Category: personal storage

Vinyl has made a remarkable comeback in recent years. Collectors, audiophiles, and casual music lovers alike are investing in records not just for the sound quality, but for the nostalgic experience they bring. But as any seasoned collector will tell you, caring for vinyl is crucial. If records aren’t stored properly, they warp, scratch, or deteriorate turning your prized collection into little more than unplayable décor.

So, what’s the best way to keep your collection in pristine condition? Let’s explore how to store vinyl records the right way.

1. Store Records Upright

The golden rule: never stack your vinyl flat. Stacking adds uneven pressure, which can lead to warping and cracks. Records should always be stored vertically, supported by sturdy shelving or dividers to keep them upright. Think of your collection as a library; if it looks like books on a shelf, you’re doing it right.

2. Control the Environment

Vinyl is highly sensitive to its surroundings. To avoid damage:

• Temperature: Keep records in a cool, consistent environment, ideally between 18 – 21°C. Heat is the enemy; even leaving them near a radiator can cause permanent warping.
• Humidity: Aim for around 40 – 50%. Too dry, and sleeves deteriorate; too damp, and mould becomes a risk.
• Light: Avoid direct sunlight. UV rays fade artwork and heat can warp discs.

If your home doesn’t have an ideal storage space, a self storage unit can be a smart solution.

3. Use Protective Sleeves

Original paper sleeves attract dust and scratches. Invest in anti-static inner sleeves to protect the vinyl surface, and pair them with high-quality outer sleeves for the cover. This dual protection keeps both the record and the artwork in excellent condition.

4. Avoid Handling the Surface

Always handle records by the edges and label area. Fingerprints, oils, and dust compromise sound quality and shorten the life of your collection. Make cleaning a habit, using a carbon fibre brush before and after playing.

5. Consider Self Storage for Larger Collections

When your collection outgrows your living space, the safest option is secure storage. A self storage unit provides:

• Clean storage space to prevent damage from dust, dirt and mould.
• Extra space to keep records upright without crowding
• Security to protect valuable collections from theft or damage

For serious collectors, this is often the most practical and protective option.

Vinyl is more than just music; it’s culture, history, and artistry pressed into grooves. Preserving it requires care, attention, and the right storage environment. By following these tips, you’ll know exactly how to store vinyl records so they stay in perfect playing condition for years to come.

And if you need extra space, our self storage solutions are designed to give your collection the protection it deserves.

Photographs aren’t just images on paper – they’re treasured memories frozen in time. From childhood holidays and weddings to those everyday moments that make life meaningful, photos help us hold on to the stories that shape us. That’s why learning how to store photos carefully is so important.

Whether you’re safeguarding old family albums, cherished prints, or professional photographs, proper storage can prevent damage from light, damp, and time. In this guide, we’ll explore how to store your photographs safely and how self storage can help protect these irreplaceable memories.

Why Proper Photo Storage Matters

Photographs are surprisingly fragile. Without the right conditions, they can fade, stick together, discolour or warp. Here are the main threats to watch out for:

• Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct light, especially UV rays, causes fading and discolouration.
• Humidity: Moist conditions can lead to mould growth, curling, or photos sticking together.
• Temperature Fluctuations: Extreme changes can warp paper or cause prints to become brittle.
• Handling: Frequent handling, creasing or touching the surface with bare hands can leave lasting damage.

Taking the right precautions now means your memories will last for generations.

How to Store Photos: Tips for Long-Term Preservation

Here’s how to store photos properly to ensure they remain in pristine condition:

1. Use Acid-Free Materials

Always choose acid-free photo albums, sleeves and boxes. Standard cardboard and paper contain acids that can deteriorate photographs over time.

2. Store in Cool, Dark, and Dry Conditions

Avoid attics, garages or basements, which are prone to damp and temperature swings. Instead, choose a stable environment — ideally between 15–21°C and with low humidity.

3. Avoid Plastic Bags

Never store photos in plastic bags or cling film, as they can trap moisture and cause sticking or mould. Use polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene sleeves instead.

4. Handle with Care

Wear clean cotton gloves when handling valuable prints, and avoid touching the image surface directly. Fingerprints contain oils that can cause damage.

5. Keep Photos Flat and Organised

Store photographs flat to avoid bending and creasing. Use labelled boxes or albums to organise by date, event or person — making it easier to enjoy and protect them.

Why Self Storage Is Ideal for Preserving Photographs

If you’re running out of space at home or want to create a dedicated memory archive, self storage is a brilliant solution. A high-quality self storage unit provides:

• Dry, damp-free conditions ideal for long-term preservation
• Secure access so your memories are always safe
• Extra space to store photos, albums and other sentimental items without cluttering your home

At Cookes Storage, we believe your memories deserve more than just a box in the cupboard. That’s why our facilities offer clean, monitored, and purpose-built environments that go beyond storage — we’re here to help you protect the moments that matter most.

Whether it’s your grandparents’ wedding album or a shoebox full of 90s snaps, your photographs deserve to be treated with care. Because memories aren’t just made — they’re stored.

Looking to store your precious memories?
Get in touch today and discover safe, secure self storage designed to protect what really matters.

Moving to Stratford-upon-Avon offers a unique blend of rich history, cultural vibrancy, and picturesque landscapes. As the birthplace of William Shakespeare, this charming market town attracts visitors from around the world, but it also provides a welcoming community for new residents. Here’s what you should know to make your transition smooth and enjoyable.

A Brief Overview

Stratford-upon-Avon, located in Warwickshire, boasts over 800 years of history. Its well-preserved Tudor architecture and scenic setting along the River Avon create a captivating environment. Beyond its historical significance, the town offers modern amenities, a thriving cultural scene, and a strong sense of community.

Housing and Neighbourhoods

The town presents a variety of housing options, from historic cottages to contemporary apartments. Popular residential areas include Old Town, known for its period properties and proximity to the town centre, and Bishopton, which offers newer developments and convenient access to the A46. When choosing a neighbourhood, consider factors such as local amenities, schools, and transport links to ensure it aligns with your lifestyle needs.

Transport Links

Stratford-upon-Avon is well-connected by road and rail. The M40 motorway provides easy access to Birmingham and London, while regular train services run to Birmingham, Warwick, and Leamington Spa. For local travel, the town’s bus network covers surrounding villages and key destinations. Cycling is also a popular mode of transport, with several dedicated paths and scenic routes along the river.

Education

The town offers a range of educational institutions, including highly regarded primary and secondary schools. Notable examples are King Edward VI School, an esteemed grammar school for boys, and Stratford Girls’ Grammar School. For younger children, The Croft Preparatory School provides excellent early education. Additionally, Stratford-upon-Avon College offers further education opportunities for school leavers and adults.

Healthcare

Healthcare services in Stratford-upon-Avon are comprehensive, with several GP practices, dental clinics, and pharmacies available. The Stratford Hospital provides various outpatient services, and for more specialised care, larger hospitals in Warwick and Birmingham are accessible. It’s advisable to register with a local GP and dentist soon after your move to ensure timely access to medical services.

Leisure and Recreation

Living in Stratford-upon-Avon means you’ll have plenty of leisure activities at your doorstep. The Royal Shakespeare Company offers world-class performances, and venues like The Other Place provide diverse cultural experiences. The town’s calendar is filled with festivals, markets, and community events throughout the year, ensuring there’s always something to look forward to.

Outdoor Activities

For outdoor enthusiasts, the River Avon presents opportunities for boating, fishing, and riverside walks. Parks such as Bancroft Gardens and the Recreation Ground are ideal for picnics, sports, and leisurely strolls. The surrounding Warwickshire countryside offers numerous trails for hiking and cycling, allowing residents to immerse themselves in nature.

Shopping and Dining

The town centre boasts a mix of independent boutiques, high-street retailers, and antique shops. Foodies will appreciate the diverse dining scene, ranging from traditional pubs to international cuisine. The weekly markets are a great place to source fresh produce, artisanal goods, and unique crafts.

Community and Safety

Stratford-upon-Avon is known for its friendly and welcoming community. Numerous clubs, societies, and volunteer opportunities make it easy to get involved and meet new people. The town enjoys a relatively low crime rate, contributing to a strong sense of safety among residents.

Things to Be Aware Of

• Tourism: As a major tourist destination, certain areas can become crowded, especially during peak seasons. Planning your activities and travel accordingly can help you navigate busy periods.
• Cost of Living: The popularity of the town can influence property prices and the cost of living. It’s advisable to research and budget accordingly to ensure it aligns with your financial expectations.

How Cookes Storage Can Help

Moving can be a stressful experience, but Cookes Storage can help make the process smoother. Whether you need short-term storage while settling into your new home or a secure space for your belongings during renovations, our flexible storage solutions offer a convenient and affordable option. With secure units, 24/7 CCTV, and easy access, we ensure your possessions are safe and easily retrievable. Let us take the hassle out of your move, so you can focus on enjoying your new home in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In conclusion, moving to Stratford-upon-Avon offers a harmonious blend of historical charm and modern conveniences. By familiarising yourself with the town’s offerings and planning accordingly, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy all that this delightful location has to offer.

After a long and cold winter, it’s finally April and the weather is getting a little bit warmer. The trees are blossoming, and the sun is shining. When the air is not so cold, you want to open the windows and let the warm air into your house. But to really refresh your house, opening a window isn’t enough. Therefore, we’ve put together a successful checklist for spring cleaning to help you prepare your house for the warm weather.

First, you may be asking yourself: why do I need a checklist?

Having a checklist, whether it’s written down or just in your brain, helps you keeping things tidy and organised – just like you want your house to be. This will help you define what you want to do for each room, and it gives you an idea of a timeline. Deep cleaning should also be an integral part of your house, in order to keep it tidy and organised.

Have a goal

You should be thinking of what’s the aim of this spring clean? Is it to identify what piece of furniture you want to donate? Is it to declutter? Change the layout of your house/flat?

Divide your tasks into categories

After you’ve figured out what you want to do, we recommend dividing your tasks in different categories. This way, you don’t feel overwhelmed. You can divide your activities this by day, or by room. For example, for each room you can select what you want to:

• Clean
• Donate
• Store away
• Recycle/repair

We recommend coming up with a realistic timeline, avoiding stress. Spring cleaning should be enjoyable, and it should be about bringing your house back to life.

Identify what products you need

You may be thinking, I already have bleach, mould remover and cleaning wipes. While this is true, spring cleaning is a good idea to identify what products you’re missing and which one you want to replace. Maybe you want a new bathroom cleaner spray. Maybe you want to use more plastic free and green alternatives.

In addition, it’s important to make sure your vacuum cleaner is running and that you have good mop at home.

Wash pillows and duvets

Washing pillows and duvets can be quite impractical, and you may not have a lot of time to do so. If you want to go ahead with it, we recommend doing it during spring cleaning. If you have a lighter duvet for the warm months, this is the best time to take it out.

Don’t be scared of emptying your drawers, donation is an option!

Are your drawers very messy and cluttered? Spring cleaning is the best opportunity to sort them out and identify what you want to do with your belongings. Throwing away is not always the best options, as we would encourage you to donate/resell as much as you can. This can be old Christmas decorations, plates, cutlery, dvds, old toys and of course clothes.

Don’t forget about the deep part of the cleaning

Dusting your furniture, donating, removing mould, and cleaning your mirrors is key to a good clean. But the point of spring cleaning is to do a deep clean. A successful checklist for spring cleaning included unclogging the sink and drains, cleaning behind the toilet… It also included throwing away expired make up, taking care of your garden if you have one, and most of all…make the most of it.

And finally…

If you’re not ready to let go of some of your belongings, or have no space to store your winter stuff, storage might be a good option for you. With plenty of storage rooms with different sizes, convenient prices and industry leading security, Cookes Self Storage will look after your belongings. And you don’t have to worry about a single thing. To enquire about self-storage, call us on 0121 250 5055 or email us at info@cookesstorage.co.uk .

Shopping for Christmas decorations is very exciting. You want new baubles for your tree, and you have decided on a specific colour palette. You want the tree to match your new garland, and you can’t get enough of LED fairy lights and Christmas candles to give your house that extra cosiness.

It’s a lot of fun to set everything up, and it’s very rewarding too. If you’re a family, maybe there’s a couple of arguments about how to set up the snowman fairy lights and where to place that special bauble. But overall, it’s a great activity. The house is lit up, Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve all pass and suddenly it’s the new year. It feels like a chore to take down all the decorations, and the big question comes.

How do I store Christmas Decorations?

Buy some containers (made of recycled materials if you can)

Probably obvious, but the best way to store your decorations tidily is by buying containers. Labelling them is also a great idea, making it easier to find what you need when it’s time to put up the tree again.

Make use of what you already have at home

Use clear bags to store your baubles and assort by colour.

By doing this, it’ll be easy to find exactly what you need. Instead of just placing everything as it comes in a big box with the risk of the decorations breaking, you can store them in smaller boxes to the fit inside the big ones.

Be eco-friendly

You don’t have to necessarily buy small plastic boxes. You can easily get tiered ornament boxes, so that you don’t have to worry at all about your ornaments breaking.

Use existing household items to store your ornaments

For example, you can store your baubles in cardboard drink holders or egg container from the supermarket.

If you have done a bit of online shopping, you can also use the packaging boxes to store your items.

If you have plastic water bottles that you don’t want to throw away yet and want to repurpose, you can easily use them store your garlands and fairy lights. This works with any sort of container that you don’t know how to repurpose. For example, a tennis ball container works well.

Ingenious ways of storing your Christmas tree

A tree takes most of the space. The first advice would be not to throw away the box that came with the tree.

If you have already thrown the box away, there are plenty of other options. You can buy specific storage bags of different sizes for your tree. A wardrobe box, even if harder to come by, can be a great option. If you have a small tree, you can wrap it around with a bin bag to protect the branches.

If you have a spare room at home or a garage, it can be straightforward to store your Christmas decorations. However, if they’re already full or you don’t have any available storage space, self-storage can come in very handy. With Cookes, your belongings are stored safely: only you have access to your storage room, and with industry leading security, you don’t have to worry about thieves.

For more information give us a call on 
0121 250 5055 or email us at info@cookesstorage.co.uk

As a result of the global growth the self-storage sector is experiencing, its expected value by 2026 stands at £4.10 billion in Europe alone. In 2019, the Self-Storage Association (SSA) reported that there are over 1500 self-storage facilities in the UK, for both domestic and business purposes. Although this number is smaller when compared to other countries such as the US or Australia, the UK still ranks highest in Europe with the number of facilities it has, followed by France and Spain which both have an estimated 450 self-storage facilities.

So why is the number of self-storage facilities so high in the UK and why is it expected to keep growing?

The reason is that the domestic need in the country is almost 10 times higher than in continental Europe, with common reasons for using self-storage including divorce and old age. It’s not surprising then that most customers making use of self-storage facilities are between the age of 40 and 70. Another reason is that the urban lifestyle is attracting an increasingly higher number people each year to move houses, and while the sector has seen steady growth recently, it still appears to be young as no major key players have fully established themselves within it. In the UK, there are larger brands that can be found around the country, as well as local self-storage brands recognised around their area and trusted by the local community, such as Cookes Storage Service.

Also, what role does the pandemic play in this industry?

Throughout the pandemic, people have been moving homes, causing these facilities to fill up. In addition, such facilities have also been taken over by new businesses, causing most warehouse spaces to be occupied last year.

With house prices increasing, tenants moving into new homes are spending more time at home and have made more use of self-storage facilities to de-clutter their homes and free up space where they live, keeping only what is necessary. A similar reason is that people seeking to sell their homes will need to temporarily store some of their belongings in a storage space while they look for a new home. De-cluttering appears to be one of the main reasons for picking a storage facility during the pandemic, which could be due to the higher quantity of time spent at home, or due to more home space having to be sacrificed for a work-from-home set-up.

Self-storage firms have reported an increasing demand as a consequence of the pandemic, and to meet these new consumer needs, flexible companies have expanded their sites around the UK, providing more space such as containers.

So, what’s going to happen?

It is predicted that the price for self-storage units will be skyrocketing in the near future. In addition to families and tenants making use of self-storage for de-cluttering related reasons, increasing the occupancy of such facilities, prices are also rising due to investors looking to invest in new assets during the pandemic.

However, with the uncertainties that come with Covid-19, for how long will this increase last? The pandemic has made one thing clear: things can be very volatile.

Over the last year, we have seen many businesses – such as high street shops – closing. On the other hand, brands such as Amazon and sectors related to real estate and workspace solutions seem to have profited from Covid. With a flexible remote-working approach being implemented as a long-term plan by employers, and with working from home suiting many employees, it seems like the pandemic has changed our office space in many ways and with reports predicting an increase in self-storage use, it is possible that this industry will only become more popular with time.

However, only time will tell.

For more information on Cookes Storage Service call us on
0121 250 5055 or check cookesstorage.co.uk/.