Renting a storage unit is a practical alternative if you’re moving to a smaller apartment or until you get a permanent place to stay. However, storage unit rental may leave a huge dent in your bank account, especially if you don’t know how to maximize its space.

There is also the issue of getting a traditional or climate-controlled unit. Don’t worry, though. We’ve rounded up 8 practical tips to keep your storage space organized and easy to access.

1. Get Rid of Unnecessary Clothing and Furniture

The first step to organizing your stuff neatly inside a storage unit is to eliminate all unnecessary items. Getting inspiration from home organization experts, get rid of clothes, books, and other items in your house that you haven’t used in a year. Donate or sell them in a garage sale, or dump them in the dumpster.

2. Get the Right Storage Unit

If storing appliances, electronics, and important documents for a long time, it is best to choose a climate-controlled storage unit to add a layer of protection to your stuff. Aside from protecting your things from extreme temperature changes, you’ll also protect your stuff from warping, cracking, and rotting due to humid conditions inside your unit. Humidity also encourages mildew growth, while air that is too dry can also damage your electronics, musical instruments, antiques, and books.

Renting a climate-controlled storage unit is worth every penny you spend because you can keep your things in pristine condition even for decades. However, if you plan to keep your stuff in the storage unit for a short time, go for the traditional unit.

3. Add Shelving

Adding shelves is helpful, especially if you want to keep the storage unit for a long time. You can buy those stackable shelves to organize your fragile items. If the storage unit owner allows it, you can tack or screw the shelves for an extra layer of protection in case of earthquakes.

Another pro of using shelving is allowing ventilation between your boxes. It is essential to allow ventilation to keep your boxes and items in pristine condition even if stored for extended periods.

4. Consider Using Clear Plastic Storage Boxes

Think of your storage unit as an extension of your house. The first step to organizing your storage unit is to organize your boxes and furniture before moving them.

Label your boxes according to room assignment and contents. It helps if you snap a picture and tape it on the box to “see” inside the box.

Using clear boxes eliminates the need to take photos of your box content. Also, you can coordinate your lids per room for easier recognition. Aside from keeping your items from damage due to mildew, plastic storage boxes also prevent the article from getting dusty.

5. Leave a Center Alley

Leave a center alley in your storage unit to give you enough space to navigate inside. You may think an alley is a waste of space, but it will let you get to your other boxes without having to wade over oversized boxes.

6. Keep Rodents & Pests Out of Your Storage Unit

Rodents are a sure way to create a mess and ruin your items in storage. Be sure to take out food or trash with traces of food from the storage unit. Clean your unit regularly to remove the clutter, and do a deep clean once a year to keep things organized.

Another essential thing to remember is to clean all items before packing them for storage. Clean and wax wood furniture to prevent termites and other pests that may cause damage to your wooden furniture. Clean out your bags and purses, then cover them with individual dust bags.

Clean the inside and outside of appliances and let them dry thoroughly before shoving them into the storage unit. Place a box of opened baking soda inside the fridge to prevent the onset of odors.

7. Put the Heavy and Fragile Items Out of the Way

Place heavy furniture and fragile articles like a curio organizer where traffic is heaviest to avoid accidental damage to your items. Place them near the wall farthest from the boxes you’re likely to use in the future. Need help moving heavy stuff? Many moving companies offer hourly moving help to get your stuff moved into or out of storage. Check out our tips on hiring labor-only movers here.

8. Leave the Items You’ll Likely Use at the Front

To keep your storage unit neat at all times, keep the things you don’t usually use at the back in taped boxes. Keep the boxes with stuff you’ll use near the door of your storage unit. These boxes could hold seasonal clothes and decorations, documents, and other articles you usually use sometime during the year.

One Last Tip

One important tip is to know when to upgrade or downgrade your unit. Do not maximize all the floor space, but leave enough area to move around. If your storage unit is too crowded, it is best to get yourself a bigger storage unit.