Winter Storage in Cambridge: Garden Furniture, Bikes and Summer Kit
As the clocks go back and the garden goes quiet, many households around Cambridge and Newmarket face the same problem: the patio set, barbecue, bikes and summer kit all need somewhere to spend the winter. Left outside or crammed into a damp shed, they can come out in spring rusty, mouldy or damaged. A small storage unit for the colder months keeps everything in good condition and frees up the garage at the time of year you most want it back.
What People Commonly Store Over Winter
Garden furniture and cushions. Tables, chairs, loungers and parasols take up a lot of room and suffer in wet, freezing weather. Cushions in particular are prone to mildew if they stay damp.
Barbecues and outdoor heaters. Cleaned and dried, a barbecue stored under cover is far less likely to rust than one left on the patio.
Bikes, paddleboards and camping gear. Summer equipment you won't touch until Easter is ideal for storage, keeping hallways and garages clear.
Garden machinery. Lawnmowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers can be stored once the cutting season ends.
Summer clothes and holiday items. Seasonal wardrobes, beach gear and luggage are easy to box up and rotate out of the house.
How to Prepare Items for Winter Storage
Clean and dry everything first. Dirt and moisture are what cause mould and corrosion, so wipe down furniture, brush off soil and make sure fabrics are completely dry before they go into storage.
Use breathable covers. Old sheets or purpose-made breathable covers protect against dust while letting air circulate. Avoid sealing damp items in plastic.
Look after fuel and batteries. Follow the manufacturer's guidance for petrol mowers and tools — this usually means running the fuel down or draining it — and remove batteries from cordless tools and e-bikes so they can be kept charged at home.
Bag the cushions. Store cushions and soft furnishings in fabric bags or boxes, with moisture absorbers if you have them, and keep them off the floor.
Plan the layout. Put items you might need over winter, such as a spare heater or Christmas decorations, near the door, and stack the summer-only kit at the back.
Choosing the Right Size
A typical patio set, barbecue, a couple of bikes and some boxes will usually fit comfortably in a Small unit. If you are also storing larger items such as a ride-on mower, a hot-tub cover or several bikes, a Medium or Large unit gives you room to keep everything accessible. Our size guide shows each unit to scale with typical contents.
Winter Storage Near Cambridge and Newmarket
CamStorage is at Bottisham, just off the A14 at Junction 35 between Cambridge and Newmarket. Our steel units are dry and well ventilated, every unit has drive-up access so you can unload straight from the car or trailer, and the site is protected by 24-hour CCTV and keyfob gate entry. With rolling monthly terms, you can rent a unit for the winter and give it up again in spring.
