Simple Tips for Protecting Items in Self-Storage
Putting certain household items in self-storage is a good way to protect them from potential damage; taking sporting goods out of the garage and putting them in a self-storage unit means less risk of running into them with the car, for example, or of items falling onto each other. A climate-controlled unit may also be safer for household items than your home's damp basement. However, this doesn't mean you can or should just stack your items in a storage unit and leave them; note a few tips for protecting those items even while they're in storage so you know they'll be safe and in good condition when you're ready to access them again.
Repelling insects
Even interior units, meaning those that are inside a large building, can be host to insects that will invade your items or damage them in some way. You can repel many insects by placing mint, basil, lavender, or bay leaves in a small dish inside the unit, as many insects dislike the smell of these leaves and won't enter the unit if they can sense these odours. Change out the leaves once the smell dissipates, as this usually means the leaves are dried and are no longer working as an insect repellent.
Air circulation
You may be tempted to stack your boxes and other items very tightly into a storage unit so you can store as many items in the smallest and most affordable amount of space. However, lack of air circulation can allow humidity to get trapped in your unit, causing mould and mildew to grow. Even in a climate-controlled unit, it's good to allow for air circulation around your items, especially if you're storing upholstered furniture, wood items and cardboard boxes that hold moisture.
Height and weight
As with packing items tightly into your storage unit, you may also be tempted to stack boxes as high as possible to take advantage of the space. This can easily cause items to topple, especially if you're not careful about putting heavier boxes and other items at the bottom of that stack. A good solution might be to invest in a very affordable modular shelving unit that you can assemble inside the unit, which will hold your items more securely. Be sure the shelves themselves are very sturdy and won't wobble or tip. Once you're done using the storage unit, you can reuse the shelves in your home's garage or basement, or resell them to help recoup their cost.
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