When people place items in temporary storage, they’re often looking for a way to declutter and make space in their homes. However, these rental units can quickly become a dusty mess without the proper maintenance and care. Here are three tips for keeping your unit in top shape, so it’s not adding clutter to your life.

Maintain a Clean Storage Unit With This Advice

1. Create Piles for Decluttering

When doing an annual deep clean of your storage unit, keep in mind that you don’t have to keep every item. Use the four-box method to evaluate the value of your belongings. Create one box for items to keep, one to throw away, another for donations, and one for selling in a garage sale or consignment shop. As you sort through everything in temporary storage, place each item in one of these boxes, so it will be easy to decide what to do with the containers when you’re done going through it all. 

2. Clean the Unit & Items

Empty your unit once or twice a year to clean the floor and wipe down the walls. Then, clean everything before putting it back into the unit. That means dusting furniture and boxes and airing out stuffed animals and rugs. Mitigate dust buildup by placing everything in airtight containers, and wipe down the outsides of the boxes.

3. Label Everything

It’s much easier to find what you need in temporary storage when every box and container is labeled. Place a general title on each like, “Holiday” and “Winter Clothes,” and then create a short inventory like, “menorah, ornaments, candles,” and “hats, mittens, wool socks.”

If you’re looking for temporary storage in Marion County, OR, contact Stayton Mini Storage to learn about their available units. Their clean facility has featured affordable rents and friendly customer service since 1993. They provide a variety of unit sizes, including some that are up to 24-feet by 40-feet. Call (503) 769-6464 or visit the website for information on their excellent security that will bring you peace of mind.