounds in upstate New York.

What kind of accessibility do you need?

If you are camping with someone who requires a different level of accessibility, make sure your prospective campground has those accommodations such as paved paths.

You can hardly go wrong with any of the campsites in upstate New York if you know what you want to get out of your camping experience.

Before traveling, be sure to explore the campground’s website for availability of campsites and activities in the area. Book your site well in advance to ensure a smooth experience.

Store Your Camping Gear at Safeguard Self Storage

At the end of your trip, be sure to check out a nearby Safeguard Self Storage location to keep your camping equipment safe and out of your way until your next trip.

We have 28 convenient locations across New York, any of which could be close to your favorite destination. Our helpful space estimator tool can help you determine what size unit you’ll need to store your tents, camping chairs, and backpacks until you hit the road again. Rent or reserve today!

COVID-19 has changed the way we do everything these days, including how we educate our children. With many schools closing their doors, more and more children are learning from home through distance learning and virtual classes. Distance learning is a new thing to a lot of parents and teachers, and not everything will go smoothly at first.

Thankfully, with help from Safeguard Self Storage in Plainview, NY, you can figure out how to keep things streamlined and organized in Nassau—making distance learning a much easier and less stressful process for you and your kids.

Distance Learning: Tips to Keep Things Organized

Create a schedule on a dry-erase board.

If your child is participating in distance learning, it is so much easier to keep track of things if you can see it all in front of you. A dry-erase board comes in handy for tracking homework assignments, times to attend virtual lessons, daily scheduling, and more. You can add and erase things as needed and have the board mounted on the wall by your child's workspace, keeping all the information in view and preventing you from guessing what's due today or what your child needs to complete by tomorrow.

Label plastic totes for specific school items.

Everything is easier to find when it is put in a dedicated spot and labeled correctly. Plastic bins and storage totes come in many different sizes and are best used for storing magnets, colored pencils, flashcards, and other school supplies. Invest in a few plastic bins for your child's crafts and accessories while distance learning. Set them in a dedicated spot like a storage cabinet, beside a desk, or in the closet to keep things out of the way but easily within reach.

Get all the distractions out of the way.

Having virtual classes at home means having your child's toys, video games, TVs, and other distractions in the way. It is important to create a dedicated spot for distance learning and to put those things far away from the area to keep your child focused on schoolwork. A cluttered work environment is not beneficial to your children's education, so you may want to move excess clutter to a Nassau self storage unit in Plainview if you want to give them a clutter-free spot while they are learning at home.

How Nassau Self Storage In Plainview, NY, Can Help Distance Learning

Storage units are your best friend when it comes to creating a space for distance learning and keeping things organized. At Safeguard, we offer a variety of Nassau self storage units in Plainview, NY, to help you organize a better learning environment at home for your children. Having a dedicated learning space for your children will help them to be more successful while attending online classes and doing all their schoolwork from home.

What are the benefits of riding a bike? Why is riding a bike good for the environment? Now is a great time to ask and answer both questions because May is National Bike Month. All across New York, people are pulling their wheels out of their Safeguard self storage unit and gearing up for beautiful riding weather.

Why Is Riding a Bike Good for the Environment?

Your bike doesn't run on fossil fuels, so it doesn't emit greenhouse gases. When you ride it out of self storage, you don't have to stop and buy gasoline to fill it up and that helps reduce global fuel consumption!

Riding a bike expands your eco-friendly footprint by keeping you off the city's congested streets. It also helps hold down noise pollution. Every time you take your bicycle instead of the car, you're giving the planet a much-needed break.

What Are the Health Benefits of Riding a Bike?

At its core, riding a bicycle is so much fun! It's also easy to forget that it's great exercise, too. Riding your bicycle helps improve balance, flexibility, and muscle strength. The cardio workout keeps your circulatory system in top shape. Think about your bicycle as a gym on wheels. A cruise down one of the city's bike paths lowers stress, increases resistance to heart disease, and even helps you sleep better.

Beneficial Bike Rides with a Bonus

You enjoy knowing that you're doing your best for the environment and your health. Make it even better by adding these extra benefits that come with riding your trusty bicycle out of self storage.

• No fuel costs, low maintenance, and affordable repairs
• Easy parking close to your destination's front door
• Waving at traffic jams as you cruise down the bike lane
• The fun of riding your bike with friends and family

How Can You Raise Bicycle Riding Awareness?

Make the most of May by spreading the word about National Bike Month. Round up fellow cyclists and form a riding club. Take advantage of the beautiful spring weather by exploring new bike trails in city parks. Share the fun with a hashtag that celebrates bicycle appreciation.

Why Do You Need Bicycle Storage in New York?

Your bike deserves a better home than your apartment foyer or the cramped corner of your studio. Here at Safeguard Self Storage in New York, we can keep your wheels in tip-top shape with climate-controlled units and facility-wide security features. We're always just around the corner with 24 convenient New York locations, too. Cruise on by the nearest Safeguard facility to discover our convenient self storage solutions!

With the recent sewage floods displacing hundreds of people in Massapequa, NY, learning how to file a natural disaster claim with your insurance company is crucial to protecting your home and belongings. Safeguard Self Storage is here with tips on how to file a claim and reasons why a storage unit can protect your belongings.

How to File a Water Damage Insurance Claim

If your home and belongings have water damage, don't wait to file an insurance claim. We have a few tips to get you started on the process:

• Secure your belongings from further damage.
• Make an inventory of your damaged items.
• Record a video of the damage so that you have proof.
• Review your insurance policy to see what steps to take.
  

Natural Disaster: The Benefits of a Storage Unit

It secures your valuables from moisture damage.

When you store your belongings with us, they stay protected from flooding and other natural disasters. Our units are also secured with locks and have video surveillance, so you won't have to worry about other threats while your stuff is in storage.

It has climate-control options.

Climate-controlled units are the ideal choice for storing your belongings. They keep the interior at a consistent temperature and protect your items from heat, cold, and humidity damage.

It provides storage while you're in-between living spaces.

If the New York floods have displaced you, you can rest easy knowing that your belongings are kept safe and secure while you're in-between places. Once you're ready to move back home, you can pick up your belongings and take them with you.

Protect Your Belongings With a Storage Unit

It's important to file an insurance claim if the flooding in Massapequa, NY, has affected your home. If you want to protect your belongings from water damage in the future, Safeguard Self Storage can help. Our Massapequa storage units will protect your items from flooding and keep them safe while they're stored away from home.

Are you moving but don't have any cardboard boxes? Don't worry. There are plenty of ways to pack up all your belongings even if you only have a box or two. Whether you're moving out of town or to a new place in Massapequa, NY, Safeguard Self Storage has some tips on how to handle your moving with ease.

How to Pack Without Cardboard Boxes

Use your dresser drawers.

Don't just put the dresser on the moving truck. Take out all the drawers beforehand and fill them with your belongings. Obviously, you can store your clothes in the drawers, but you can also store various kitchen supplies, knickknacks, and more. Once the dresser is on the truck, put the drawers back in place and head out on the road.

Plastic tubs come in handy.

Plastic tubs are available in many different sizes and come with lids to help keep your belongings in place. They're also easy to stack in storage and can hold a lot of items without buckling or breaking. If you purchase a few when you move, make sure to buy the clear bins. You'll be able to see your belongings inside, which makes it easy to find what you're looking for if they're kept in storage units for a while.

A pillowcase will hold a lot.

Don't laugh, but pillowcases can be great go-to moving supplies for a lot of people. They're useful for packing up clothes, kids' toys, throw pillows, and other items. Of course, you'll need a lot of pillowcases if that's all you're planning to use. If you've run out of boxes, don't hesitate to strip your pillows of the cases and use them for a few of your belongings.

Still need boxes? Buy them from Safeguard

If you're still having trouble packing up your belongings, you can handle all your moving needs in one fell swoop at Safeguard Self Storage in Massapequa, NY. We have a variety of moving supplies available on-site as well as affordable storage units if you need to store some things for a while. You can buy moving boxes and use our carts and dollies to help make your life easier. Packing Supply Special: Purchase 10 items or more and receive a 10% discount on your merchandise.

It's fall again in East Tremont, NY, and that can means that it's time to winterize your motorcycle. You don't want it to rust over when it sits for months on end. Before you follow our tips for prepping your bike, make sure to take a few bike rides this fall. It's a lovely time of year for riding. Once you're ready to park it, check out Safeguard Self Storage for competitively priced motorcycle storage.

3 Tips for Winterizing Your Motorcycle

Fill the tank with treated fuel.

There are two types of winterizers: People who fill their tanks and those who empty them. We recommend filling your tanks with treated fuel if it's going to sit all winter long. Although a full tank can put stress on the petcock, an empty tank causes dry seals. Fill it up, and have a full tank to hit the road in the spring.

Cover it with the appropriate tarp.

Even if you park your bike inside for the winter, it's a good idea to cover it with a tarp or other breathable sheet. After all, you don't want dust or other debris to build up on your investment. Covering it will also protect the paint and exposed parts from scratches if you have kids playing near the bike or if it's parked near tools or the car.

Plug up the pipes and holes.

You know what else likes to hunker down for the winter? Mice. You don't want your bike to become a haven for mice when it's parked for several months. Make sure to plug up areas like the exhaust pipes and the air intakes to keep mice from building nests inside. If you're worried about rodents, our storage units keep out unwanted pests while protecting your bike until spring.

Motorcycle Storage at Safeguard Self Storage

Self storage is the perfect option for keeping your bike protected during the winter. It'll stay inside where it's protected from the snow and bitter elements. Our storage units in East Tremont, NY, are easy on your wallet and come in handy if you lack the space for storing your bike at home.

NOTICE: Motor bikes may not be run at any time while inside of the storage facility. In addition, motor bikes must be free of any leaks before they can be stored inside of a storage unit.

Your car really prefers the garage. Too many bad things can happen when it's parked on the street. It's exposed to the weather, vandalism, and bird droppings—to name a few.

The garage is your best bet for car storage, but affordable storage units in Bridgeview, IL give you convenient alternatives. Giving your car a temporary home away from home just takes a little pre-planning.

Size Up Your Options

You might be headed out for an extended vacation. Perhaps you're in the military and need to store the car long-term. You may just want to get it off the street and into a safer spot.

Self storage offers options for every situation. If you want to leave the car in storage for a month or two, our Bridgeview facility features drive in storage units and outdoor parking.

Talk with our facility management team. Ask about their recommendations. They can also fill you in on details about title, registration, and insurance requirements.

Get Your Wheels Ready

The best storage units for cars provide a dependable area for parking. Make sure your wheels are in top shape and ready for self storage with these simple steps:

• Wash and wax the car before putting it in storage. This prevents dirt and air pollutants from corroding the paint.
• Fill the gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer. Both reduce the chance of moisture forming in lines.
• Top off antifreeze, brake fluid, and change the oil. These steps should keep the car ready to hit the road.

Make Your Car Comfortable

To make your wheels comfortable for the short term or the long haul, make sure not to forget these steps:

• Don't set the parking brake. Pads can fuse with rotors if they're in constant contact over time.
• Prevent flat spots on tires by putting the car up on jack stands.
• Use steel wool to keep pests out of the exhaust pipe and air intakes.
• If you're storing the car in an outside space, protect it with a weatherproof cover.

It's Ready to Go When You Are

When car storage at home gets complicated, trust Safeguard in Bridgeview, IL to take good care of your wheels. Just leave the car with us. It'll be ready to go when you are.

It's not the most expensive model on the street, but it's yours. You ride that faithful bicycle through Valley Stream, NY, every day. Whether it gets you to work or around Hendrickson Park, it's a target for thieves.

Three Tips to Protect Your Bike from the Worst

Keep It Secure

It's not enough to just lock up the bike. Public parking puts it out in the open where it's vulnerable to bike thieves.

These strategies can upgrade your bike protection:

• Double your bike's security with a cable and a U-lock.
• Lock the frame and one wheel to something immovable.
• Avoid smash-and-grab thefts by keeping locks off the ground.

Make the Most of Your Locks

Quality bicycle locks give you extra peace of mind. Better equipment also holds up longer to daily use.

Make the most of your locks with simple security tactics:

• Key holes facing down discourage lock tampering.
• Position a U-lock so that its open area is difficult to access.
• Run a cable from the frame through the front wheel and back.
• Secure the rear wheel triangle to a stand with a U-lock.

Look Before You Leave

Look at where you're parking the bike. If you wanted to steal it, would the location make your job easier? Moving it down the block to a busier spot can make a big difference. Most commercial store fronts have outside security cameras. Take advantage of that public surveillance.

Don't leave the bike outside a place that advertises your absence. Thieves notice wheels parked in front of movie theaters. Do lock up your ride in the middle of a crowded rack. It's harder to access, but that works for you because it works against bicycle theft.

Use Our Bonus Power Tip

Our three tips help keep your bike safe while you're out, but we have one more bonus power tip: Give your ride a secure home in self storage.

A storage unit allows you 24/7 access to the bike. Climate control helps it weather our New York winters. High-tech surveillance ensures your bike's security. You have extra room for riding gear and affordable unit space for sharing.

Keep It Secure with Us

You and your wheels deserve a long future together. Keep it secure with storage solutions here in Valley Stream, NY, and multiple locations across the city. When you want the best for your bike, you can count on Safeguard Self Storage!

You're proud to be the keeper of the archives. Every picture of family, friends, and favorite places deserves to last forever. Digital shots are fine, but your passion belongs to old-school photography. Yonkers, NY storage units belong in your plans to preserve those picture-perfect treasures.

Photographs Love Self Storage

Carefully developed and printed photographs can last more than 50 years in the right environment. Extend that life expectancy by storing them in a climate controlled unit. Humidity levels stay constant at around 50 percent, and temperatures stay photo-friendly between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Your old-school process involves attention to detail. A storage unit preserves your hard work and keeps it off closet shelves at home. Secure storage is ideal for archiving your latest pictures and photos that date back generations.

They Don't Like Polyvinyl

If you know your plastics, you know the important role they play in long-term photograph storage. Polyvinyl sheets in albums contain adhesives that damage pictures. Avoid this material by storing photographs in sleeves and albums made with acid-free paper and PVC-free plastic. Use these tips to take extra care of your collection.

• Don't store older, damaged photos with new ones.
• Buy archive-grade supplies at a photography shop.
• Separate boxed photos with sheets of acid-free paper.
• Never write on the back of your photographs.
• Keep analogue film stored in original canisters.

Equipment Appreciates Storage Too

Your devotion to traditional photography needs room to grow. Treat cameras and lenses to the usefulness of self storage. One small unit can easily hold your photo archives and equipment collection. Just follow these simple storage rules.

• Remove batteries from cameras, flashes, and meters.
• Always remove memory cards from digital cameras.
• Carefully clean lenses, cap each end, and store upright.
• Clean camera bodies with canned compressed air.
• Place bubble wrap around small equipment before boxing.

Leave the Darkroom at Home

While storage is great for lots of photography things, it’s just not the place for a darkroom. Storage facilities prohibit storing chemicals on site. Leave your darkroom at the house in a well-ventilated area where you know you can work safely.

Keep Your Passion Close and Safe

When you keep pictures and equipment in secure self storage, your passion stays close and safe. Our Safeguard location in Yonkers, NY is just one of multiple facilities across the region. We're always around the corner with perfect spaces for preserving your treasures. Reserve a unit with us today!

Between work and the house, you always stay busy here in Valley Stream, NY. Nearby storage units cater to your schedule with everyday access, multiple locations, and online account management. You can actually upgrade that storage experience by making it even more convenient. Try these time-saving ideas for getting in and out of your unit. 

Optimize as You Organize 

Retrieving something from self storage doesn't have to turn into a scavenger hunt. Save valuable time by setting up a system that keeps you organized coming and going. 

• Don't overstuff boxes. When they're filled to the brim, they slow down sorting and searching.
• Detail box contents with big, color-coded labels applied to tops and all four sides.
• Keep boxes the same size so that they're easier to rearrange when you're in a hurry.
• Make a master list of stored items, print out a hard copy, and post it inside the unit.

Maximize Unit Space 

Affordable storage units come in all sizes, but you can always maximize floor space. By making the most of a unit's layout, you ensure you can get in and out in record time. 

• Leave pathways between stacks. Wide aisles let you safely move things with room to turn around.
• Store boxes you access often in the front of the unit. Stack them so that you can see labels with a quick glance.
• Group similar things together. Keep a grid map of your storage zones in the unit for easy reference.

Do More With Power Tips 

Whether you use the unit for business inventory or hobby supplies, you want every stop to be time-efficient. Take organizing and layout strategies over the top with these storage power tips:

• Lease a unit located along your regular route. This works especially well for business storage.
• Make repacking boxes a priority. Accurate box labels and a unit map help quickly locate things.
• Upgrade your unit size. Extra space gives you room to easily move items in and out.
• Take advantage of smartphone apps that allow storage facility access.

Save Time With Us

It's our job to make sure you have a great storage experience, and we're proud to serve you with the best storage units in Valley Stream, NY. You can always count on Safeguard Self Storage to help you save time with multiple locations across Long Island and the surrounding boroughs.