How to Prepare Items for Storage the Right Way? (2025)

You’re staring at that pile of stuff you need to store, and your brain is screaming, “JUST GET IT IN THE UNIT ALREADY!” The last thing you want to do is start cleaning things you’re literally paying to hide away.

But listen to me – I learned this lesson the hard way, so you don’t have to. Last year, I stored some camping gear that was “mostly clean.” You know, a little dirt never hurt anybody, right?

Wrong.

When I opened that unit six months later, my sleeping bag had become science experiment #1. Something had chewed through it to make a nest, and what they didn’t eat was covered in this weird, fuzzy mold. My $300 sleeping bag – toast. My hiking boots? Let’s just say something had been living in them and left presents.

I stood there feeling like a complete idiot. Twenty minutes with a hose and some soap could have saved me hundreds of dollars.

Here’s the cold, hard truth: when you store dirty items, you’re not just storing your stuff – you’re storing problems. And in that dark, quiet space, those problems multiply.

What exactly happens in there?

• That cookie crumb in your kid’s car seat becomes a five-star meal for mice.
• The little bit of moisture in your hiking boots becomes a mold factory.
• The invisible spill on that old chair becomes a permanent stain.
• The slight smell of milk in your cooler becomes… well, something you don’t want to experience.

Here’s what you actually need to do (no fluffy advice):

For soft stuff (couches, mattresses, clothes):

• Vacuum every damn surface – get in those crevices.
• Spot clean any stains you can see.
• Make sure everything is BONE DRY.
• For clothes, just wash them. Seriously. Don’t be lazy.

Furniture: The Big Stuff

This is where most people slack. Don’t be like most people.

• Couches & Upholstered Chairs: Your mission: CRUMBS. Use your vacuum’s crevice tool and go to war between the cushions. This is the most important step for keeping mice out.
• Wood Furniture: Just give it a good wipe-down with a damp cloth to remove dust and grime. Dust holds moisture, and you don’t want that.
• Mattresses: This is non-negotiable. Vacuum every single surface thoroughly. Then, immediately seal it in a proper plastic mattress bag. Not a flimsy sheet—a zippered plastic bag. This is the best $20 you’ll ever spend.

For kitchen things:

• Empty every crumb from your toaster and microwave.
• DEFROST your fridge and wipe it out (I know it’s annoying – do it anyway).
• Leave appliance doors slightly open so air can circulate.
• Make sure dishes are actually clean and dry.

For anything else:

• Wipe it down with a damp cloth at a minimum.
• Make sure there’s no food residue anywhere.
• Let things air out before you seal them in boxes.

The Golden Rule

If you remember nothing else, just ask yourself: “Could this attract a bug or trap moisture?” If the answer is maybe, give it a quick clean. That’s it.

Look – I know this feels like extra work. But trust me, opening a storage unit full of ruined stuff feels way worse than spending an afternoon cleaning.

And when you’ve put in all that work cleaning your things, you want to make sure they’re going somewhere that’ll keep them safe. That’s why at Plaza Mini Storage, we’re obsessive about keeping our units clean, dry, and pest-free. We’re not just storing your stuff – we’re protecting the effort you put into preparing it.

So suck it up, grab some cleaning supplies, and do it right. Your future self will thank you when you open that unit and everything is exactly how you left it – not some nightmare version of your belongings.

Now go be smarter than I was. Your stuff will thank you.