Tips to Keep Your Stuff Dry in Self Storage

Keeping dry in climates where it rains all of the time can prove to be a serious challenge. A constant battle against the cold and the damp ensues, and unfortunately this battle will continue when putting items in self storage. 

Avoiding water damage in humid, saturated areas is not beyond your reach. It just takes a little extra care to make sure that your stuff will be safe when it is tucked away in self storage. Comment with any extra tips you may have! 

Wet Weather Storage Tips 

1) Do not use cardboard boxes: Cardboard boxes pull in the moisture from the air, this causes the boxes and possibly your stuff to grow mildew. If you are putting your stuff in storage for more than a month, definitely get plastic containers to store away everything in. Containers will protect your belongings from moisture in the air and any actual water damage. You also can keep the containers for storage in your home, the next time you move, or you can resell them on Craigslist. 

2) Price for humidity: When pricing different self storage units , make sure to ask what level does the company keep the relative humidity at. Relative humidity above 60% can lead to various problems, but in some areas it may be difficult to find anything lower than that. It is good to keep the relative humidity in mind when you are trying to decide which self storage facility to go with. 

3) Consider a climate controlled unit: In a particularly wet climate, you will probably not want to store yourself in outdoor units. This will leave yourself vulnerable to all temperature changes and the crazy levels of humidity. An indoor climate controlled unit keeps the temperature level, and they usually manage the humidity to some degree. 

4) Dehumidifiers: If you live in a wet climate, you are probably already very familiar with dehumidifiers. If you get a self storage unit with power, plug in a dehumidifier to battle some of the moisture. It is dangerous to leave a humidifier unattended for longer periods, so make sure to get a dehumidifier that has a timer. You also may want to occasionally physically check on the dehumidifier to make sure it is in working order.  If your storage unit does not have electricity, consider a non-electric dehumidifier like DampRid. 

5)  Battle the odor before it happens: Even with taking all the necessary precautions, some items may still be affected by the moisture in the air or water damage. A pretty stinky odor can arise items that are getting even just a little bit damp. A small bowl of coal will absorb any of these odors to avoid any unpleasant smells in your storage unit, and it can even prevent the build up of unpleasant smells on your stuff. 

6) Consider Chemicals: Anhydrous calcium chloride tablets and other moisture sucking chemicals are capable of pulling moisture out of the storage unit's air. Keep the chemicals in a small container where you can obviously see them, so they won't spill and make a mess.

7) Dry Everything: Make sure everything is bone dry when you put it in your storage unit. Damp clothing,
boxes, furniture, etc. will not dry off in a closed, dark unit. This is just a recipe for breeding mildew, mold and other atrocities. Try avoid moving on a rainy day if at all possible. If you are moving on a rainy day make sure to cover everything with tarp, trash bags, etc. to make sure items stay drive when you move them into your storage unit.

We understand finding a dry day in damp climates
like the Pacific Northwest can be nearly impossible during wet season!
I feel your pain, happy moving!