Smart Cleaning Tips Before You Store Your Belongings

Before you start placing your items in storage, thoroughly cleaning your belongings is a must. In addition to ensuring your belongings are stored hygienically, it also protects them from damage over time.

Whether you’re thinking about downsizing, storing your seasonal gear, or simply decluttering, cleaning everything before it goes into storage means dust-free and clean belongings when you collect them from storage.

Furniture, appliances, gadgets, and even décor can fall prey to dirt, dust, and moisture, so always ensure the items are thoroughly cleaned and dried before you box, wrap, or store them.

Who this guide helps

• For anyone moving house: Give your stuff a good clean before storage so grime doesn’t get a chance to set in.
• For people renting a storage unit: A quick clean and a bit of prep will help keep away moisture, mildew, mould, and pests.
• For those decluttering their home: Clean it now, and you’ll thank yourself later when you pull it back out.
• For organisers storing off-season gear: Wipe it down so it’s fresh and ready to go when the season changes.

Smart cleaning tips before you store your belongings

A little cleaning now will save you time later, protect your items from damage, and keep pests away. Here are three simple tips to make sure your belongings come out of storage just as good as they went in.

1. Minimise damage

Give your belongings a good clean before putting them in storage. This removes dirt, residue, and moisture that can cause mould, rust, or general wear over time. It’s especially important for high-value items or electronics that don’t mix well with moisture.

2. Stop pests in their tracks

Whether the belongings are dust-coated or covered in sticky residue, unclean items attract pests. If you want to prevent insects and rodents from sniffing out your belongings, clean.

While storage companies have responsibilities around pest control, it’s up to you to keep your storage unit tidy to avoid the need for deep cleaning or individual pest control.

We spoke to an expert who told us that Spacer users generally rent self-storage units for between three and 12 months. “Even the smallest crumb hiding in a cushion cover can attract pests – always dust, wipe, and vacuum your items before placing them in storage.”

3. Save time, keep items ready

By cleaning now, you won’t need to worry about when you take items out of storage. Provided they are well organised and secured in the unit, a simple wipe before display or use should be more than sufficient.

Step-by-step guide to pre-storage cleaning

Before you pack your items away, giving them a proper clean will help keep them in top condition. This means less risk of dust, mould, pests, and damage, resulting in less work when you take them out again.

You can make the process easier by keeping dust under control in your home year-round. A robot vacuum is a great helper for this, picking up crumbs, pet hair, and dust from your floors, rugs, and under furniture, so your pre-storage clean is quicker.

Here’s how to clean different types of belongings before storage:

To pre-storage clean or not

If you’re only placing your belongings in storage for a few weeks, then a simple spot clean should be more than sufficient to ensure your items are safe.

If you’re placing your belongings in long-term storage, which is considered more than a month, you should always clean every item before you place it in storage. This will help prevent pest infestations, mould, mildew, and odours.

If the storage is located outside, you should clean everything before it’s put in storage. Additionally, due to the high risk of moisture exposure, you should take the time to clean and wrap everything carefully.

5 smart cleaning best practices

• Embrace nature cleaners like baking soda and white vinegar to keep odours and residue at bay.
• Always let items dry before you pack, especially shoes and fabrics that take longer to dry.
• Plastic bags can trap moisture, so use breathable containers wherever possible.
• Always clean your storage bins before (and after) use.
• Use labels or a checklist to keep track of everything you have already cleaned to avoid doing double the work.

Summing up

With a little bit of prep, your self-storage unit can take you a long way. Cleaning isn’t solely about keeping things tidy; it’s about making the unpacking process hassle-free and ensuring your valuables are protected. Whether you’re a short-term storage unit user or a long-term storage user, establish a consistent cleaning routine to keep yourself on track.

If you’re looking to become a storage user and your belongings are cleaned, packed, and ready to go, Spacer offers affordable local, secure storage space.