Putting your car into storage can be the smart decision to make, whether you want to save it from the weather conditions of a particular season or if you simply need to keep it in a safe place while you are out of town. However, no matter the reason why you are placing your vehicle in storage, you should always make sure to complete a few basic maintenance tasks to ensure that your car is in good working order when you go to take it out again.

Clean and Cover

The first thing that you should do when you know that you're going to be placing your vehicle in a storage facility is to give it a deep cleaning. This will remove all stuck-on dirt, dust, grime, and debris which could hold onto moisture, damaging the paint job and encouraging the development of rust on your vehicle. You should also invest in a car cover to protect the finish of your vehicle from dust and other airborne contaminants (including high levels of humidity) which can have a similar effect.

Fill the Gas

You should also make sure to fill the gas tank to your car completely immediately before you place it into the storage facility. Any empty space in the tank can allow for condensation to develop, which can then cause rust to eat away at your gas tank and spread throughout your vehicle from the inside. If you are placing your vehicle into storage for a period longer than a few weeks, you should also invest in a fuel stabilizer to mix into your gas tank to prevent your gasoline from breaking down and becoming unusable until you are back again.

Trickle Charger

While really only applicable if you are placing your vehicle into storage for longer than a month, though it may also be a good idea during periods of severe weather, you should consider investing in a trickle charger for your car's battery. It is exactly what it sounds like, and provides a steady stream of power to your battery to ensure that it does not lose power while not being used regularly and charged by the alternator.

Remove the Tires

Finally, if your vehicle won't be moving in a week or so, you should always make sure to raise your vehicle up on blocks or jacks and remove all of the tires. This prevents flat spots from developing on your tires, which are a destructive form of wear that drastically reduces the lifespan of your tires and increase the risk of you suddenly developing a flat or blowing out the tire entirely once you take your car out of storage again.

For more information, contact a company like Attic Pantry Storage.