When winter weather hits Germantown, PA, seasoned locals hit their storage units. It's time to bring home snow shovels and ice hockey gear. As you get ready for our next freeze, make sure your house is ready too with these smart tips for winterizing the homestead.

How to Prep Your Home for Winter Weather

Protect Patio Furniture

Don't let freezing rain and snow damage outdoor furniture. Move patio chairs, tables, umbrellas and grills to self storage. Save unit space by stacking the chairs.

Park Lawn Equipment

Lawn mowers and edgers don't winter well out in the garage. Climate controlled storage units (heated and air conditioned) keep lawn equipment safe until spring. Be sure to properly prep and drain motors before storing.

Secure the Shingles

A little handyman work on the roof can stop rainy weather from leaking into the attic. Secure loose shingles and check flashing around the chimney and vents.

Seal Doors and Windows

Upgrade the weather stripping around all exterior doors. Use your hands to detect drafts around windows and frames. A quick touch-up with the caulking gun keeps winter weather outside.

Don't Forget the Garage

The garage is great for stashing things, but it's not winter-proof like climate controlled self storage. Make sure garage doors close tightly and replace worn-out weather seals at the bottom of the doors.

Check Concrete Surfaces

A tiny crack in concrete can turn into a big problem when it repeatedly absorbs water, freezes and thaws. Seal cracks in your driveway, sidewalks, patio, and porch steps with masonry caulk.

Winterize Wood Decks

Test your deck's seal against the elements by dousing it with water. If a splash beads up, the wood can handle bad weather. If the water soaks in, winterize the deck by cleaning it and sealing it against snow and ice.

Inspect Foundation Drainage

Walk the ground close to your home's foundation. Look for areas that don't drain properly. Adjusting the grade helps prevent water accumulation that exerts pressure on concrete walls.

Check Snow-Busting Supplies

Check your DIY snow removal equipment to make sure everything's in good shape. Stock up on rock salt so that you're ready to break the ice on driveways and sidewalks.

Stay Secure Inside

One you've secured the outside of your home, stay secure inside by testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you need extra room for winterizing supplies, Safeguard Self Storage has space to spare. We're here for you year-round with the best storage units in Germantown, PA, and six more locations across Philadelphia.

It's not hard to put off a big job like decluttering your home, but this is a project that's actually good for you. Nearby storage units in Philadelphia, PA, make it easy to stay motivated, clean up the house, and enjoy these 10 healthy benefits

10 Benefits of Keeping Your Home Free of Clutter

You're Less Anxious

When things pile up all around you, it feels overwhelming. Decluttering your space creates a calming sense of order. Eliminating visual noise eliminates anxiety.

It Increases Creativity

All the rooms in your cluttered home look like overcrowded storage units. It makes you step back, think, and figure out creative ways to establish control and stay on track.

You Build Confidence

You're making decisions and solving problems. Cleaning up the house puts you in charge of the situation. The work teaches you that you can handle tough jobs.

You Save Time

Imagine not digging through messy drawers for that one important thing. Picture breezing through closets as you reorganize clothes. A decluttered house is a big time-saver.

It's Easier to Concentrate

You don't realize how badly clutter creeps into your peripheral senses until it's gone. A clean home sets you free to concentrate on things you care about.

You Set a Good Example

When you clean up clutter, you're showing the kids how it's done. When you get them involved in the process, you're helping them develop organizational skills.

Everyone Is Safer

Too many boxes on closet shelves turn into avalanches. Kids' toys all over the floor turn into tripping hazards. Decluttering helps your family stay safe.

Everyone Breathes Easier

Clutter collects dust, dander, pet hair, and insect debris. Getting rid of it keeps airborne pathogens out of your HVAC system. You and your family breathe easier.

You Can Do Good for Others

Not all clutter belongs in the trash. Donate items you don't need or want any longer to local charities. Area organizations are always grateful for items like clothes, books, and even old knickknacks.

Feeling Positive Feels Great

You've taken control. You've made a huge difference. Clutter doesn't rule your home anymore. Enjoy the sense of accomplishment. You deserve every ounce of pride you feel for taking care of a very big job.

We're Happy to Help

When you're ready to conquer clutter, our Safeguard Self Storage team in Philadelphia, PA, is happy to help. We're always here for you with storage units sized for every type of clutter cleanup project.

Nothing rallies your traveling spirit like the call of a summer road trip. Nothing lets you cruise down the highway like your vacation home on wheels. It's time to get the RV out of your Safeguard Self Storage unit in Philadelphia, PA, and get on your way to one of these must-drive summer destinations.

The Sunshine State

Start in southern California with rock climbing adventures in Joshua Tree National Park. Head north for dry camping at Lake Tahoe. Enjoy the fishing, but save your energy for covering all 1,170 square miles of Yosemite National park.

Sin City Campgrounds

Yes, you can take a road trip to Las Vegas and bypass the slot machines. Think outside the casino as you cross Hoover Dam. Stay in an RV campground on the shores of Lake Mead. If you want to play within betting distance of Vegas, park your rig at a Red Rock Canyon campsite.

Old Faithful's Home

Every family vacation should include cheering on the world's most famous geyser. Old Faithful always impresses. It's just one of the reasons to drive your RV through Yellowstone National Park. Add white water rafting and wildlife safaris to your list of Yellowstone quests.

Historic New England

Upgrade the antique collection in your storage unit with a summer RV trip through New England. Browse historic shops on Rhode Island's shores in Newport. Indulge in luxury RV glamping outside Wolfeboro Falls in New Hampshire. Wrap up your trip with shopping, golfing, and hiking around beautiful Naples, Maine.

Gulf Coast Beaches

Take it easy with Southern style as you take in summer beaches along the Gulf Coast. Start with Padre Island in Texas. Ease on over to Louisiana's Grand Isle State Park. Sail down the highway to Buccaneer State Park in Mississippi and Dauphin Island in Alabama. Finish with a splash at Pensacola, Florida.

The Original Route 66

It's the ultimate road trip for lovers of roadside attractions large, small, and strange. This famous highway between Chicago and Los Angeles slides under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and past the Texas Cadillac Ranch. Salute the Grand Canyon's glory as you continue on to the City of Angels.

Premium RV Parking

When summer rolls to an end, let Safeguard Self Storage serve as your RV's home away from home, with vehicle storage in Philadelphia, PA, on Rhawn Street and other locations. We take good care of your wheels with parking or a storage unit that perfectly fits your rig. You can always count on us for RV parking regardless of the season. Reserve a unit today!

You daydream about power walks across Ben Franklin Bridge and speed biking along Cobbs Creek. You imagine sunny yoga sessions under blue skies on the Schuylkill Banks.

Once the weather warms up, you can exercise outdoors and stash excess equipment in self storage. Our Philadelphia, PA winters don't last forever, so start planning now for packing up the home gym and taking your workouts outside.

Prep and Store Like a Pro

Break out the microfiber cloth, give everything a good cleaning, and size up how much storage space you'll need. Check out square footage options online to determine which storage units are the best fit for your fitness gear. Use these six power tips to prep and store workout equipment like a pro.

Follow Your Treadmill Manual

Reference your owner's manual for details on cleaning the treadmill motor and lubricating parts. Keep it covered in storage, and resist the temptation to stack boxes on its walking belt.

Detail Your Stationary Bike

A little detailing keeps stationary bike parts stable in self storage. Apply spray lubricant to the chain, handlebars, seat posts, pop-pins, and pivots. Don't forget the flywheel where it makes contact with brake pads.

Clean Weights Carefully

Clean metal weights with warm water and dish soap. Polish chrome surfaces with WD-40, and let everything thoroughly dry. Climate-controlled storage is always best for metal weights.

Balance Heavy Kettlebells

Their heavy weight and round shape can make kettlebells unstable in storage. Keep them safely balanced on racks and trees designed specifically for this type of strength-training gear.

Stabilize Balance Balls

Climate-controlled storage units protect balance balls from temperature fluctuations and high humidity. Keep them stable by nesting them in piles of old sheets away from other items with sharp edges or corners.

Round Up the Small Stuff

Ab wheels, pull-up bars, jump ropes, and resistance bands don't take up much room, but why leave them underfoot? You're finally recovering floor space, so round up the small stuff and stash it in storage. Use freestanding hat racks to organize ropes and bands.

We're Here Regardless of the Season

While you wait for warm weather, keep on working out and daydreaming. You'll get to move your gear and reclaim your home turf before you know it. We're here to make it happen with seven locations and the best storage units in Philadelphia, PA. Regardless of the season, you can always count on us here at Safeguard Self Storage. Reserve a unit online today!

The City of Brotherly Love is a city that loves its art scene. Museum, stage, and club doors are wide open in Philadelphia, PA. Whether you paint, perform, or play, this is the place to be. Stay ready for anything, and keep the tools of your craft ready to go in self storage.

Historic Art Collections 

Imagine an exhibition of your latest work in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The world-renowned institution has shown the best in the city since 1876. Picture your canvas next to a Cezanne or Matisse at the Barnes Foundation. You'll be in good company with collections established in 1912. Until you're ready to hang your first show, protect the tools of your budding art career.

• Climate-controlled storage units keep canvases, stretchers, and easels in good shape year-round.
• Paper, sponges, and brushes last longer in air-tight containers stored in your unit.

Performing Arts Venues 

Perhaps you plan on auditioning for the Kimmel Center's next production. You might be the city's top tailor or seamstress ready to dress performers in small venues along Broad Street. This stretch became Philly's Avenue of the Arts through a miraculous revitalization during the early ‘90s. When the curtain goes up, be ready to hit the stage. 

• Wardrobe boxes are ideal for protecting costumes in your storage unit.
• Use wheeled shelving for organizing stored wigs, makeup kits, and small props.
• Keep sound and lighting equipment in storage until the next production.

Philly's Best Music Scenes 

If you sat in the Philadelphia Orchestra's original violin section, you were playing in 1900. Today, its musicians share the city's love with a different set of sounds. You might be one of those new talents lighting up the DJ scene along Vinyl Row on Fourth Street. Whether you're into tradition or electronics, take care of your equipment. 

• Climate-Controlled storage units are perfect for instruments like violins, guitars, drum sets and pianos.
• On-site security features such as computer controlled access, unit door alarms and digital video recordings add layers of protection for expensive turntable setups.
• Make it easy to make the next gig with extended access hours to instruments and equipment.

Your Personal Staging Space 

Wherever your talent shines in Philly, we're here to back you up with seven locations across the city. You can always count on Safeguard Self Storage as your personal staging space, with the best storage units available Philadelphia, PA.

While you may daydream about adding a room to the house, it’s not always easy to picture this dream becoming a reality. It may be even harder when it’s your attic. From Frankford and Germantown down to Grays Ferry, homes here in Philly have space to spare up in the attic. It's the perfect place for Philadelphia, PA homeowners to make over, and it's just overhead.

Plan It From Floor to Ceiling

Start pre-planning your upstairs transformation by looking at storage units near the house. Lease space for stashing attic stuff, move everything out, and break out the tape measure. If you have at least 70 square feet, seven feet from floor to ceiling and seven feet to move in any direction, you have room for an attic conversion. A construction contractor can advise you on reinforcing the floor with extra joists and subflooring.

Plan on adding windows for light and ventilation. They also double down as secondary fire exits. Help windows with air circulation by installing ceiling fans, and brighten up the attic with recessed LED fixtures. This is the best new room in the house for a skylight too.

Have Fun with Finishing Touches

Once you've done the heavy work, turn your attention to decorating details. Keep things simple by using the same paneling on walls and the attic ceiling. Keep things bright by painting with soft shades of white. Try these tricks to customize the space:

• Give the kids a spacious bedroom by placing their twin beds head to head along one wall.
• Reserve the attic as a private home office with desks tucked into dormer spaces.
• Expand the new area as a fashionista's personal studio with banks of wall mirrors.

Know Your Codes

Attic conversions are an exciting way to upgrade square footage, but always consult with a construction professional. They can explain applicable city building codes and neighborhood restrictions before you begin the job. Knowing details in advance saves time, money, and remodeling headaches. Recommended inspections before you get started include the foundation, framing, electrical system, and plumbing.

We Have Room to Spare

When you're ready to make attic daydreams come true, we can help, and we're just around the corner. Our seven Safeguard Self Storage facilities in Philadelphia, PA include storage units in Germantown, Frankford, and all across the city. Whenever you need extra space, we always have room to spare.

You've never entertained the entire family before, but you're living in a city of firsts. If Philly could publish the nation's first daily paper and open the country's first zoo, you can make history too. Just take the time to do a little holiday planning, and give yourself plenty of room with extra space in self storage. No need to worry, your Philadelphia, PA festivities are going to run smoothly.

Prepare for House Guests

Party planning doesn't take practice, but it does take an eye for detail. Clean house like a pro by dusting often-missed baseboards, air vents, and light fixtures. Freshen bathrooms with scented soaps and extra guest towels. Let climate-controlled storage units help you get your home ready for company. Give them closet space for coats and hats by hanging some of your things in your storage unit. It's the perfect place to park extra furniture so that everybody has room to enjoy the party. You can even use storage to hide holiday presents.

Make Them Part of Your Plans

Making your guest list is easy because it's family and close friends, but stay in touch with everyone through social media. This lets you update the gang on any changes in plans, and it gives you a way to reach out for a little help. Streamline cooking by asking several guests to bring different dishes. Are youngsters part of the party? Ask for volunteers to take turns keeping an eye on little ones during the celebrations. Be sure to kid-proof the house by moving breakables to self storage.

Keep It Fun and Drama-Free

Make everyone feel welcome by making them all a part of the festivities. Organize drama-free fun like playing old parlor games or singing seasonal carols. Get the grownups busy baking desserts, and let the kids decorate cookies. And keep backup ice in a cooler so that holiday cocktails stay fresh. Offer a variety of music so that everyone gets to hear their favorite tunes. Encourage turning off the smartphones and turning on conversations. It's your party, so you get to set the rules. Just do it with a big smile and a warm hug.

You're Making History

We want to add one more very important tip: Relax, and have fun. You're starting new family traditions with this first celebration, and you can always count on Safeguard Self Storage for help. We like making history easy with convenient storage units in Philadelphia, PA.

In Germantown, storage units and college students are natural partners – especially with a new semester just around the corner. Whether you're relocating from across the country or just across town here in Philadelphia, PA, nearby self storage can be one of the smartest moves you make all year.

Keep Everything Close

If you haven't thought about self storage options close to campus, take another look at the list of things you’ll have with you in your new dorm or apartment:

• Sheets, blankets, and bedspreads
• Towels, toiletries, and a shower curtain
• Dishes, cups, and cutlery
• Cleaning and laundry supplies
• Enough clothes to last the semester
• Furniture, electronics, and stacks of books

If there isn't room for everything, you can always buy what you need later. If you lease a storage unit, you’ll be able to keep all your stuff just a few blocks away from the new address.

Know Your Space

For whichever school you're headed for here in Philadelphia, PA (we have several), storage off campus makes the move easier. Check dorm room or apartment square footage ahead of time, and find out what kind of furnishings your new place does or doesn't provide. Use your pre-move research to sketch out a floor plan and work on different layouts. If you're sharing with a roomie, think about friendly, Feng Shui privacy options like curtain dividers. Know your designated space, and keep options open for different arrangements by keeping spare furniture in a storage unit.

Get It to Work for You

A storage unit works for you on so many levels. It's a great staging ground for moves in and out of dorms and apartments. Use it to park outdoor gear, stash seasonal clothes, and file important papers. Storage units are a perfect fit for busy student lifestyles, and they’re also easy on student budgets. Month-to-month leasing holds down costs and increases your mobility. You may even consider keeping your unit indefinitely for future moves between home and campus. With online account management and 24/7 access, you make your storage unit work for you while you work your way through another semester.

We Help You Make Smart Moves

You have plenty to do setting up a new home, so let us make everything a little easier. Our Germantown Safeguard Self Storage facility is located less than two miles from both the Philadelphia University and La Salle University campuses. We're just around the corner, with storage units ready and waiting for you to make your smartest move this year.

It seems like winter break only began yesterday, and now students must, again, focus on classes. For those attending Temple or other surrounding colleges in Philadelphia, PA, now's the time to start the new semester off right. Safeguard Self Storage wants to help students get off on the right foot this school season.

10 Ways to Getting Better Grades

1. Get Up, and Show Up

It's hard to get up after sleeping in during the break. The best way to learn the material and score better grades is to get up and go to class. If you can sacrifice your nightlife a few days a week, waking up early will be much easier.

2. Take It Head On

College is difficult. If you slack off, your grades will fall much quicker. Take charge, and put forth the effort – it will be worth it.

3. Know Your Limits

Overloading is never a good idea. Only take the hours you need. Otherwise, you might take on too much and get overwhelmed.

4. Research Correctly

Thank goodness for the internet. Learn some Google search tips to find what you’re looking for more efficiently. And skip out on the Wikipedia reference.

5. Invest In a Planner

With so much going on at college, it's easy to forget prior commitments or specific details of events. Get a calendar, and keep track of everything.

6. Choose Your Priorities

It's fun to hang out with friends, but if you have an important test the next day, skip the party. Figure out which parties you can go to and which you’ll have to give a rain check for.

7. Take Notes

Whether you work best on paper or on your computer, take notes to retain information. While writing notes is important, it’s not important to write down every word. Figure out how you learn best and only write down what you need to jog your memory. Class will be a lot less stressful, and you’ll actually remember more than you think.

8. Stay Positive

Having a positive attitude goes a long way. If you believe in yourself and your ability, you'll have the confidence to make better grades.

9. Use Your Textbook

Textbooks are dense with information and hard to read. But often, your professor chooses the textbook because it will actually help you grasp the concepts. Studying really does help.

10. Declutter your dorm.

A messy room causes distractions, and for many, causes environmental anxiety. Clean up your room and designate a specific place for studying. You’ll learn better in a fresh space.

Become the Best Student You Can Be

One of the best ways to start off the semester right is to organize your space. Consider moving your clutter to local storage units, where your items will be easily accessible. Our storage units in Philadelphia, PA come in a variety of sizes for packing away your clutter and helping to reduce your distractions this semester, so you can focus on getting your schoolwork done. 

If all the bikes in Philadelphia, PA hit the streets at the same time, you'd have the world's biggest pedal-powered urban safari. The City of Brotherly Love always welcomes bicycle lovers, so get your wheels out of self storage and ready to explore the best cityscape in Delaware Valley.

Baby Your Bike

Before you hit Philly's 435-mile network of dedicated lanes, baby that bike in your storage unit. Give it a good sponge bath with a biodegradable cleaner, inspect the brakes, and gauge tire pressure. Enlist a buddy to help test the drivetrain by raising and spinning the rear wheel while you shift gears. Take your well-tuned bike for a quick run around the block to be sure that it's ready for tour-adventure duty.

Make Fitness Fun

Bicycle for fun, but do it with fitness in mind. Our city's flat terrain makes it easy to navigate all 57 miles of trails that wind through Wissahickon Park. Take a relaxing ride on the healthy side of fun along Ridley Creek, or lap up the landscape as you pedal along the Schuylkill River Trail. The scenery is terrific, and the ride offers some of the best exercise you can get in 60 minutes.

Coast Through History

Explore Philadelphia's historic Revolutionary War sites from the comfort of your seat as you pedal through Valley Forge Park. Go solo, or join an organized tour that starts at Independence Mall and cruises past more than 10 celebrated city sites in just a few hours. Coast by Ben Franklin's home on your way to the Liberty Bell, and marvel at how much better history looks when you're riding a bike.

Sizzle Down South Street

Whether you're thirsty for a bike-fueled pub crawl or hungry for a fabulous food tour, South Street is your road to authentic Philly fun. Go with the gang, or conquer it alone, but start by exploring local taverns, favorite pubs and craft breweries. Bike responsibly, and then park for a hearty hoagie, choice cheesesteak or square pizza. Be sure to order some potato candy to snack on as you pedal back home.

You never run out of places to go and things to do when you bike around Philadelphia. You also never run out of great storage options for those wheels when you pedal to the nearest Safeguard Self Storage location.

From Germantown Avenue to Hunting Park, we're proud to be a part of your favorite bike-loving cityscape.