How to Clean Out a Storage Unit

Maintaining your storage unit

Cleaning out your storage space can be a tedious, time-consuming task; but with this step-by-step tutorial you can do it easily!

1. Set A Date

Make A Plan

Choose A Day Or Weekend For Cleaning Out Your Unit

Plan ahead for cleaning out your storage unit and enlist the assistance of friends or family as necessary to help.

Bring along cleaning supplies: Brooms, dustpans and trash bags are essential. Also include gloves, markers, boxes, trash bags and garbage cans as needed.

2. Take Stock of Your Approach

Inventory: Take an inventory of everything in your unit. This could be as straightforward as compiling a simple list, or more extensive procedures may be necessary.

Divide the unit into segments, and work on each section separately.

3. Sort Items Arrange items by categorization such as sell, donate and trash.

Decision-Making: Make decisions carefully. Ask yourself whether it would be prudent to keep an item that hasn’t been touched for more than 12 months, including its storage box.

4. Clean as You Go

As you remove items, dust and sweep them up before placing back. Dust your boxes before cleaning your unit.

Clean any items you plan to move into your home or another storage facility by using disinfectant spray or wipes.

5. Discard any unnecessary items

Discard any broken or obsolete items immediately by placing them into trash bags.

Donate: Set aside items for donation and bring them directly to a center of donations – some organizations even provide pickup services!

Sell: Do you have valuable items that you no longer require? Consider selling them through an online garage sale or yard sale.

6. Pack Smartly

Label: When packing boxes with contents and their destination (e.g. home, donation center or another storage unit), clearly mark them accordingly to prevent loss of contents during transportation or storage.

Preserve fragile items by wrapping them securely with bubble wrap or newspaper.

7. Documents Needing Handling

Shred sensitive documents to safeguard your privacy.

Digitize: Scan important documents into digital format in order to save space and reduce clutter.

8. Final Cleaning/Deep Cleaning: Once the unit has been emptied, perform a complete and deep clean if necessary – this includes wiping down floors and walls as needed.

Checking: Double check that nothing was forgotten during your trip.

9. Modify Your Inventory Document: When changes have been made to the storage unit, update its inventory list with everything removed or added from storage.

Make a note of all items still to be insured. Take pictures.

10. Transportation Plans Are in Place

Rent a truck: When moving large pieces of furniture, renting a truck may be essential.

Schedule Pick-ups. If you have made arrangements to have donations collected, confirm their time and place of pickup.

Consider Your Storage Needs

Assess: Once your unit has been cleaned out, take the time to consider if renting a smaller space will be necessary or whether you can reduce expenses through other means.

Consider Downsizing: If your space needs have decreased, consider downsizing with a smaller unit.

Follow these steps to efficiently and orderly clean your storage unit. This method will save both money and reduce clutter; take breaks as needed and reward yourself when finished!

This post was written by a professional at Greenbar Storage. Greenbar Storage has a wide range of storage units available in Prineville, Oregon. They offer a variety, including ground-level access, security cameras, 24/7 accessibility, and parking spaces. Locally owned and operated, we are the best choice for convenient and clean storage solutions in the Prineville, Oregon region. All of our commercial storage clients accept deliveries from businesses. Click here to learn more!