You know that feeling when you finally rent a storage unit? It’s like a giant weight has been lifted. All that stuff that’s been clogging up your garage, your spare room, your life… finally, it has a home that isn’t your home.
The High Chair I Ruined: A Personal Story
I remember when my wife and I did this before a big move. We were so excited to just be done with the packing. We threw our son’s old high chair in the unit. It was a nice one, wooden. We’d just wiped it down after its last use, but we were in a hurry. It was probably still a tiny bit damp from the cleaning.
Big mistake.
Eight months later, we pulled it out. The wood on the seat back was warped. And in the crevices, there was this black, speckled mold. My heart just sank. This was the chair our kid used for two years. We had pictures of him in it. And now it was trash. All because we couldn’t be bothered to let the damn thing dry completely.
I’m telling you this because I want you to learn from my stupid mistake, not your own.
It’s Not About Being Clean, It’s About Preservation
Cleaning your stuff before storage isn’t about being a clean freak. It’s about basic preservation. You’re putting your things into a long, deep sleep. You want them to wake up healthy.
Think about it like this:
You’re not just storing your things. You’re storing whatever is ON your things.
- That invisible film of cooking oil on the kitchen table? In a closed-up space, it can go rancid and seep into the wood, leaving a permanent smell.
- The tiny crumbs in the folds of the couch cushions? That’s a gourmet meal for a family of beetles. They will find it. I’ve seen it. They’ll eat the crumbs, then start on the fabric itself.
- The slight dampness in a towel you used to wipe down the fridge? That’s all the moisture a patch of mildew needs to start a kingdom in the dark.
Your No-Nonsense, “I’ve Been There” Cleaning Guide
So, what should you do? It’s not complicated.
- For anything wooden: Wipe it down. Then, run your hand over it. Does it feel cool or damp anywhere? Let it sit out for another hour. I’m dead serious. Bone dry is the only acceptable state.
- For anything fabric: Vacuum the couch. Really get in there. Then, wash the clothes and linens. Not just the dirty ones. All of them. Body oils are invisible, but pests can smell them from a mile away.
- For anything from the kitchen: Make sure it’s not just clean, but dry. Let your plates and cups air-dry completely before you box them up. And if you’re storing a fridge, for the love of all that is good, leave the door cracked open. A rolled-up towel in the door jamb works perfectly. A sealed fridge is a mold incubator.
We’re Your Partner in Protection
This is the part where I’m supposed to smoothly transition into telling you about our storage units. So here it is, straight.
At A-Affordable Storage, we see this all the time. People put in the work to clean their stuff, and then they trust us with it. We don’t take that lightly. Our job is to make sure the environment we give you is worthy of that effort. We keep our places clean, secure, and dry. We’re not just a warehouse; we’re the final, crucial step in your preservation plan.
You handle the prep. We’ll provide the safe, clean space. It’s a partnership.
Don’t Learn This Lesson the Hard Way
So please, learn from my high-chair heartbreak. Take that extra hour. Be thorough. Your future self will open that storage unit and be greeted by their familiar, well-kept belongings, not a nasty surprise.
And when you’re ready, we’ll be here to help you store it all away safely.
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