Pests can be a huge problem in a storage unit that is not cleaned properly. These pests quickly can overtake the unit and cause damage to the items inside. Additionally, if your unit is located in a multi-storage unit facility, any damages caused to adjacent or joining units due to pests from your storage unit could incur costs. Avoid the risk of damage to your goods and financial obligations due to pest damage by keeping your storage unit clean. Here are a few tips to keep your storage unit in pristine condition.
Store it Dry
We all like to have our tables and our wooden fixtures clean and neat when we store them. Just be sure that you store the wood dry. When cleaning fixtures that require water or wet solvents, give the pieces ample time to dry. Wet furniture is a magnet for termites, ants, and other insects. While you ,may not think a little water can cause major pests issues, you should consider the least amount of water on furniture to be a vital issue. Water which remains on wood can cause damage to the structure of the wood and thereby invite termites to the wood. Termites are a colony based insect which means that they will branch out to other furniture. Water causes mold which will attract flies, maggots, worms, and roaches. These are pests which are not easily gotten rid of.
Air dry your furniture and then wrap the pieces in a tarp to avoid any air moisture getting access to the wood.
Clean out those drawers
It is understandable that you wish to store your goods quickly. However, you must ensure that there is nothing in the drawers which will attract a pest. Clear all drawers of food items. Food items will attract roaches, rats, and other insects. As pest multiply quickly, your unit can quickly become a breeding ground for such pests. When cleaning out drawers use an antiseptic cleaner and/or bleach to kill any bacteria and small food particles which could attract pests to your unit.
Drawers are best stored pulled out of the furniture. The reason is that when they are empty and put into a cupboard, in table, or desk, they provide a nesting ground for pests. Pests seek out spacious accommodations which have little to minimal clutter. Typically, pests prefer dark spaces. If the drawers are properly cleaned and the drawers are filled, then leave them in the furniture. However, if you do not have anything to put within the drawers, keep them in the open to reduce the number of dark places for pests to nest.
Airtight is right
If you wish to minimize the risk for insects and other larger pests, remember that airtight is right. Like a fire, pests require air to grow and to thrive. If your storage unit is free from nesting spots with air, you will not get pests. Use air sealed containers to keep out pests. Ensure that all containers are free from cracks, breaks, and damage and that you fully seal the lids when storing the containers within your storage unit.
Keep it organized
Organization within your storage unit is critical to keeping pests out. The cleaner and neater your unit the less apt you will be to finding pests in your unit. Stack boxes and label them so you know what and where items are. Put larger furniture strategically in your unit to maximize the space. Do not have drawers and furniture with nooks and crannies beside the walls. If you have a great deal of goods to store, have a pathway within your unit to allow for quick access to your goods as needed. Avoid the urge to just haphazardly store boxes and other items in the unit.
Give your unit a check up
Due to the long-term storage unit trend, it is necessary that you do a check up on your unit from time to time. Just as you would go to the doctor for a routine evaluation of the health and well being of a person, so should you go to the unit to ensure the health and well being of your goods. While you may have taken every precaution to have a clean storage unit, there is still the potential for pests. Abandoned, or semi-abandoned storage units are more apt to find pests within their storage units then those units which are cleaned and maintained regularly.
You do not have to clean and maintain the unit daily, but avoid long periods of time away from your storage unit. It is recommended that you do a monthly check of your unit, looking for any signs of pests or pest contributors such as moisture, dirt, dust, etc. By maintaining a healthy storage unit, your goods will be safe and pest free for the duration of your storage time.
