How to Clean Out a Storage Unit and Stay Organized

How To Clean Out a Storage Unit in 7 Stress-Free Steps

Most people don’t rent a storage unit intending to keep it forever. Maybe a home sale takes longer than expected, or a parent moves into assisted living. Whatever the reason, a temporary solution can turn into long-term, messy storage. And once that unit is loaded with stuff and locked up tight, it’s easy to forget what’s behind the door. 

The work that lies ahead is deciding what to keep and what to toss. A checklist can make your job easier. Here’s how to clean out a storage unit, sort your belongings, and get ready for what’s next.

Where To Start When Cleaning Out a Storage Unit

Are you cleaning out a storage unit to make room for new items or because you want to close the rental account? Either way, knowing your end goal helps you know where to begin. If you’re done with the unit, every item needs to go somewhere: your home, a donation center, or maybe a new buyer. If you’re keeping the unit, you may need to downsize or reorganize.

Start by sorting. You may not want to keep everything; sort unwanted items into piles for junk removal or for donation. Anything you want to keep, neatly pack into moving boxes and label each one.

What You Need to Clean Out a Storage Unit

Digging through a storage unit is a lot of work, and you’ll be glad you came prepared. Here are a few supplies to bring with:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE): The items in storage will likely throw up dust when you start shifting anything around. You’ll want to wear work gloves and dust masks to clean out a storage unit that’s sat untouched for years.
• Trash bags: A kitchen garbage bag will likely split under the weight of everything in the unit, so opt for contractor-grade trash bags, which you can purchase at a home improvement store.
• Cleaning supplies: You’ll need the basics: A broom, disinfectant, and paper towels will handle most cleanup tasks in an old unit.
• Boxes and markers: If you intend to keep anything in the unit, pack it all into boxes labeled with permanent marker before taping it all shut for transport.
• A dolly or hand truck: If you must lift any heavy objects, such as furniture or appliances, use a dolly or hand truck to reduce strain.

How To Clean Out a Storage Unit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Confronting a crowded, cramped storage unit can be a little intimidating. Here’s how to make a confident plan to tackle the mess.

1. Make an Inventory 

To start, pull out your phone and photograph the untouched unit. This gives you a quick reference and overview of what you’re working with. Then, work front to back and keep a log of everything you find. You don’t have to be specific, just general information on each item. Your inventory will help you estimate how many boxes you’ll need, what you can handle yourself, and when you need to call for an extra set of hands.

2. Sort by Categories

Knowing how to get rid of storage unit stuff comes down to sorting. If you have the space, set up separate areas for items: keep, donate, sell, and toss. Every time you pick up an item, place it in one of these categories.

If you’re looking to make a little extra money, post furniture and functional electronics on local listing sites to give them a second life. Donation centers may accept clean clothing, usable furniture, and working appliances, but what each organization accepts varies by location, so call ahead.

3. Pack the Things You No Longer Want

If you’re figuring out how to empty a storage unit fast, start with the items you definitely don’t want to keep. All those unwanted items are slowing your progress, and the more you toss aside the quicker you’ll go. Bag all the junk up, and set aside anything meant for a donation center.

Avoid overpacking boxes, especially with books or other heavy items. If a box feels awkward to lift or carry, consider dividing its contents into smaller loads or get an extra pair of hands to help.

Label boxes by room or contents, whichever works for you, and mark any that contain fragile items. Mark each box as you go so you can identify its contents without prying everything open. 

4. Clean the General Area

Now that the unit’s empty, tidy the space. While cleaning, if you spot any mouse droppings or nesting material, don’t sweep or vacuum it up. Put on some rubber or plastic gloves, spray the affected area with disinfectant, and wipe everything up with paper towels. Once the area is disinfected, finish by sweeping the area and dusting for cobwebs.

5. Dispose of Trash

Time to toss the garbage. Before you start throwing junk in the storage facility’s trash, talk to the main office. Facilities may not allow tenants to put their garbage into the on-site dumpster.

If you don’t want to pile the items in your car, call for some help. Junk removal services like College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving can manage it for you. Our licensed teams are happy to sort and haul your belongings. We recycle or donate up to 70% of the objects we take and properly dispose of the rest.

6. Re-Organize

Keeping the unit? Don’t just push all your stuff back inside. Sort, carefully stack, and organize. If you have any holiday decorations, stack those in the back. Anything you need within the next few weeks, put towards the front. As for a few heavy boxes, place those on the bottom of each stack. 

While you’re organizing, don’t forget to keep wooden objects and cardboard away from the bare concrete, where moisture collects. Lastly, leave room to walk through the middle so you can reach the back wall. This helps you browse your storage unit like a shop aisle.

7. Close Out Your Rental

If you’re canceling your rental agreement, there are a few final steps. First, remove your lock from the door. Once the space is empty and accessible, confirm you’re ending the lease with the office and get the confirmation in writing. With that, ask for a final statement to ensure the account is closed out.

How To Maintain an Organized Storage Unit

If you decide to keep the unit, a few positive habits will help keep the space clean this time around. Focus on a few easily implemented routines, such as:

• Mark the calendar: Plan a regular trip to the storage unit, say, once per month or two to check for leaks, pests, or fallen boxes. Use this time to store anything you don’t actively need at home.
• Maintain your inventory: Keep your storage inventory up-to-date. When you add a new item, add it to the list. If you remove an item from the unit, strike it off the list.
• Do an annual review: Once per year, ask yourself whether you need everything in the unit and whether you still need the unit itself.

When To Get Help Cleaning Out a Storage Unit

It doesn’t seem like much at first: a box full of books, a sleeper sofa against the back wall, and holiday decorations. But it all adds up. When your storage unit grows full to bursting, a simple weekend cleanup feels out of the question. 

College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving can tackle the work. One crew can haul away junk, deliver donations, and move what you’re keeping, so a full storage removal job is handled in one appointment. We partner with local charities to ensure usable items get a second life instead of ending up in a landfill. 

Consider giving us a call if you’re facing:

• Unknown contents: If you haven’t stepped foot in the unit in years, you might not know what’s inside those boxes anymore. The right PPE can help, and a trained crew comes readily equipped.
• Heavy items: A piano or a solid-wood dresser look elegant, but they’re heavier than most think. It’s a two or even three-person job, and certainly not a DIY move.
• Firm deadlines: You have a certain move date or the rental company sent a notice telling you to clear out by a specific time, and that day is quickly approaching. A professional moving and junk removal company can have you out fast. College HUNKS often offers same or next-day services.
• Donations: If you’re packing everything up for charity, consider College HUNKS. We can handle countless boxes instead of you making several trips.

Clean Out a Storage Unit With the Pros

After making your way through the checklist, you should have a better understanding of what’s inside your storage unit, what’s going to the junk and donation piles, and what you want to keep.

If the heavy lifting is the part that’s giving you pause, call a professional crew to handle the job. Whatever’s inside your storage unit, from heavy furniture to old appliances, College HUNKS can handle it. We’re happy to help with your storage unit cleanout, whether you’re moving to a new place or simply spring cleaning.

Call today for a free, no-obligation estimate, and clean your space the easy way.

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