Why not just leave it outside under a tarp?
Because an Ohio winter is wet as much as it is cold. Repeated freeze and thaw cycles work water into every joint, seam, and fastener, and a tarp that traps moisture underneath often does more harm than no tarp at all.
The predictable results: rusted grill grates and burners, mildewed cushions, cracked resin, faded and split webbing, seized bike drivetrains, and rodents nesting in anything hollow. None of it is dramatic on any single day, and all of it adds up by spring.
End-of-summer prep checklist
Do this before anything goes into storage — cleaning it in the spring is much harder:
- Patio furniture: wash frames, dry completely, and touch up chipped paint so rust does not start under the finish.
- Cushions and umbrellas: clean, dry thoroughly in the sun, and store them indoors or in sealed bins — they are the item most likely to mildew.
- Grills: burn off and scrape the grates, empty the grease trap, wipe the interior, and cover. Store propane cylinders outdoors, never in a container or the house.
- Kayaks and canoes: rinse, dry, and store on their side or upside down so the hull is not resting flat under weight.
- Bikes: clean the drivetrain, lube the chain, inflate the tires, and hang them or stand them off the concrete.
- Lawn equipment: drain or stabilize the fuel, change the oil, clean the deck, and sharpen the blade now so spring is one step shorter.
- Garden tools and hoses: drain hoses completely, coil them loosely, and oil metal tool heads.
- Pool and water gear: everything fully dry before it goes in a bin, with no exceptions.
- Label bins by category and photograph what you store, so April is a lookup instead of a hunt.
How should it be stored once it is prepped?
Dry, off the ground, and with air moving. In a 16-ft Mobi, that means putting pallets or scrap lumber down first, leaving a few inches between stacks and the steel walls, and dropping a couple of moisture absorbers in the middle and back.
Use breathable covers rather than plastic wrap, which traps condensation against surfaces. Stand cushions on edge instead of stacking them flat, and leave hollow items — coolers, buckets, kayaks — open or upside down so they cannot collect moisture.
On-site container or warehouse space?
For patio sets, grills, bikes, and bins, an on-site container is usually the answer. It starts at $249/month with free delivery within 35 miles of Mansfield, month to month, and it sits ten feet from the patio you are clearing.
For larger seasonal items — a boat, camper, motorcycle, or a classic car you are not driving through salt season — vehicle storage at our warehouse is $10.00 per linear foot per month in a secure gated lot. General warehouse space is $7.50 per sq/ft, and other configurations are quote-based.
What should stay out of storage?
Keep propane cylinders, gas cans, and any fuel out of the container entirely. Keep paint, stains, and liquid cleaners indoors, since they can freeze and burst.
Also skip food, pet food, birdseed, and grass seed. Anything edible is an invitation, and mice are the one problem that turns a tidy storage job into a mess.
Scheduling a fall drop
Aim for September or early October, while the weather still cooperates and you can dry cushions in the sun. Delivery needs about 40 feet of clear, straight, firm, level space, which is easier to arrange before leaves and snow pile up.
We are locally owned and operated in Mansfield, on SR-13, serving Ontario, Lexington, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, Mount Vernon, Marion, and Richland County. Call or text 844-644-STOR (7867) or email info@mobistor.me.
Frequently asked questions
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