November arrives, the terrace goes unused, the bike hardly comes out and the summer clothes take up half the wardrobe. If there's no room at home, storing everything until spring frees up a lot of space.
But putting it away as it is, in a corner, usually turns out expensive: cushions that smell, a rusty chain or a pool that cracks. Here's how to prepare it, item by item, and how much space you usually need.
The golden rule: clean, dry and repaired
This applies to almost everything you're going to store:
- Clean before storing. Summer dirt (sand, chlorine, sweat, sun cream) damages materials over the months.
- Dry completely. Anything stored damp ends up with mould and a bad smell.
- Repair now whatever is broken. In spring you'll want to use it, not fix it.
- Declutter properly: what you haven't used this summer, you probably won't use next summer either.
Garden furniture, cushions and parasols
The usual recommendations for outdoor furniture agree on the basics:
- Wash them with water and mild soap and let them dry completely before covering or storing them.
- Wood: after cleaning and drying it, it's usually recommended to sand it lightly and apply linseed or teak oil.
- Iron and other metals: if you see rust, remove it with a wire brush and apply anti-rust primer before storing.
- Aluminium and resin: they hold up well, but they scratch when stacked. Put a blanket or cardboard between one piece and the next.
- Cushions, covers and awnings: wash them, dry them well and store them indoors. They suffer most if left outside.
- Parasols: close them dry and, if they have a cover, store them in it.
If you have no space, the idea is to store indoors whatever folds or stacks and anything made of fabric.
The bicycle
If you're going to stop using it for a few months, these are the basic steps:
- Clean it and oil the chain and moving parts. Mud and dust damage the drivetrain.
- Leave the tyres inflated, even slightly above the usual pressure, so the tyre doesn't deform.
- Put the gears on the smallest sprocket, so the chain and derailleurs are under minimal tension.
- Keep it under cover, away from damp and direct sun. Better hung up or on a stand than lying on the floor.
- If you can, check on it now and then: turn the pedals a few times and check the pressure.
If your bike is worth something, check what your home insurance covers when it's away from home. Some policies cover less in a storage unit or require a specific lock.
The inflatable pool and air mattresses
The removable pool takes up more space than anything else on a terrace or in a garden. To store it properly:
- Empty it and clean the waterline, where marks and deposits remain.
- Dry it carefully, piece by piece. This is the most important step: if it's folded and damp, it deteriorates.
- Patch any punctures now, while everything is dry.
- Fold it without forcing it and, if you still have its box, store it in that.
- Keep the small parts together (plugs, connectors, filter pump) in a bag, so you don't lose them.
Floats and air mattresses are the same: washed, dry and fully deflated.
Always check each pool's manual: every model may have its own instructions.
Clothes and beach things
Changing the wardrobe over frees up more space in the home than anything else:
- Wash everything before storing it, even if it looks clean. Sweat and sun cream stains come out over time.
- Plastic boxes with lids are better than cardboard boxes or closed bags.
- Label the boxes by person or by type: "swimwear", "sandals", "children's clothes".
- Beach towels, portable coolers, folding chairs: free of sand and dry.
- Footwear: clean and with paper inside so it keeps its shape.
How much space do you need?
It depends on what you have, but these examples can guide you:
- Closet (up to 1.5 m²): boxes of summer clothes, the parasol, the inflatables and a bike.
- Walk-in closet (1.5–2.5 m²): all of the above plus a table set with folding chairs, the cushions and a small removable pool.
- Room (2.5–3.5 m²): a complete terrace set with a sofa or sun loungers, several bikes and all the beach gear for a family.
An example: a family in Madrid with a large terrace stores two sun loungers, a table with four chairs, the children's pool, two bikes and six boxes of clothes. A Walk-in closet would be very tight for them; a Room leaves them a clear path to take out a bike on a sunny day without moving everything else.
You can see the storage units in Madrid on the portal and compare sizes, prices and access hours.
How to arrange it for spring
Think about how you're going to take it out:
- At the back, whatever you won't need until June: the pool, the garden furniture.
- At the front, whatever you might use sooner: the bike, a box of clothes for a trip.
- Nothing directly on the floor: a pallet or a shelving unit protects from damp.
- A few centimetres away from the walls, so air can circulate.
- A list on your phone of what's in each box will save you opening them all.
With an afternoon of preparation now, in spring you'll only have to take it out and enjoy it. </body> <alt></alt>
