Storage units are known for being odor and mildew monsters that can leave all items inside infested with the putrid odor. Furniture, appliances, mattresses, and clothing are some of the main items that people tend to store in storage units – which can all be impacted by the conditions present inside the indoor environment. Although storage facilities can offer many services and amenities to their patrons including climate control, pest control, a gated entrance, and even high-security locks, the storage units unfortunately do not offer a solution to the rather unpleasant odor that can accumulate inside the small area of storage.
What can be done when you start to notice an odor that has developed inside your storage unit that is quickly spreading onto each item inside your personal storage space? Keep reading to learn the best tips and tricks to preventing odors and mildew in a storage unit.
The Problem with Storage Unit Smell
Storage units are prone to developing a musty smell that can permeate throughout the whole unit, leaving lasting consequences upon the items within the controlled environment. There are many things that can cause the odor including improper maintenance, unpackaged or wrapped furniture, and even moisture issues that accumulate inside that can cause damage to materials inside the unit, as well as the potential for mold to grow inside the area.
The issue with storage smell can increase ten-fold, particularly due to the fact that we often do not visit this space on a constant basis. This can lead to an accumulation of the odor when there is no remediation done immediately following the said odor inside the unit. Therefore, keeping an eye out (or a nose!) for distinct odors that have accumulated inside your storage unit can help to mitigate the potential issues that can unfold quickly inside the space.
Moisture Issues Inside Storage Units
Did you know that humidity in indoor spaces should be between 30% and 50%? This range of humidity can help keep a comfortable range for individuals and help to prevent mold and mildew from developing inside these indoor areas.
Moisture can start to accumulate inside spaces like storage units, where anything inside of them are susceptible to mold, mildew, corrosion, and even rust. This can be dangerous especially for stored goods and items of personal value like clothing, photos, wood, and leather. It is highly recommended that these items are stored safely and packaged protectively to avoid the introduction of moisture onto these items inside storage units.
How to Keep a Storage Unit Dry
Moisture can become a major issue inside storage units and can lead to an array of problems. When humidity becomes high and moisture starts to build-up inside a confined space, items can become damaged causing high priced damage. Just one slightly wet item inside a storage unit, can increase humidity levels and lead to the potential development of mold to grow on your belongings.
To prevent moisture from building up inside your storage unit you will need to keep the area dry. A dehumidifier is a safe, easy, and effective way to remove excess moisture from an environment – which will help to prevent stains and damage caused by mold and mildew. Also, you can implement a vapor barrier – a polyethylene plastic or foil that you place on the warm side of the storage unit wall in an effort to block outdoor moisture from intruding inside the storage space.
How to Keep Storage Unit Fresh – All Year Round!
Storage units are tightly confined areas that can collect and gather an amalgam of odors including external factors (like moisture, pests, and weather) and internal factors (furniture odor, clothing, and even wood rot). All of these items inside a storage unit can emit an odor that can taint the whole environment – and leave you with trash bags full of your storage unit items. How can you fight odors away and how to keep storage unit fresh – all year round?
Plastic-wrap Upholstered Furniture
Storage units typically contain bulky furniture including mattresses, couches, tables, and chairs that can all take up a lot of space inside the confined area. If you plan to store these large upholstery or furniture for a long duration of time, you will need to carefully package the items inside. The best way to package these items is to coat them tightly into fitted plastic wrapping. This works for furniture for the same reasons that plastic bins work for smaller items – protecting it from wear, tear, and weathering that could potentially occur to the large upholstered items.
Utilize Essential Oils Inside the Unit
Strong odors that develop inside a confined space can be overbearing and leave a lasting impact on your stored belongings. Essential oils can offer many benefits and aid to odorous issues inside a small environment. Many essential oils will remove that offensive musty odors that are often found in storage units. Therefore, placing a diffuser inside the storage unit could significantly help to eliminate the foul mildew odors.
Use Odor-Absorbing Materials
There are many odor-absorbing products and solutions available on the market, from charcoal, essential oils, and even ozone, but do these odor-absorbing materials really work? Although these solutions can help to minimize some of the odors, the likelihood of it absolving all of the odor is slim. Instead, use a patented technology that can fully eradicate all odors inside the environment.
The
OdorKlenz technology was designed to break down the odors produced throughout environments including sweat, pet odors, smoke, paint, mold and mildew. OdorKlenz provides a variety of different applications for odor removal, quick and easy solutions to odor issues!
Storage units can create many issues – stinky issues at that! Being prepared with careful planning and solutions for possible odor issues can help you to combat these odors once and for all!