How to Prepare Your Storage Unit for the Arrival of Winter

Many people store precious belongings, household items or business stock in self-storage units year round because they provide an inexpensive option to other forms of storage. But if you do have possessions in storage over the cold winter period ahead then it will pay you to prepare your self storage unit for the cold weather to ensure your items survive the winter intact.

A storage unit may be protected from the external elements of rain, snow and wind. However, one of the issues with long-term storage is the moisture that is present naturally in the air inside the unit. Increases and drops in temperature will cause this moisture to condense on internal surfaces, and that includes your possessions.

So with this in find, here are some simple guidelines to protect your stored possessions for the long, cold winter months ahead.

• Make sure all your items are as clean as possible: shake out fabrics to remove dust and generally give everything a good airing.
• If you have stored items made of fabric, metal, leather or wood, make sure they are not covered with plastic sheeting or bubble wrap. This is a common mistake because plastic will trap moisture, which will penetrate these fabrics over time. Use natural materials to cover and protect your items instead, like cotton sheets, woolen blankets, acid-free paper or corrugated cardboard.
• Anything made of leather should be treated with a specialist moisture-repellant leather protector as an added precaution.
• Anything made of wood should be treated with wax for the same reason – to repel moisture.
• Carpets, curtains and rugs should be rolled up with tissue paper or cotton sheets between each item.
• You can minimize tarnishing of silver-plated or solid silver items and protect other metal items by wrapping them in a cotton cover.

The moisture that is naturally present in air is harmful to a variety of materials but those most at risk are wood, fabric, metal and leather. If you have very valuable or precious items made of these materials then you may want to consider investing in a dehumidifier. Alternatively, you may want to rent a climate-controlled self-storage unit to reduce the amount of moisture in the air. You may also want to ask the storage expert onsite as to what packing materials you can use to give your belongings some added protection .

With these tips in mind, you can start to prepare your storage unit for the upcoming winter months, in order to ensure your precious items are truly protected at all times.