All of the stuff that your kids use to keep themselves entertained all summer is probably now sitting around taking up space in your garage, shed or yard. If you're looking for a way to clear things out without having to sacrifice the things that keep your kids busy, it's time to think about leasing a storage unit. Here, you'll find tips to help you clear out your kids' summer stuff to make room for winter.

Bicycles and Ride-On Toys

Any of the ride-on toys that have inflatable tires must be fully inflated or stored off of the ground. When inflated tires are stored for weeks or months, flat spots can form on them causing them to need to be replaced.

The ride-on toys that require batteries should have their batteries removed so that they can be stored inside where the temperatures are regulated, such as heated self-storage units. These batteries cannot be exposed to cold temperatures, nor can they be left dead the entire winter and be expected to work when summer rolls around. Charge the battery for a day every month or so. This will keep it in good working condition for next season.

Swimming and Water Fun

Pop-up pools, inflatables, and water guns – all of the toys that the kids use to keep cool on the hottest days must be completely drained of water and deflated.

Mix a cup of bleach in warm water and wipe down each and every surface of the water toys. The bleach mixture will kill any mold that has begun to grow on them. Lay everything out in the sun to dry. You don't want to store anything that's wet or you will return to find a whole lot of mold growing on things. Fold up and wrap each item individually – the plastic pool mats and things like it will stick together if they are simply tossed in a box together.

Sports Equipment

Sports equipment is fairly simple to store. Balls should be fully inflated and everything should be cleaned and dried before being boxed up for storage.

Storage Tips

When you place things in storage, don't ever place the boxes directly on the ground. This can cause moisture to wick up through the box and damage the items being stored. Instead, find some wooden pallets, set them down and stack your stuff on top of it.

You don't have to continue struggling to find the space that you need – start moving your kids' summer items out of the house and into storage today.