Alright, pull up a chair. Let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind every time I feel my shirt stick to my back before 8 AM. That thick, wet air we get for what feels like nine months out of the year? It’s not just rough on us. It’s a full-on assault on anything you’ve got sitting in a storage unit.

I want to tell you a quick story. Last year, my neighbor, Dave—good guy, terrible at planning—stored a beautiful oak dresser his wife inherited. He put it in a unit, shoved some old blankets on top, and figured it’d be fine. Big mistake. Six months later, the drawers wouldn’t close. The wood had swelled up like it had been left out in the rain. The whole thing had that sad, damp smell of a basement that never dries out. He was crushed. His wife was… well, let’s just say he spent a lot of time on the couch.

The point is, our humidity here is a different animal. It’s sneaky. It doesn’t need a leaky roof to ruin your things; all it needs is air. So, if you’re planning on stashing anything away, you’ve got to be smarter than the weather. Let’s break it down.

Why This is Such a Big Deal? (The Science Part, I Guess)

You know how you take a cold can of soda out of the fridge and it instantly gets wet on the outside? That’s condensation. That’s exactly what happens inside a storage unit. The hot, wet air gets in, then the temperature drops at night, and that moisture has to go somewhere. It settles on every cool, smooth surface it can find.

• Your metal toolbox? Now it’s rusted shut.
• The photo album from your wedding? The pages are stuck together forever.
• That nice leather jacket? Hello, ugly green mold spots.

It’s a quiet, patient disaster. It happens without you even knowing it.

The Single Best Thing You Can Do: Go Climate-Controlled

Look, I’m a practical guy. I know not everything needs the royal treatment. Your kid’s plastic playset? Your Christmas tree in a box? They’ll probably be fine in a standard unit.

But for the things that matter—the stuff with a heartbeat of memory or a real dollar value—a climate-controlled unit isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s the difference between putting your stuff in a shed and putting it in your living room. The system doesn’t just cool the air; it yanks the water right out of it.

Here is my absolute, non-negotiable list of what gets a climate-controlled spot:

• Wood. Any kind. Furniture, antique trunks, picture frames. Wood breathes, and it will suck that moisture right up and swell like a sponge.
• Anything with a plug. TVs, computers, stereos, and kitchen appliances. Moisture plus circuitry equals a very expensive paperweight.
• Paper and Fabric. This is a big one. Books, photo albums, important documents, clothing (especially leather and wool), mattresses, quilts. If it can get a musty smell, it will. And that smell is permanent.
• The “I Can’t Replace This” Stuff. Your grandma’s wedding dress. Your kid’s sports trophies. Your vinyl record collection. If it would break your heart to see it ruined, don’t even think about it. Just get the climate control.

How to Pack Like a Pro? (Even if You’re Not One)

Okay, let’s say you’ve got the right unit. Your job isn’t done. You’ve got to pack like you’re preparing for a flood, because in a way, you are.

1. Clean Everything. I Mean It

Wash those dishes. Wipe down that bookshelf. Vacuum the couch crumbs out of the recliner. Any little bit of dirt or food or grease is a welcome sign for mold and bugs. And for the love of all that is holy, make sure everything is bone-dry. Not kinda dry. Dry.

2. Ditch the Cardboard. Seriously

I know. Boxes are easy. But in Arkansas, a cardboard box is a fancy hotel for moisture and silverfish. They get damp, they get soft, and they fall apart. Your best bet? Those solid plastic totes with the lids that snap on tight. They’re a fortress.

3. Get Some Helpers

You know those little “Do Not Eat” packets that come in new shoes? Those are silica gel. They suck moisture out of the air. You can buy a giant bag of them online for peanuts. Toss a handful into every single plastic tote before you seal it shut.

For the whole unit, grab a few of those hanging moisture absorber buckets (like DampRid). Hang one in each corner. Check them after a month. You’ll be horrified and amazed at how much water they’ve pulled from the air. It’s proof you’re doing the right thing.

Never, Ever, EVER Put Anything Directly on the Floor

Concrete might look solid, but it’s basically a giant sponge. It pulls moisture right up from the ground. If you put a box on it, that box is now wet. Use pallets. Use 2x4s. Use cinderblocks. I don’t care what you use, just get a few inches of air between your stuff and the floor. This is the easiest, cheapest, most effective trick in the book.

A Little Inside Knowledge

Talk to the manager of your storage facility. I’m not just saying that. The good ones have seen it all. They can tell you what they see fail and what they see succeed in our specific climate. They’re a wealth of free, good advice.

And hey, since we’re talking… this is the whole reason we built 3D Storage the way we did. We’re not some big national chain. We’re from here. We’ve lost things to the humidity, too. So we made sure our climate-controlled units are the real deal—clean, secure, and, most importantly, dry.

We want your stuff to be waiting for you exactly as you left it. Not as a rusty, warped, smelly ghost of its former self. A little bit of know-how and the right space make all the difference. Don’t let the swamp air win.