Protect Your Storage Unit Belongings
When you move your belongings into storage, you’re looking for peace of mind. You want to know that when you open that door two, three or six months from now, your sofa is just as clean and your holiday decorations are just as festive as the day you left them. While professional facilities like Los Hermanos Storage maintain strict property-wide pest control, the best defense starts inside your storage unit. Here are the top “pro tips” for keeping uninvited guests out of your space.
The Golden Rule: No Food. Period.
It sounds obvious, but this is the #1 cause of pest issues. Even a “sealed” box of crackers or a bag of birdseed is a beacon for rodents who can smell through plastic and chew through cardboard.
- Deep Clean Appliances: Before storing a microwave, toaster, or fridge, scrub every crumb and wipe away grease. A single breadcrumb is a feast for an ant.
- Check Your Pockets: Ensure no stray granola bars or sticks of gum are hiding in the pockets of stored winter coats or backpacks.
Ditch the Cardboard for Plastic
Cardboard is basically a “snack and a house” for pests. It’s easy to chew through and provides perfect nesting material.
- Airtight Bins: Whenever possible, use heavy-duty plastic bins with snap-on lids. They are much harder for pests to penetrate and have the added bonus of protecting against dust and moisture.
- New Boxes Only: If you must use cardboard, buy new boxes. Grocery store boxes often carry lingering food scents or even hitchhiking bug eggs from the warehouse.
“Air it Out” by Elevating Your Items
Pests love dark, damp, undisturbed corners. You can make your unit much less attractive by improving airflow.
- Use Pallets: Place your boxes and furniture on wooden pallets or shelving. This keeps your items 4–6 inches off the ground, making it harder for crawling insects to move in and preventing moisture buildup under your boxes.
Use Natural “Scent Barriers”
You don’t need harsh chemicals to keep pests away. Many critters have sensitive “sniffers” and hate certain natural scents.
- Peppermint Power: Soak cotton balls in peppermint and or Lavender essential oil and place them in the corners of your unit. Mice and spiders famously detest the smell.
- Cedar Blocks: Toss a few cedar blocks into your clothing bins or near wooden furniture. It smells great to humans but acts as a natural deterrent for moths and ants.
- Dryer Sheets: Tucking a few fresh dryer sheets into your boxes can also act as a simple, low-cost deterrent for many insects.
- Moth Balls: Moth balls probably provide the most effective protection, but they do have a stronger sent than the other scent barriers and will need to replaced periodically as they evaporate over time or loose their scent.
Protect Your Soft Goods
Mattresses and upholstered sofas are the “luxury suites” for pests if they aren’t protected.
- Seal it Up: Use high-quality plastic mattress covers and furniture wraps. Make sure they are taped shut completely so there are no entry points for spiders or moths.
Visit Regularly
The best pest control is you.
Stop by your unit once a month just to take a look around.
- Quick Sweep: A quick broom-sweep of the floor keeps things clean and lets you spot any early signs of trouble, like droppings or chewed corners, before they become a bigger issue.
At Los Hermanos we have implemented pest control around the facility, but Its worth remembering that once you occupy and lock your unit, you are the only one with access.
At Los Hermanos Storage, we take pride in providing a clean, secure environment for your valuables.
Give us a call at 505-445-1525 or reserve your Storage Unit online today!