Your Guide to Winter and Holiday Storage in South Dakota
Reno Gulch Storage
February 1st, 2025
As spring approaches, chances are that your whole family is looking forward to leaving the cold behind and moving on to fun summer adventures. But what should you do with all of your winter items and holiday decorations when spring arrives?
Winter items are often bulky and take up a lot of room around the house. There’s not always extra room in your closets or garage to keep everything without your home feeling cluttered.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through all things winter and holiday storage, why it matters here in South Dakota and how to find the best solution for your needs.
Why Does Winter Storage Matter?
South Dakota’s winter months are full of adventure. If you live in Hill City, the Black Hills is right in your backyard, perfect for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trips. If you prefer downhill skiing or snowboarding, Terry Peak Ski Area is just an hour away.
Even if you’re not outdoorsy, your winter wardrobe is significantly different than your summer one. Our winters can be intense, with temperatures dropping below freezing, and snow, ice and other inclement weather making sweaters, coats and hats a necessity.
Once the weather starts warming up and you no longer need boots, hats and skis, a well-organized storage solution helps you transition your whole household out of the colder months. Going with a secure storage unit keeps your winter toys, gear and clothing easily accessible for next year, while reducing clutter around your home. It’s a win-win!
Our Tips for Better Winter Storage
Keep Your Unit Organized
Disorganized storage can quickly become stressful. Keep seasonal items together, and leave enough space in your storage unit for easy access, especially if you plan to visit more than once a season.
Clean and Dry Everything
Moisture and dirt can cause mold, mildew, corrosion, rust and other damage to your items. Wash or wipe down items, and ensure that everything is completely clean and dry before storing.
Store Motorized Items Properly
Storing items with motors like snow blowers, snowmobiles or ATVs? Long-term storage can keep these items safe from external damage, but you risk damaging motor components if you don’t prepare these items for months of downtime.
Prior to storing, we recommend checking all engine components for damage or corrosion, changing out the old oil and adding fuel stabilizer to any leftover gasoline to avoid clogs.
Swap Out Your Wardrobe
Swapping out your wardrobe each season can make your closet feel refreshed. But there’s no doubt that stored clothes can take up a lot of space, especially winter gear. We recommend using vacuum-sealed bags to help save space and protect fabric from damage.
Why Does Holiday Storage Matter?
Christmastime is “the most wonderful time of the year,” but once the new year arrives, it’s time to put everything away. Holiday decorations are some of the most sentimental items we own. In many cases, they’re also the most fragile.
The last thing you want is to start the next holiday season by discovering broken or damaged decorations. Proper holiday storage prevents this by keeping your items secure and safe so that next year’s holiday celebrations can begin without any stress.
Our Tips for Better Holiday Storage
Use High-Quality Storage Containers
Sturdy plastic bins with tightly-sealed lids protect your decorations from moisture and dust much better than cardboard boxes. Heavy-duty plastic can also protect fragile items from accidental damage.
Wrap Fragile Items
Many ornaments, decorations and dishware are made of glass and ceramic. Keep everything safe and unbroken by storing items with extra padding and not overfilling boxes. Wrap items in tissue paper or bubble wrap for an extra layer of protection.
Label Everything
Digging through all your boxes trying to determine where the ornament hooks are can be a frustrating start to the holiday season. Clearly mark all storage containers with a detailed description – keep in mind that “Christmas: Fragile Ornaments” is more helpful than simply “Christmas.”
Store Your Tree Properly
If you have an artificial tree, store it in a designated tree bag. This helps keep it dust- and damage-free so you can enjoy it for more holiday seasons to come.
Wrap Your Lights
There’s nothing more annoying than detangling a long string of holiday lights. Wrap strands around a spool or a cardboard wrapping paper tube prior to storing them. Your future self will thank you.
How to Choose the Right Storage Unit
Now that you know why winter and holiday storage is so vital, let’s talk about how to find the right storage for your needs. There are a lot of options out there, so understanding the key features of storage units can help you make the most well-informed decision possible.
Unit Size
What size unit do you need? That will depend on what you need to store.
Smaller units are perfect if you only need to store a few things – boxes of decorations and your winter wardrobe, for instance.
Larger units are great for bulkier items like patio furniture and outdoor gear like snowmobiles or sleds.
Need help deciding which unit you should go with? Use our handy self-storage calculator tool to get a good estimate of how much room you’ll need.
Accessibility
Winter items are often bulky, and it can be a hassle to unload them. Look for a storage facility that offers convenient drive-up access and ground floor units. Accessing your storage unit will be as simple as driving up, unloading your car and storing everything securely.
Location
Having a unit close to home is a great choice, especially if you foresee yourself needing to make multiple trips or access your unit frequently. Look for a facility along a main road, or one that is a convenient drive to your house.
Flexible Rental Terms
Only need to rent seasonal storage for a few months? Always check with a potential facility to understand their rental contracts before you rent with them. Some facilities require you to rent for a certain amount of time, while others like Reno Gulch Storage are flexible and allow you to rent month-by-month.
Rent Winter Storage Today
Ready to store your winter items and holiday decorations? Look no further than Reno Gulch Self Storage. Located just south of Hill City, South Dakota, we offer units from 8’x8’ to 20’x22’, perfect for all your storage needs.