Man, there’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling. You know the one. You’ve been looking for your favorite winter coat, you finally make the trip down to your storage unit, you slide that door up… and you see it. A little pile of… something. A chewed corner of a box. A weird little nest made of shredded paper.

Ugh. It just makes your skin crawl, doesn’t it?

Those aren’t just boxes. That’s your life in there. Your holiday decorations, your kid’s artwork, your old records. The last thing you want sharing space with all that is a family of mice or a battalion of bugs.

But listen, take a deep breath. This is a totally solvable problem. I’m not just saying that. I’ve been around the storage business for a long time, and I’ve seen it all. The goal isn’t to just hope it doesn’t happen. The goal is to make your unit so downright unappealing that no self-respecting pest would even give it a second glance.

Here at 3D Self Storage, we’re pretty obsessive about this stuff. We hate the idea of your things getting ruined almost as much as you do. So, from one stuff-owner to another, here’s the real, no-BS guide to pest-proofing your unit.

It All Starts Before You Even Leave Your House

This is where most people slip up. They just throw things in boxes and go. But pests are sneaky. They’re attracted to smells you can’t even smell anymore.

• Clean everything. I mean it. That old kitchen chair? Wipe it down. Crumbs are a feast. Those plastic bins from the garage? Wash them. You’d be surprised what’s stuck to the bottom. You’re not just storing your stuff; you’re storing whatever is on your stuff.
• This is the big one: NO FOOD. I don’t care if it’s sealed. I don’t care if it’s canned. I don’t care if it’s just that bag of dog food you “forgot” was in the closet. Do not bring it. Just don’t. It’s the number one reason pests move in. They have a better sense of smell than bloodhounds, I swear.
• Be smart about smells. That potpourri or those strongly scented candles? They might smell “clean” to you, but that powerful artificial scent can actually attract curious insects. Neutral is better.

Your Choice of Box is a Forcefield

Cardboard is the enemy. I’m sorry, it just is. It’s like a cozy, chewable apartment building for pests.

• Plastic tubs are your best friend. Get the ones with the lids that really click shut. The solid, hard-sided ones. They’re sturdy, they stack like a dream, and most importantly, they create a hard barrier that pests can’t get through or smell through. It’s the best money you’ll spend on this whole process.
• If you’re stuck with cardboard, become a tape wizard. Seal every single seam, every flap, every possible entry point with heavy-duty packing tape. You want to make it a frustrating fortress for any bug trying to get in.
• For clothes and fabrics, vacuum bags are magic. They suck all the air out, which means moths and mice can’t smell what’s inside. It also saves you a ton of space, which is a nice bonus.

How You Pack the Unit is a Game of Chess

You can’t just throw your sealed-up boxes in and call it a day. How you arrange things matters.

Get everything off the floor

This is non-negotiable. Go to a hardware store and grab a few wooden pallets or some cheap 2x4s to lay down. Even a few cinder blocks work. This creates an air gap that protects your things from any minor moisture on the concrete (which bugs love) and makes it a harder journey for a little critter.

Don’t build a solid wall of stuff

Leave a little gap between your items and the walls of the unit. This does two things: it helps with air circulation, and it creates a “moat” that lets you easily see if anything has wandered in. If you can see the base of the wall, you can see pest evidence immediately.

Fight smells with smells

Pests hate certain things. Toss some cedar blocks into your bins of clothes. Mice supposedly hate the smell of peppermint—a few cotton balls with peppermint oil on them (placed in a jar lid so it doesn’t touch your stuff) can work wonders. Dryer sheets scattered around can also deter them. It’s a nice, natural first line of defense.

We’re On Your Team

Here’s the thing: you can do everything perfectly, but if the storage facility itself is sloppy, you’re fighting a losing battle. This is what sets a good facility apart.

You should feel comfortable asking us, “Hey, what’s your pest control plan?” Any good facility will have one and will be proud to tell you about it. At 3D Self Storage, we don’t play defense. We play offense. We have a professional service that comes out on a regular schedule to treat the entire property—the halls, the common areas, everything—as a preventative measure. We keep the place spotless because we know clutter outside invites problems inside.

We see it as a partnership. You do your part by packing smart, and we do ours by providing a clean, secure, and proactively maintained environment. We’re both protecting your things.

So next time you swing by to grab something, take two minutes. Peek behind your boxes. Check your cotton balls to see if they need a refresh. It’s a quick check that gives you total peace of mind.

Now go forth and store without fear