It’s not just all those dirty diapers that are putting a strain on our environment these days. Did you know that more than 183 million pieces of children’s clothing end up in the landfill each year? And with 90% of the toys on the market being made of plastic, it’s no wonder this is the most plastic-intensive industry in the world!
And it makes sense — after all, the speed at which babies grow into full-grown children is incredible! You can go from needing newborn size clothing to 24 month clothing in under a year. Your little one can outgrow their bassinet, car seat, and favorite bouncers in a matter of months. Perfectly good toys go untouched after only a few weeks of use.
So, what do you do with all of this stuff?
At Morningstar Storage, we understand how important recycling and reusing things can be to keeping waste levels low all across the planet. We love how impactful the practice of hand-me-downs and item reuse can be, especially when it comes to growing a family. That’s why our storage units are perfect temporary homes for all the things your baby no longer needs, but your family or friends may need in the future!
Whether your plans are to gift or sell them in the future or keep it for your growing family, here’s a step-by-step process for properly and safely storing those too-important baby items for future use at one of our convenient locations.
Step 1: Sort Into “Keep,” “Donate,” and “Trash” Piles
If there’s one thing that’s universally true about all babies, it’s that they can be messy at times! Unfortunately, not everything should be saved or stored, particularly if the item is irreparably damaged. Here’s a few things to consider when you’re going through everything and sorting it into different piles:
- Does it have all of its pieces or parts?
- Do you still have the instructions for more important items (like a car seat or crib)?
- Is it stained, ripped, or faded and unlikely to last?
- Did you utilize this item the first time?
- Is it good quality?
- How big is this item? (Bigger items take up more storage room!)
- Was it expensive enough to save or could you easily repurchase in the future?
- Does it expire and will it still be safe to use for future children?
For example, some items such as car seats can expire after a certain amount of time, or if they have been in an accident. Be sure to check the manufacturing date to ensure it will still be in good use when you need it in the future.
Step 2: Clean and Sort Items
Once you’ve weeded out anything that shouldn’t be saved for the future, take what is in the “keep” pile and begin to sort it in a way that makes sense for you. Next, it’s time to clear and inspect everything carefully before packing it away. Carefully wash and dry clothing, wipe down bigger toys and furniture or other items, and try to get them back into the best condition possible before it’s time for them to get boxed or bagged up.
Wooden and plastic items can be wiped down with an equal parts cleaning solution of water and vinegar. Disassemble car seats to clean their fabric covers and wipe away any food or grime that has built up beneath the seat. Wash and dry baby clothing, bedding, and bottles like you normally would.
Regardless of whether you’re keeping these clothes for your next baby or to donate (or sell) to someone else, be sure to give everything a good wash, dry, and then pack them into vacuum-sealed storage bags. This will help to take up far less space! Be sure to clearly label the box with important details such as general size and seasonality.
You definitely don’t want to store items that are dirty, have food stuck in or on them, or are even the slightest bit damp. Food and dirt can easily attract pests while your items are in storage, and any amount of moisture introduced in a closed space will grow and spread to other items nearby.
Step 3: Organize Items By Age
Now it’s finally time to pack things up! But how do we organize everything so we can easily find what we’re looking for when it’s in self-storage?
First, let’s categorize things — put clothing items in the same age range together and carefully mark the boxes indicating what size these items go up to. Group newborn items together, and then move on to 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, etc. Try to remember when you used certain things initially in order to add to that box for future use.
Disassemble toys and furniture where you can to save on space, but be sure to keep all parts and screws together and marked properly. Place larger items in the back of the unit (and be sure to wrap them to avoid scratching them!) and smaller boxes and easy-to-grab items towards the front where you can easily see them. Never pile boxes on top of anything unstable or delicate, especially if it’s something moveable like a glider.
Morningstar Storage Keeps Your Little One’s Favorite Things Safe & Accessible
You love your children, and you want to make sure they are always safe and in perfect health, which is why it’s crucial that your items are stored in a safe, dry space so they maintain their integrity regardless of how long they are in storage.
Our Morningstar Storage locations have a variety of unit sizes to choose from, with temperature controlled environments to keep your little one’s clothes, toys, furniture, and necessities in the best condition possible.
Let our storage units be your belongings’ home away from home. From helping you get things set up with packing supplies and boxes to finding the perfect unit to fit your needs, Morningstar Storage has the entire storage process covered for you. Let’s get started.
