Are you going to be renting a self-storage unit to free up some room in your home? If so, one concern you may have is coming back to the storage unit and finding mold on some of the items. Mold can damage some items, defeating the point of putting them in storage. Mold can also cause an odor in the storage unit that permeates other items. Here are some tips to prevent mold growth from happening.
Don't Store Items on the Floor
If you're using an outdoor storage, do not assume that your unit will stay dry year-round. There may be a huge storm that comes through, and water ends up getting all over the floor of your storage unit. Anything on the ground, like cardboard boxes, is going to soak up that water and cause mold to form. If items are elevated off the ground, even if it's just a few inches, it can prevent those items from becoming damaged by rain water that enters your unit.
All it takes it placing some large boards across the floor that rest on bricks, since the bricks won't absorb the water that comes into the unit. The other option is to rent an indoor storage unit with climate controls to prevent this problem from happening at all.
Completely Dry Appliances
Are you going to be storing a refrigerator or freezer in your storage unit? If so, you'll want to make sure that these items are completely dry before they go into storage. This means giving yourself plenty of time before you plan to put the item into storage so that a freezer can defrost completely. Then dry the inside of the unit with a towel to ensure there is no moisture in it.
Once you move the appliance into the storage unit, you'll want to prop the door open to allow air to circulate in and out of it. This will prevent accidental mold growth that can happen when moisture becomes trapped inside with the door closed.
Don't Spray Items With Perfumes
A mistake that you can make is spraying items before they go into storage with a scented perfume with the hope that it will prevent the item from smelling when you take it out of storage. These spray scents are just moisture that is going to actually cause mold growth on items if you are not careful. Always make sure items are dry and free of moisture on the surface when putting them away in storage to prevent mold growth.
If you want to store your items out of your home, check out some local self storage services and follow these tips to make sure your items are just as good coming out as when you put them in.