How To Keep Odors Out Of Your Storage Unit

Storage units can be a great convenience, whether you're a homeowner who needs a place for some extra furniture or business owner who needs to store stock. When choosing a storage unit, it's a good idea to examine it to ensure that no moisture is getting inside. Even so, any storage unit can get a bit musty over time. If you want to keep odors from building up in your storage unit and infiltrating the things you have inside it, the following tips will help.

Make Use of Vinegar

White vinegar can be very effective as a cleaner in killing mildew and germs. You can wash items with vinegar, or place some vinegar in small containers inside the unit. As the white vinegar inside these open containers evaporates, the acid in the vinegar is transferred to the air and condenses around the unit. This will prevent or eliminate mildew. As an alternative to this, you can clean the walls and mop the floor with the vinegar. But make sure you don't rinse the vinegar away afterward. This will produce a strong smell of vinegar at first, but this will eventually dissipate.

Install a Dehumidifier

If you have an air-conditioned storage unit, this will already function as a dehumidifier. However, if you do not, then installing a dehumidifier and leaving it to operate overnight will help to prevent any mildew from building up inside the unit. Mildew cannot thrive in dry conditions.

Seal Things in Plastic

By sealing your goods in plastics, it will be much more difficult for the mildew to take hold. In addition, it will keep mildew that is on one item from spreading to another. For small items, you can simply place them inside airtight plastic bags or sealable plastic bins. Larger items like furniture can be completely encased using large sheets of plastic wrap. It's a good idea to make sure that all items you seal in plastic are as dry as possible before you seal them.

Remove or Mask the Odor

Place odor absorbing materials in your storage unit to remove the smells from the air. Put small open containers of baking soda or kitty litter throughout the unit. While this will not prevent mildew, it will absorb the odor produced by mildew. You can also mask any odor inside your storage unit by replacing the bad smell with a more pleasant one. For instance, you can spread coffee grounds on the floor of the unit or toss in a piece of cloth that has been soaked in vanilla.