How to Keep Your Storage Unit Mildew-Free during the Winter

At one point or the other, you may need to rent out a storage unit from a company like Midwest Moving and Storage, Inc. for some of your belongings. Finding a storage unit that suits your needs is not usually the problem. The problem is maintaining your belongings in good condition, especially during winter. Below is a guide on how best you can do this during winter to keep mildew at bay.

Climate Control

Items made of leather, wood, clothing material, and paper, such as cardboard, are easily affected by mildew. As you are looking for a storage unit, ensure that it comes with climate control features. Humidity encourages the growth of mildew. Ensure that you keep the humidity below 50% for optimal storage conditions of your belongings. By controlling growth conditions, mildew won't thrive.

Using Desiccants

One of the easiest ways to keep your storage unit mildew-free is by placing desiccants such as silica gel and charcoal within them. These absorb moisture from the atmosphere keeping the humidity levels low within the storage unit. With silica gel, you can hand-make pouches to place them in before keeping them with the stored items. However, you must dry and cool the silica gel every few weeks before placing them back in the storage unit, since they will be wet. Charcoal works well as well, but you should ensure that it is not near anything that stains easily. Getting rid of a charcoal stain is not easy.

Don't Store Damp Items

As already mentioned, humidity levels within a storage unit should be controlled. Damp items contain moisture. As they dry, this moisture content increases the humidity levels in the storage unit, creating ideal growth conditions for mildew. As such, all stored items should be completely dry before storage. Additionally, you should ensure that all the storage surfaces are completely dry before using the storage unit.

Check for Leaks

Checking for leaks is essential for outdoor storage units. All cracks should be sealed before you use a storage unit. With cracks and leaks in the storage unit, moisture will find its way into the storage space, creating ideal conditions for mildew growth.

Thorough Cleaning

If you are storing your boat or items such as fridges, these should be thoroughly cleaned before you put them in storage. Thorough cleaning gets rid of mildew spores that may be lying around during storage. Once you clean, dry them out completely to further minimize the chances of mildew growth.

Conclusion

Mildew growth is a total nuisance and causes plenty of damage to stored items. You may not be able to get rid of mildew entirely, but by taking the steps discussed above, you minimize the optimal conditions for mildew growth within your storage unit.