How to Prepare Your Storage Unit for Winter

Winter brings holiday cheer, cozy sweaters, and special nights warmed by the fireplace. Unfortunately, along with all the familiar and comforting elements of winter come the harsh ice storms, torrential snowfalls, and freezing temperatures that could wreak havoc on your belongings in storage.

At All My Sons Moving & Storage, we’ve been in the business of helping companies and families make a smooth relocation for almost 30 years. We offer storage facilities to help keep belongings safe and secure even during the brutal months of winter.   

Whether you store items year-round or just need temporary space during a relocation, when you put your belongings into storage you want to be sure they will remain in great condition for the duration of their stay. Your storage facility does their part to help protect your belongings by offering state-of-the-art security, pest control, temperature-controlled units, and insurance options in the event of unforeseeable disasters. There are also a few things you can do to help ensure your belongings stay in pristine condition during the winter months.

Here are six steps you can take to prepare your storage unit for winter:

Before you select a storage unit, consider the items that you need to store. Hardy furniture, gym equipment, and lawn tools might be alright for an extended period in a standard storage unit or drive-up unit, but not everything in your household inventory is that durable.

If you’re storing items that are sensitive to changes in temperature such as electronics, books, media collections, and artwork, then it would be best to move your items into a temperature-controlled unit. When your items are stored in a temperature-controlled unit, they are kept within a safe temperature range for the duration of their stay, protecting them from extreme cold and extreme heat.

As you pack your belongings to get ready for their extended stay in storage, be sure to prepare your items for storage. Don’t just throw items in boxes and hope for the best. Review your items going into storage and take extra precautions to make sure you are not inviting pests, mold, or hazards into your unit.

• Never Store Restricted Items: Your storage facility can provide you with a list of items you should not store. Items like perishable food, toxic chemicals, or explosives are typically banned from storage units because they can endanger your other belongings and the entire storage facility. Before you put your belongings in storage, make sure there are no restricted items in your household inventory.

• Inspect Items for Signs of Pests: A surefire way to get an infestation in your storage unit is to bring one in from home. Prior to packing your belongings, look for any signs of pests like rodents, silverfish, moths, or termites in your items. If you find signs of pests, put the infested items aside and do not store them until they have been cleared of pests.

• Clean Items: Crumbs can attract pests and odors can fester while your items sit in storage. Clean your items thoroughly so that they are in good condition. Vacuum couches, scrub food particles from kitchen appliances, and dust books before you put them into storage. 

• Ensure Items are Dry: Your chances of having mold or mildew in your storage unit increase exponentially when you pack items that are wet. Defrost fridges and freezers prior to moving them and dry them completely before you put them away for the winter. Avoid loading your storage unit in the snow or rain and watch for hitchhiking bits of ice.

When you prepare your items for storage and ensure they are clean, dry, and free of pests before you load your unit then you can help ensure your belongings are safe for the duration of their stay.

Your items that are especially vulnerable to excess moisture can be packed with desiccants to protect them. Desiccants like silica gel packets help maintain dryness, which is especially important during winter because the drastic difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures can lead to the buildup of condensation inside your unit. Moisture in your dark storage unit promotes the growth of mold and mildew.

With desiccant packets inside your boxes and placed around your unit, you can help keep excess moisture from building up on your items. This keeps electronics safe from humidity and prevents the growth of mold or mildew on your books, photographs, or important documents.

During winter, moisture could gather on the floor of your storage unit, or a winter storm could lead to snow or ice melt seeping into your unit. The items on the floor of your storage unit would be in the most danger of water damage. You can mitigate these risks by taking your items off the floor and placing them on top of something. There are several great and inexpensive options for elevating your items.

• Bricks or Cinder Blocks: Put a layer of bricks or cinder blocks between your items and the floor and improve air circulation in your unit while keeping your items off the cold ground. Make sure the bricks or cinder blocks you use are in good condition. Cracked or crumbling bricks and cinder blocks could cave under the pressure of your items. 

• Wooden Pallets: Sturdy wooden pallets are a great choice to put under large furniture pieces. Use strong pallets in excellent condition and arrange your furniture on the pallets so that the weight is evenly distributed.

• Shelves: Shelves are a great way to both elevate your items off the floor and keep your storage unit organized so that you can access the items you need easily. Shelves are ideal for plastic bins, boxes, and smaller items you put into storage.

Taking extra precautions and ensuring your items do not come into direct contact with the floor of your storage unit could save your items in the event of a harsh winter storm.

Standard cardboard moving boxes might work for your move, but if your items are in storage for the long haul, especially over the winter, then you might want to pack your items in more weather-resistant containers. Plastic storage bins are less likely to suffer damage and lose shape from excess moisture during winter.

Covering your furniture can protect it from dust, dirt, and pests, but when you cover your furniture, use breathable material like furniture pads or cotton sheets. Plastic wrap and vinyl covers can trap moisture, which promotes the growth of mold and mildew.

Even the most extensive precautions can miss things, and there might be circumstances beyond your control that could lead to damage to your items. One way to catch problems before they become significant is to regularly check your items in storage. Ideally, you should stop by your storage unit once a month or directly after significant weather events like ice storms. 

When you stop by your unit, look for any signs of leaks, water damage, or condensation on your items. Pay attention to how the unit smells because musty scents could be a sign of mold or mildew growth.

With your storage unit adequately prepared for winter, you can curl up by the fireplace together with your loved ones and a good book knowing that your belongings are secure. 

When you’re ready to make your next big move, trust all your moving needs to All My Sons Moving & Storage. We offer comprehensive moving services tailored to meet your needs and budget from professional packing services to commercial moving. To get started on your move call your local All My Sons Moving & Storage location or get your quote online.