Keep Your Storage Unit Organized: 3 Tips

By Allie Caton on September 16, 2017

If you have a storage unit, it might be extremely tempting to just throw any and all junk into it that isn’t presently useful to you. But this can lead you down a dangerous path of disorganization and hoarding.

If you don’t have a system in place when you first rent or buy your storage unit, it would likely bring more complexity to your life than not. Storage units can be great for decongesting your living space, but you also run the risk of cluttering your storage unit to the point that it’s more of a stressor than it needs to be.

Storage units are most efficiently used when storing things under a year. For example, storage units are great for students who need to store their things over the three-month course of summer break. If things sit in a storage unit for years and years and years, at a certain point, the money you are spending on the unit exceeds the value that it provides. Before getting a storage unit, examine your life and your belongings to properly decide whether or not a storage unit makes sense for you.

If you do decide to get a storage unit, make sure you take the proper steps to maintain it so you don’t find yourself hoarding loads of stuff for no reason. Here are a few ways to avoid overstuffing your storage unit.

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1. Set cleaning dates

From the get-go, set a series of dates that you will dedicate to cleaning out your storage unit. From the moment you sign on to own a storage unit, mark your cleaning days on your calendar. Depending on how often you are putting things into your storage unit, you should be cleaning it out at least once a year.

If you are adding things into it frequently, maybe set a couple dates or even full weekends. Cleaning out a storage unit can take a lot of time and coordination between the actual cleaning of it and the transportation of your belongings to another location. Grab a couple friends and buy them lunch to try and get them to help you move the process along.

2. Labeling and layout

When you get your storage unit, make a mental layout of where certain things will go. Group your belongings and designate specific areas of your unit to each group. Put the things that you don’t think you will need for awhile in the back, and put more relevant things in the front for easy access.

Once you’ve done this, make sure you label all your boxes clearly with everything that is in them. Don’t just label a box with “Books,” label the box with the names of the books, or at least smaller distinguishable groups of books. This will make it much, much easier to find things when you need to take things out or are doing a mass clean-out. You can even label the areas of your storage unit with the names of the groupings that you came up with.

Another helpful labeling system is labeling things with when you put them in the unit and during your cleanings. By doing this, you will be able to see how long things have been in your storage unit and can better decide whether they are worth keeping or not if you are likely never going to take it out. If you have items in your storage unit that you haven’t used in over a year, maybe it’s time to think about getting rid of it.

3. Don’t store things of little value

To try and keep your storage unit organized and not overstuffed, be decisive about what you decide to store there. Don’t just put things into it willy-nilly; be picky about what goes in.

Store things that have either a high monetary value or high emotional value. Don’t store things that you can easily replace because, especially for low-cost items, the cost of the storage unit could outweigh the monetary value of what’s inside. Highly emotional items that don’t always have a demanding use are great for storage units because they will likely be in your storage unit for a lot of time. By having things in your storage unit for a lot of time, the money you pay to have the storage unit will be worth it and paid off.

It’s easier to fall into hoarding tendencies than you might think. Storage units are a true organizational test; you have to have a plan and you have to be smart about how you use it so you get your money’s worth. Having an organized plan for your belongings will make the cleaning and removing process so much easier.

By following these three steps, you will be well on your way to creating an organized and accessible space in your storage unit.

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