How To Prevent Mold in a Storage Unit

If you’ve ever seen mold destroy your belongings, or worse, had it negatively affect your health, then you understand just how harmful this fungus can be. 

 

While it might start out small—a few specks here and there—it has the potential to become a full-blown problem. Mold can run rampant, spreading across your space and destroying your belongings in its wake. 

 

So, it should come as no surprise that if you notice any signs of mold in your storage space, you need to address the issue right away. And if you don’t see any mold, you want to keep it that way! 

 

But how do you keep mold from growing in your unit? Below, we’ve put together our best tips on how to prevent mold in storage units and storage containers. 

 

What Is Mold?

Before addressing our preventive tips, let’s get to know mold a little better. 

 

There’s mold, which is a kind of fungi, and then there’s mildew, which is a specific type of mold. Mold is usually green or black and fuzzy in texture, while mildew tends to be white, gray, or brown and has a powdery composition. Though there are some differences between the two, both of these fungi thrive in warm, damp environments. They can quickly spread on all types of surfaces, from fabric and wood to paper and upholstery. 

 

Mold doesn’t just ruin your belongings—it can also be dangerous to your health. Some kinds of mold can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and even more dangerous symptoms. 

 

If you notice any sort of mold growth on your belongings or around your storage unit, don’t ignore it. While it may look like nothing at first, mold can easily spread and quickly get much worse. Therefore, it’s essential that you immediately remedy the situation by preventing the mold from growing further. This will involve cleaning your belongings and stopping whatever is triggering the mold to grow in the first place. 

 

Where Does Mold Come From?

While there are many types of mold, none of them can grow without access to moisture and warm temperatures. This means mold loves humid spaces, and it can  begin growing within 24 hours of landing on a damp surface. 

 

From there, the spores start to colonize and eventually become visible to the human eye. And, of course, the longer the ideal conditions are available, the more mold will continue to grow. 

 

9 Tips on How to Prevent Mold in Storage Units

Now that you better understand mold and how it grows, what can you do to stop it? 

 

The good news is that there are many ways to prevent mold in storage units. Check out these nine handy tips for keeping your belongings as mold-free as can be. 

 

Tip #1: Wash and Dry All Items 

If you’ve ever accidentally left your sweaty gym clothes or wet swimsuit in your hamper, then there’s a good chance you had a case of mold on your hands. Yuck, right?

 

As you now know, damp environments are the perfect breeding ground for mold. Not to mention, if your clothing is stained or sweaty, it just might be even more enticing for the mold. What’s more, even dirt and dust can give mold something to feed on. That’s why washing and drying your clothing before storing it away is an extremely important step in combating mold growth. 

 

This tip goes beyond just clothing and fabrics, though. To prevent mold on furniture in storage, clean, wipe, and dust down your upholstery. In fact, it’s a good idea to wipe and wash all your items before storing them, taking extra care to ensure they’re 100% dry. 

 

Tip #2: Use Air-Tight Storage Containers

The key to preventing mold is keeping moisture away from your belongings. That’s why we recommend placing your items in sealed, waterproof containers. Something as simple as a plastic bin with a lid will do the trick—again, ensure all items are clean and dry before placing them in those containers. 

 

Tip #3: Stock up on Charcoal

Did you know that charcoal helps absorb water? Many people like to use charcoal briquettes as a natural way to trap moisture, which in turn helps keep their storage units dry. As a bonus, these briquettes can absorb unpleasant odors, too!

 

When placing charcoal briquettes in your storage space, you can sew them into a pocket of fabric or put them in a plastic- or foil-lined bucket. They do lose their potency after a few months, so you will need to periodically replace them. 

 

Tip #4: Consider Using Drying Agents

Drying agents, like silica gel, are one of the best moisture absorbers for storage units. In fact, silica gel can absorb up to 40% of its weight in water. You can pick up silica gel or similar drying agents at your local hardware store or create your own absorbent by sewing a pocket of fabric and filling it with the gel. Once you have your drying agents on hand, simply place them in your storage space or storage containers, and remember to renew them often. 

 

Tip #5: Search for Leaks

Before moving your items into a storage unit, inspect the unit for any leaks, holes, or cracks where moisture can get inside. While you’re at it, check for existing mold. If you notice anything amiss, speak with the storage facility staff about addressing these issues or finding a different unit. Under no circumstances should you move into a storage unit if you suspect it is—or could be—contaminated with mold. 

 

Tip #6: Keep Belongings off the Floor

Another one of our tips on how to prevent mold in storage containers involves keeping your belongings off the floor of your storage unit, which can help prevent condensation from forming. The easiest (and cheapest!) way is to place your items on a wooden pallet. 

 

Tip #7: Choose a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit

When figuring out how to prevent mildew in your storage unit, one of the best ways is to invest in a humidity-controlled storage unit. These units have special features that set a specific temperature level and humidity range. Typically, these climate-controlled units will maintain a temperature range between 55 and 80 degrees and a humidity level of around 50 to 55%. 

 

If you decide not to go with a climate-controlled unit, your belongings may be exposed to extreme temperatures, particularly on a hot day. When it comes to storage in hot weather, you should know that temperatures inside a storage unit can reach over what they are outside. Unfortunately, high temperatures mixed with moisture or humidity in the unit can invite mold to grow. 

 

Tip #8: Periodically Check Humidity Levels

If you don’t have access to a climate-controlled unit, you should regularly monitor the humidity levels yourself. You can purchase a hygrometer from your local hardware store, which will determine the percentage of the relative humidity in your rental space. Typically, a humidity level above 60% is cause for concern. If you start to see an influx in your humidity level, inspect your unit for any sources of moisture. 

 

Tip #9: Frequently Monitor Your Items 

Mold can be sneaky and resilient no matter how many steps you take to prevent it. That’s why it’s essential for you to periodically check on your items and inspect them for any signs of growth. 

 

If you do find mold, immediately remove and clean the contaminated items and search for the cause of the mold. Don’t place your items back in the storage unit until you address whatever is causing the mold to form. 

 

Find Your Storage Unit Today

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when renting a storage unit, but Stor-It is here to help make it a breeze for you. As the largest and oldest storage facility in the Gem State, we have years of experience under our belts, so we can help you with every aspect of moving and storing your belongings. Whether you have questions about storage options or are ready to reserve your own storage unit, contact us today!