Tips For Keeping Long-Term Self-Storage Items Safe From Damage
If you will be away for an extended period of time and are placing all of your belongings in a self-storage unit, then these tips will help you keep everything safe and secure until your return:
Tip: Choose an Indoor Storage Unit
If you have the option of selecting a storage unit that has an indoor access door, then this is always preferable. Indoor units are safer and typically have better surveillance monitoring.
In addition, the doors of indoor units are not exposed to the elements and this keeps out water, insects, and rodents.
Tip: Put Out a Pan of Clay Cat Litter
When you put items into storage for a long time, previously built up smells in fabric items will permeate the room and make your belongings smell stuffy or funky when you retrieve them. Additionally, moisture can enter the space and build up leading to the growth of mold and mildew on your stuff. You can keep your storage unit's contents dry and smelling fresh by placing a pan of plain clay cat litter in the unit. The cat litter will absorb any moisture and smells
Tip: Wrap Everything in Moving Blankets
No matter how clean your storage unit is, when your belongings sit in it for a very long time you can count on them getting dusty. As dust builds up on sofas and other fabric items, it will stain and ruin them. The dust will also build up on your appliances and boxes and lead to a lot of future cleaning when you move everything into your new home. The best way to keep dust from causing problems in your storage unit is to cover everything with moving blankets or linens you can dispose of.
It is important to note that you should not cover things in your storage unit with plastic sheets or tarps. Plastic traps moisture and will cause your mattresses and other fabric items to grow mold and mildew.
Tip: Install a Round Locks on the Door
Finally, if the self-storage company allows you to place your own lock on the unit's door, make sure you use one of the newer "round" styles of a padlock. These padlocks are harder to cut off and require the use of an angle grinder. Chances are that a thief won't make the effort to bring one along or won't want to be heard using the grinder because they aren't very quiet. Simply using a round lock that can't be cut with bolt cutters is an excellent way to keep your belongings safe and secure while they wait for you in long-term storage.
Contact a facility, like Gorst Self Storage, for more help.
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