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Essential Cleaning Tips Before Moving Items into Storage

25 June 2024

Are you planning to move items into storage? Whether you’re making space for a home renovation, downsizing, or simply decluttering, preparing your belongings properly is key to keeping them in top condition. However, even this step can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know where to begin. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

Cleaning Tips To Keep In Mind Before Moving Your Items To Storage

Here are some essential house cleaning tips that house cleaning experts swear by to ensure your treasured possessions stay pristine, no matter how long they’re stored.

Sort and Declutter

Although it doesn’t seem like it, sorting and decluttering are two important steps when cleaning your items for storage. Not only does this process reduce the amount of work you’ll need to do, but it also ensures that you are only storing what is necessary. This means fewer items to attract dust, pests, or mould, which can cause significant damage over time. Plus, a decluttered storage unit is easier to manage and organize, making it simpler to locate and access your belongings when you need them.

Use The Right Cleaning Supplies

To effectively clean your items, you’ll need the right supplies. Using the appropriate cleaning tools ensures that your belongings are thoroughly cleaned without causing damage. Essential cleaning supplies include microfiber cloths, mild detergent, disinfectant wipes, a vacuum cleaner with attachments, baking soda, white vinegar, and a soft-bristled brush.

Using the right cleaning supplies is crucial for maintaining the integrity and cleanliness of your belongings. Each of these tools plays a specific role in ensuring your items are thoroughly cleaned and protected from damage, mould, and pests. This careful preparation will help keep your items in excellent condition while they are in storage, aligning with the reasons previously discussed for why cleaning is so important.

Clean Furniture Thoroughly

Furniture, whether it’s wooden, upholstered, or leather, can accumulate a lot of dust and grime. Cleaning it properly before storage prevents these particles from causing damage or attracting pests. For wooden furniture, dust with a microfiber cloth and wipe down with a mixture of water and mild detergent. Upholstered furniture should be vacuumed thoroughly, including cushions and crevices, and spot-cleaned for stains. Leather furniture benefits from a wipe down with a damp cloth followed by a leather conditioner to prevent cracking and drying out.

Wash Textiles

Textiles such as curtains, bedding, and clothing need to be washed and properly dried before storage to prevent odours and mould growth. Using a mild detergent and ensuring items are completely dry before packing them away will keep them fresh and ready for use. Delicate items can be placed in garment bags for added protection.

Clean Appliances

If you’re storing appliances, it’s crucial to clean them to prevent mould and mildew. Refrigerators and freezers should be defrosted and cleaned with a mixture of baking soda and water, with doors left slightly ajar to prevent odours. Washers and dryers need to be wiped down and thoroughly dried. Microwaves and ovens should be cleaned with a mixture of water and white vinegar to remove all food residues. These steps ensure that your appliances remain in good working order and free from unpleasant smells when you retrieve them from storage.

Disinfect Electronics

Electronics can gather a surprising amount of dust and grime, which can affect their performance. Use a microfiber cloth and a gentle cleaner to wipe down screens and surfaces, and compressed air to remove dust from keyboards and other small crevices. This helps keep your electronics in good condition and ready for use when you need them again.

Polish Metal Items

Metal items, such as silverware, tools, and decorative pieces, should be polished before storage to prevent tarnishing. Use an appropriate metal polish and ensure items are dry before packing. This helps maintain their appearance and functionality over time.

Store in Clean, Dry Containers

Using clean, dry storage containers is crucial for protecting your items from dust, moisture, and pests. Plastic bins with lids are ideal for most items, while vacuum-sealed bags work well for clothing and textiles. These containers help maintain the cleanliness and integrity of your belongings, ensuring they remain in good condition throughout their time in storage.

Label Everything

Labelling your storage boxes makes it easier to find items when you need them. Use a permanent marker or printed labels, and be specific about the contents of each box. This organization method saves time and reduces frustration when you need to retrieve something from storage.

Regularly Inspect Stored Items

Even after your items are in storage, it’s important to check on them periodically. Inspect for any signs of moisture, pests, or damage, and address any issues promptly to prevent further deterioration. Regular inspections help ensure that your items remain in good condition and ready for use when you need them.

Why Is It Important To Clean Your Items Before Putting Them Into Storage? 

Below are some reasons why you should never skip the important of cleaning your items before moving them to storage:

Preventing Damage

Dust, dirt, and grime are very common causes of long-term damage to your items. After all, dust particles can scratch the surface of your items, while dirt and grime can attract pests and speed up their deterioration. By cleaning your items beforehand, you can prevent these kinds of damages and keep your items in good condition while in storage.

Avoiding Mold and Mildew

Moisture is the enemy of stored items. If your belongings are not completely dry and clean, they can become breeding grounds for mould and mildew. Mould and mildew not only cause unpleasant odours but can also lead to health issues and irreparable damage to your items.

Deterring Pests

As mentioned above, pests like rodents and insects are attracted to all types of dirt and debris, including food residue, dead skin cells, and even grime. By cleaning your belongings thoroughly, you remove these attractants, making your storage unit less appealing to pests.

Maintaining Value

Whether you’re storing valuable antiques, heirlooms, or everyday items, maintaining their value is important. Clean, well-maintained items are more likely to retain their value over time. This is especially important if you plan to sell or pass on these items in the future.

Ensuring Freshness

Nobody likes retrieving items from storage only to find them musty or unpleasantly scented. Cleaning and properly drying your items before storage helps keep them fresh. This is particularly important for textiles, clothing, and upholstered furniture.

Simplifying Future Use

When you eventually take your items out of storage, you’ll want them to be ready for immediate use. Clean items can be quickly set up or put to use without the need for additional cleaning, saving you time and effort.

Improving Organization

Cleaning your items allows you to sort and organize them before storage. This process can help you decide what to keep, donate, or discard, reducing clutter and making it easier to find and access your items later.

Peace of Mind

Finally, knowing that your items are clean, dry, and well-protected gives you peace of mind. Although self-storage companies ensure their units are clean and well-maintained, taking extra care of your belongings guarantees they are less likely to suffer from damage, deterioration, or pest infestations. This added layer of protection allows you to store your belongings with confidence, knowing they will remain in excellent condition.

Final Thoughts

Taking the time to clean and prepare your items before moving them into storage can extend their lifespan and ensure they remain in good condition. By following these essential cleaning tips, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your belongings are well-protected and ready for future use. Proper cleaning and preparation relate directly to preventing damage, avoiding mould and mildew, deterring pests, maintaining value, ensuring freshness, simplifying future use, improving organization, and providing peace of mind. So, before you pack up that storage unit, grab your cleaning supplies and give your items the care they deserve.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for Tips on Cleaning Out Your Storage Unit, check this out.