We’re sorry to say this, but “out of sight, out of mind” isn’t a permanent solution. Shoving excess household items into a storage unit will give you peace of mind in the moment, but you’ll have to address what lies behind that door eventually. You should declutter and clean out your storage unit regularly to prevent damage to valuables and make any upcoming moves easier. So grab some boxes and trash bags: It’s time to toss these things from your storage unit. But first, here are our top tips for cleaning out a storage unit.
Steps To Declutter A Storage Unit
Try to visit your storage unit once a year to declutter and toss things out. Gather up a few sturdy boxes for sorting items you want to take home, give away, or recycle. Bring heavy duty garbage bags, gloves to protect your hands, a broom, and old rags or towels for cleaning up spills. You’ll also need a black permanent marker, paper, and a clipboard. Then follow these steps:
- Remove all items from the front of the storage unit so you can access every box and bin. You may need to pull everything out.
- Take inventory of what you have with photos and/or by writing down a list. Use your marker to label any unmarked (or inaccurately marked) boxes.
- Separate boxes and items into three main areas: toss, sell and keep. You may want to further divide these categories into take home, keep in storage, and donate. Put items you will toss in trash bags and items you will give away or sell into labeled boxes.
- Clean the storage unit, wiping up any spills and sweeping up trash and debris.
- Place items you are keeping in storage back in the unit in an organized fashion. Put large, heavy items in the back and things you want to access frequently in the front. Arrange boxes by their contents.
- Pack up what you are taking home, selling, or giving away into your vehicle. Dispose of trash or take it to a hazardous waste collection site.
Things to Toss
Broken Items
Breakables can get damaged when you move them without anyone realizing. Open up boxes to examine the contents, and throw out broken items unless you plan to take something home to repair, like a valuable family heirloom.
Outdated Electronics
Maybe you thought you’d install that car stereo from another decade, but it’s time has passed. Same goes for ancient TVs, monitors, computers, and VCRs. Separate these items into their own box for hazardous waste disposal, along with any old batteries.
Old Clothing
Some families like to use a storage unit for seasonal clothes, while others never get around to donating the kids’ outfits. Take a close look at any clothing you stashed in storage: Does it fit anymore? Is it damaged or out of style? Toss items that are worn, torn, or stained and set aside unwanted clothing in good repair to donate.
Baby Items
Research whether baby items are still deemed safe before you take them home or give them away. Car seats have an expiration date, while old cribs, bouncers, and toys could have been pulled from the market due to safety concerns. Do a quick search online and then toss any banned or recalled baby items.
Expired Products
Old makeup, shampoo, and other beauty products outlive their usefulness after a couple of years when they begin to turn cakey or gummy. Throw them out along with expired medications and food (and by the way, neither of those should be kept in storage because of temperature fluctuations and pests.)
Athletic Equipment
Did the kids leave home before you got around to installing the basketball hoop? Are they too old for the T-ball set? Time to assess whether these items are worth keeping, along with old bikes and balls you’ll never use. Throw out athletic equipment that is damaged beyond repair and sell or donate the rest.
Papers
Boxes of grocery receipts, old bills you handled months ago, and junk mail you never sorted should be tossed out. Even most tax documents can be tossed after six or seven years, according to the IRS (but check with your accountant just to be safe). Let go of old greeting cards, magazines, and newspapers—only keep what you truly value, and consider storing important documents at home or displaying them in an album.
Art And Craft Supplies
Paints, glues, and markers dry out; craft papers can fade; and the teens have outgrown glitter and pipe cleaners. Check the condition of art supplies, take home what you want to keep or donate, and throw the rest away.
