[erp0620]

Okay, so we don't have a ton of room in our house. We don't have an attic or basement and not a whole lot of closet space. Plus baby #2 is due soon and it's a 3 bedroom. We live in NC, so the summers can get pretty hot and humid while the winters are a gamble every year. We will have some cold days and nights, but then again it's not unheard of having really mild temperatures as well. We have a metal storage shed that has the option to run electricity to it and that's my plan for the spring/summer. I want to run electric to it so we can get a deep freezer. I'd like to build a box around it, too, with insulation to keep it a little more energy efficient.

I'd also like to put up shelves in the shed to really be able to take advantage of sales and create a stockpile for my family. But I'm a little uncertain of what kinds of things I could do out in the shed that have the potential of being over 100 degree heat for much of the summer, but cold and sometimes freezing conditions in the winter. Like I wouldn't want to put boxes of cereal out there, right? Or could I? I'd really like to use that space for more than just the lawn mower and Christmas tree, LOL.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!!!

[countrycakelady]

Hi! I live in NC too...I know all about our 'weird weather'.
This is just a thought....could you store things in the baby's closet, maybe on the floor or on a shelf? I know you will need room for baby's things....but even under the crib or under your beds...as long as things are sealed up well...as I said, just a thought.

[erp0620]

Well, here's the thing...

DH collected comic books for a long time as well as the comic *action figures* (dude, they're dolls...) and those have to be in the climate control indoors. They are under beds and in the closets, LOL. I'm okay with this b/c I understand the value of them and we will eventually sell them, but it's going to be a long time.

[countrycakelady]

Alrighty then......how about totes stacked maybe on one wall? If you are like me though...I don't want a lot of 'cluttery' looking stuff out in sight....maybe still under the crib? I just don't know....I am just getting started in the 'stockpile industry.'

[erp0620]

Thanks for the ideas!

[erp0620]

For the weekend crew! What types of items can be stored in a shed that has no air or heat or insulation?

[angelpoet04]

One thing that a lot of you might try, if not already using it, is a product called Damp Rid. It's available at Walmart, and I'm sure other places carry it as well.

DO NOT USE IN THE FOOD. It's only meant to be used in the appropriate container for on shelves. If you help keep moisture out of cabinets, pantry, etc., that is a partial deterrent to pests/bugs. I repeat, DO NOT USE IN THE FOOD. (Just making sure that is clear, not yelling at anyone!!! LOL and also being safety conscious!!!)

It has to be changed out every so often, but we found it helped at the last house that we lived in. Any living thing, needs food/water (moisture). If you eliminate at least one or more of those things, then the bugs/pests won't have a suitable environment to live in!!!

Rozeann

[erp0620]

So I got a little frustrated yesterday. I told DH I wanted to put shelves in the shed so I can have a little stockpile. He seems resistant. I don't want to stockpile things we don't use or need (make-up for example), but I don't know if he sees the logic in utilizing a sale to stock up on stuff we need. He's usually very proud of the fact that I use coupons and can get things fairly cheep. If he only knew how some of y'all do it! But I felt a little discouraged.

[zukeypur]

This past weekend we rearranged our laundry room. We stacked our washer and dryer, moved the shelf above the washer a dryer up to 85 inches, and installed a 7 foot tall cabinet in the space where the dryer used to be for extra pantry space. Today I am planning on cutting some wood to add extra shelves in between some shelved that we already have to maximize the space.

[AshburnMom]

Emily - I know what you mean! My DH is trying to be supportive but for some reason he just isn't getting it! I just make a point of casually mentioning how much I saved when I get home. Do you think it was the stockpile or the shelves that might have been the problem?

If you put things in the shed, you might want to consider something that is enclosed so mice or whatever can't get to it. They are sooo good at getting into things! Maybe he'd be more willing to have big Rubbermaid totes or something? They'd be more pest resistent and weather proof and less work. Just stack them next to the freezer? Not as visible though.

Good luck!

[erp0620]

Well he is supportive, but I think he might be worried I might get out of hand, according to what *he* thinks would be out of hand. Like we have 4 big things of mustard right now. Honestly those will last probably 4 years, LOL. I got a small mustard during triples once for free and he's like why did you get this? We don't need this? It didn't seem to matter that it was free. KWIM?

[MommySusan1]

I live in NC and have been very hesitant about putting stockpile in my garage. Since it is attached to the house, it doesn't get as warm as a metal shed would, but it still does get hot. I limit it to things like paper towels, toilet paper, plastic bags, spoons, plates, cups. I just broke down put some razors and toothbrushes out there.

I think the main thing with storing things like soda and cereal is that if they get really hot during the day and then cool off at night, it would get really stale or flat. I would also worry that the cans might explode.

The only suggestion I have is if you look in your closets and see if you have any room wayy at the top. When we moved in, out closets had shelves that were so high up you could only reach them on a step stool. I thought what idiot put these here that you can't even reach it! Well, this idiot has filled them up with Lysol wipes and diaper wipes. I can't store a ton of stuff up there, but I am not a major stockpiler.

[jhh2277]

I have limited space too, and these are great ideas. Thanks!

[foggy]

When we lived in previous house, it was a 2 bedroom and had an attached garage.

We lived near the TN/GA line so it was the same type weather you have during winter/summer. Don't like the weather? Wait 5 minutes it'll change for ya.

I used the garage to store cleaning supplies in as well as toilet paper, paper towels, and that was where our huge chest freezer was.

I utilized every space possible to store stuff inside the house as well. Totes under the bed for shampoo, conditioner, razors, toothpaste, etc., etc. etc. Under the baby bed which was in our room at the time, I put diapers and wipes as well as a small tote of baby essentials... powder, baby wash, diaper cream, etc.

I even had things stored behind our bedroom door because they way the door opened into the room there was an area behind it you couldn't put anything such as a dresser or whatever. However it was perfect to stash extra pack of toilet paper. I think I have an obsession with toilet paper towers because I had one in our bedroom in this house not long ago and now it is temporarily in my new stockroom/laundry room... I'll have to move it soon to make room for the washer/dryer.

I also utilized closets to put totes in, etc.

The house we lived in before had a 1/2 bath just off the kitchen. I hated that. It opened right into the kitchen. So dh ripped it out and made it into a walk-in pantry. It was perfect for our then family of 4 which grew to 6 in 4 years after we moved there and thus had to move again to our current home.

I still utilize whatever space I can think of.


Some ideas:

hide cases of canned foods under your couch, loveseat or chairs

have a big dining room table, you can hid things in the middle and use a table cloth to drape down over the table to hide the things from view

shelves in closets - top shelves work great for paper towels, etc.

Large entertainment center? pull out from the wall just a little and hide a few things behind there... small totes of hba items. I wouldn't put paper towels or cereal behind here due to heat from the electronics could ignite the paper or make the cereal stale but storing toothbrushes, razors or something like that behind there wouldn't be effected.

need a table somewhere? Make it from totes stacked two or three high (depending on height of totes) and stuff them, cover with table cloth.

utilize areas behind doors . Most door frames sit away from the wall far enough that a thin-width shelf could be built behind them and used for things like deodorants, etc. (works especially well in bathrooms) or you can put cereal towers behind there ... drape a curtain from the cereal to hide it if you wish .. makes it look like a faux window area. Someon posted an example of this over in the stockpile pics forum. I forget who now.

[palmerbound2005]

I found creative ways to store my small stockpile. I live in FL, so we always have hurricane supplies every summer.

Like I mentioned in another post, I use my linen closet. I have 2 sets of linens so I keep the extra set in a dresser drawer. We have 5 towels that get washed weekly and they're under the bathroom sink.

I stock my linen closet with pantry items and pet supplies. Also, I use the shelf over the washer and dryer.

[mrsaprilmay]

We're just starting our stockpile, and already having storage problems. I live in southern Ohio, so it isn't totally dissimilar to NC. We have a shed, but I wouldn't store anything out there really. We store the lawnmower there, and everything smells like gasoline. We have to air out the Christmas tree for a day before we bring it in.

I utilized a lot of space next to my fridge and in the laundry room. I got some really cheap wire shelving units from K-Mart and I use those.

My big dream would be to get benches in the dining room that have storage underneath.