Putting Your RV Away for the Season? Don’t Forget These Simple Steps Before Pulling Through Our Gate!


offering indoor and outdoor parking

As the RV season winds down, it’s time to start thinking about putting your RV away for the winter. A little preparation now can make a big difference when you’re ready to hit the road again next spring. Start With a Good Cleaning Before closing the door on another camping season, give the interior a thorough cleaning. Vacuum floors, cushions, storage areas, and other spaces to remove crumbs, dirt, and debris that could attract unwanted visitors while your RV is parked. Some of the local companies that provide winterization will also offer portions of this cleaning service for a fee. Then, consider a few simple pest-deterrent tricks that are commonly shared among RV and camping enthusiasts. Place dryer sheets throughout the RV—inside cabinets, drawers, closets, and other enclosed areas. Many RV owners use them as a simple way to discourage mice and other unwanted visitors. Another old-school tip is strongly scented bar soap. Try placing a few flakes in bowls on the counter, under the toe kick, in storage compartments and other areas where pests might be tempted to settle in.A product we’ve also heard mentioned by the camping community is Fresh Cab. Some RV owners place it under the hood, in storage compartments, or hang it from cabinet knobs. It’s available locally in small quantities—I’ve seen it at Ace Hardware and Bomgaars—or online in bulk. And as an added bonus, you may appreciate the fresh scent from those dryer sheets, soap, or Fresh Cab when you open things up again in the spring!Of course, these are simply tips passed along by fellow campers, not guarantees against pests. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, those little stowaways have other plans. What If the Rodents Get There First? One thing to remember is that rodents don’t always wait until your RV is parked for the season. Sometimes they ride home with you from the campground and find their way into your RV before you ever have a chance to put out a deterrent. Once inside, they can cause some ...


a word from Melanie
October 2nd, 2026

Oh Sugar! The Sweet Side of Storage; Why Cleanliness Counts


It’s a cool autumn day. You grab a soda and head to your storage unit with Sparky at your side. While you search for your favorite fall wreath, Sparky enjoys some kibble you’ve spilled for him in the rocks. Your sister texts, asking for Mom’s Thanksgiving silverware. It’s her only day off, so she’s on her way to pick it up. As you chat, she flicks a couple of spent cigarette butts and a wad of gum to the ground, popping in a fresh stick after her old one loses its flavor. Once she leaves, it’s back to business, but your soda has gone warm. You pour it out on the ground and sip ice water from your thermal cup. The sun has made its way over the building now. It’s becoming a warm autumnal day. Sparky has returned from his roam and has found a place to park it in the shade. Aha! There’s that wreath. You scoop it up, along with a couple other pieces of decor you’ve selected from the tubs. Now you can head out to finish your morning errands! …And we can restart ours. We regularly audit our facility for hygiene—picking up cigarette butts, gum, kibble, even leftover food. But discarded items, especially sugary ones, attract pests. Kibble and crusts? Rodents love that. I often field questions about mitigating hazards. Our prevention plan starts with discouraging perishables—not just in your unit, but around it too (including pet waste). Pet waste is an enticing prospect for pests, providing food, moisture, and breeding grounds. Let an apple decompose, and you’ve got a fly nursery. While it’s great to bring Sparky along, use a dog dish for his dining and a bag for his waste. And when nature calls you, avoid exposing yourself on camera and swing up to the nearby gas station for a fresh drink and a restroom break. We want your visits to be pleasant, offering access to clean, pest-free storage. So, repurpose some plastic and pack out your trash to ...


a word from Melanie
September 2nd, 2026

Somewhere to Store My Thoughts


Happy National Bloggers Day! If writers had an attic, it would be overflowing. You may be surprised to learn Crosswind Storage can help you with that, too! As professional collectors of ideas, we stash away observations, hoard half-written masterpieces, file away catchy titles, and insist that the 28 drafts we have in the folder "might come together one day." Sound familiar? Thankfully, blogs are the perfect self-storage unit for the mind—a safe place to pack away inspiration, education and revisit ideas whenever the time is right. The funny thing is, the same goes for our homes. It's incredible how much easier it is to think clearly when you're not navigating piles of "I'll sort that later." Our brains are constantly processing what's around us, so when our surroundings feel cluttered, our attention is pulled in multiple directions. Clearing the space around us can put us back in control. Decluttering your space has a wonderful way of decluttering your mind, leaving room for fresh ideas, better focus and maybe even the ability to add words to that blank page you’ve been staring at. So, whether you're storing away brilliant thoughts in a blog or safely tucking away the things you don't need every day, creating a little extra space can make all the difference. Here's to every blogger this National Bloggers Day. Keep unpacking your imagination, thinking outside the box (while we look after the boxes), and proving that the best ideas often appear when there's finally room for them. ...


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August 5th, 2026

Heading to the Plymouth County Fair? Discover How Crosswind Storage in LeMars, IA Can Help With Extra Space for Fair Projects, Equipment, Household Items, and More.


The Plymouth County Fair is one of the biggest events of the summer in Le Mars, bringing together families, 4-H exhibitors, vendors, and visitors from across Northwest Iowa... well, the whole tri-state area. This year's fair runs July 29 through August 2 at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds, with five days of livestock shows, exhibits, entertainment, food, and community traditions. Whether you're storing your derby car for the fair, making room at home for guests, or simply looking for extra storage while you prepare for a busy week, Crosswind Storage is here to help with secure, convenient self-storage in Le Mars so you can head off to the GoKart Hotlaps with peace of mind and enjoy that long awaited pork chop in a glove! Storage Solutions During or After Fair Week The Plymouth County Fair means a lot of extra activity around town. There's still time to call us for an over-the-phone rental! Ask your neighbors. They might the ones who are: Making room in the garage before hauling projects or livestock equipment to and fro. Storing seasonal items to free up space for fair preparations and cleanup. Organizing their homes before hosting family and friends. Looking for a safe place to keep business inventory or vendor supplies. A storage unit gives you the extra space you need without cluttering your home or garage. Convenient Self Storage in Le Mars At Crosswind Storage, we serve customers throughout Le Mars, Plymouth County, Hinton, Merrill, Remsen, Kingsley, Akron, and the surrounding Northwest Iowa communities. Whether you need storage for a few weeks or throughout the year, our facility offers an easy and convenient solution for: Household belongings Seasonal decorations Furniture during a move Business inventory Tools and equipment Recreational gear Vehicles/Trailers Having extra storage nearby makes it easier to stay organized during one of the busiest weeks of the year. Local Storage Operator Celebrating Local Traditions Every family has their own way of approaching the Fair. For mine, there's a nightly menu game plan. We'll need to make the annual growth measurement, illustrated not by the wooden ear of corn outside the ...


a word from Melanie
July 29th, 2026

No Sweat Storage: Blueprints for Successful SpaceMaking


Whether you’re storing long-term or just a couple months there’s a few best practices that can optimize your experience. Preparation is key to ensuring your belongings return back to you in as good of condition as when you set them aside. From prepping the lot to staging a unit, here’s a few tips we’ve picked up along the way. The Clean Truth Take the time to vacuum and disinfect. Mold has three travel friends: heat, moisture, and bacteria. A basic storage unit in the Midwest during summer provides the first two. Remove the bacteria ahead of time and foil the fungus. Freshen up your furniture with the appropriate upholstery aid and dry it completely before considering that trip to your unit. May we suggest a quick turn of shrink wrap for a final layer of protection? Taking everything, but the kitchen sink? Remember, after the wipe down, refrigerators should be stored upright and with the door left ajar to keep from developing an odor inside. Contain Yourself! Do yourself a favor in advance so you can keep your cool at the unboxing. Wrap your fragiles in yesterday’s news before you box them up. Pull out that stash of grocery sacks from under the sink and put it to work. Tear them into strips and use them as a packing buffer. It’s not like anyone’s folding them around text books anymore! Pop your clean, dry mattress into a mattress bag before you load it on the truck, and plan to store it upright and supported or laying flat up top to avoid permanent deformation. Thoroughly dry the laundered apparel that you intend to store. If your goal is long-term, be careful not to overcrowd the threads. You don’t want to lose the shape of your favorite ugly sweater before that party invite hits your inbox. Throw a couple desiccant pouches inside your plastic tote and fit the lid…or in this case, lid the fits! Amazon offers a reusable packet with a color changing indicator so you know ...


a word from Melanie
July 16th, 2026

Light It Up; The Value of Premium Lighting After Dark


Security requires more than just a fenceline. To truly maintain the safety of your belongings, a host of regular checks must remain at the top of our to-do list. Among those critical checks, facility lighting stands as one of the most powerful lines of defense. The night sky may have quieted down from the festivities of last weekend, but our grounds are still brilliantly lit. High-output illumination provides far more than just the ability to see what you are doing during a late-night visit. It sheds light on exactly what an intruder is up to, effectively serving as an active theft deterrent. Take the "After-Dark Test" Still on the fence about where to store your valuables? Before making your final selection, we highly recommend taking an after-dark drive to check out the break-in opportunities at the locations you are considering. As you look at a facility at night, ask yourself these two questions: Is a potential offender afforded blatant privacy with an easy, shadowed getaway? Or does ideal lighting flood the yard, instantly foiling their plan? Why We Invest in the Spotlight At Crosswind Storage of LeMars, we purposely invest in premium, high-output lighting because criminals are completely compromised when they have nowhere to hide. Brilliantly lit spaces don't just protect our renters; they also maximize the consistency of our HD security cameras. With proper illumination, our surveillance systems can capture crystal-clear, actionable details 24/7. Don't get left in the dark. Premium facility lighting makes a world of difference for your safety and your peace of mind. 🔒 Ready to Experience Secure Storage? Don't gamble on the safety of your belongings. Choose a well-lit, family-owned facility that puts your security first. 👉 Find a Unit at Crosswind Storage of LeMars Today! ...


a word from Melanie
July 8th, 2026

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