So you got a storage unit. Good for you. Feels good to clear out space doesn’t it.
But here’s the thing nobody warns you about.
You lock that door and walk away and think everything’s fine. And it probably is. For a while.
But then one day you come back and open the door and something smells weird. Or you see little droppings on the floor. Or worse you pull out a box and there’s holes in it.
Yeah. That happens.
I’ve seen it. Not just at work but in my own life too. My mom stored some old blankets once. Just blankets nothing special. Tossed them in a unit for a year. When she pulled them out there were mice living in them. Like a whole family. She screamed. I laughed. Then I helped clean it up and it wasn’t funny anymore.
So let’s talk about how you avoid that.
First Thing No Food Ever
I know this sounds stupid simple but you’d be shocked.
People throw bags of rice in boxes without thinking. Or they store kitchen stuff and there’s crumbs in the toaster. Or they toss old Halloween candy in a tub and forget about it.
Mice can smell food from far away. Like really far. And once they find it they tell all their friends.
So go through everything. Check pockets. Check bags. If it’s edible or was ever edible keep it out.
Cardboard Is Your Enemy
Look at a cardboard box. Looks harmless right.
Now look at it like a mouse. To them it’s a snack and a home all in one. They chew right through it. Bugs love it too. Silverfish eat the glue. Roaches hide in the flaps.
Plastic bins are better. The clear ones with the yellow lids. They cost money yeah but they last forever and nothing gets in them. I switched to them years ago and never looked back.
Plus you can stack them high and actually see what’s inside without opening everything.
Get Stuff Off The Ground
Bugs travel on the floor. Mice run along walls. If your boxes are sitting on the concrete they’re easy targets.
Put something down first. Wood pallets work. Those plastic shelves from Lowe’s work. Even just a tarp helps but pallets are better.
Just a few inches off the ground makes a huge difference. Trust me.
The Irish Spring Thing
Okay so this sounds made up but I swear it’s real.
Green Irish Spring soap. The bars.
Mice hate the smell. Bugs hate it. Nobody really knows why but it works.
Buy a few bars. Poke holes in the wrappers so the smell gets out. Toss them around your unit. On boxes in corners whatever.
Your stuff smells fresh and pests stay away. My grandmother did this forever. She wasn’t wrong about much.
Couches And Mattresses Need Love
Don’t just stick a couch in there bare. Please.
Bugs love furniture. It’s warm and dark and soft. They get inside and you never know until you move it again.
They sell bags for this. Furniture bags at U-Haul or Amazon. Wrap it up tight. Same with mattresses.
Clothes too. Vacuum bags work great. Squishes them down and keeps bugs out.
Look Before You Load
When you get to our place take a minute to look at your empty unit. Check the corners. Look along the walls. See anything weird tell us. We’ll deal with it.
Better to know now than after your stuff is in there.
And before you lock up for the last time do one more walk around. Make sure lids are on tight. Make sure nothing fell out of a box. Make sure that bag of potting soil isn’t sitting in the corner.
Stuff I Learned The Hard Way
I stored some Christmas decorations once. Lights and fake trees and all that. Threw them in there and forgot about them for two years. When I opened the box spiders had made webs all through the lights. Took forever to clean.
Now I toss dryer sheets in every box. Keeps things fresh and supposedly bugs don’t like it. Works for me so far.
Also don’t pack your unit like a game of Tetris. Leave some space to walk around. Makes it easier to check on stuff and gives pests fewer hiding spots.
Why We’re Picky About This
We keep our place clean. Pest control comes regular. We set traps and spray and do all the stuff we’re supposed to do.
But here’s the thing. We can’t be inside your boxes. We can’t see if you accidentally stored something you shouldn’t have. That part’s on you.
We’ve seen people lose stuff they really cared about. Old photos. Baby clothes. Furniture from their grandparents. It sucks. We hate seeing it.
So we do our part and ask you to do yours. Pack smart. Use plastic. No food. Keep stuff off the floor.
Do that and your stuff will be fine.
That’s Really It
Storage units aren’t complicated. They’re just space. But space can get invaded if you’re not careful.
You don’t need to be an expert. Just follow this stuff and you’ll be good.
And hey if you ever have questions just ask. We’re here. We store stuff too. We get it.
Now go load up your bins and grab some soap on the way. Your stuff will thank you later.
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