Plenty of homeowners in Roselle rent a storage unit during a move, a renovation or just to clear out the garage. It's easy to lock the door and forget about it for months. The trouble is that a closed, quiet unit full of boxes, fabric and furniture is also appealing to pests, and by the time you open it again, the damage is done. Below, we'll cover the pests that show up in storage units, how they get in and how to pack and visit so your belongings stay protected. If you find moth damage on stored clothing or rugs, our clothing moth treatment can help.
Which Pests Show Up In Storage Units
The pests that cause trouble in storage are the ones that like dark, undisturbed spaces and can live on what's stored there.
- Mice and rats. Rodents chew through cardboard, nest in upholstered furniture and mattresses and shred paper and fabric for bedding. Their droppings and urine stain and contaminate belongings.
- Clothing moths and carpet beetles. Their larvae feed on wool, silk, fur, feathers and other natural fibers, leaving holes in clothes, blankets and rugs.
- Cockroaches. Roaches hide in cardboard and between stacked items, and can ride in on boxes that came from an infested space.
- Bed bugs. They hitchhike on used furniture, mattresses and bedding and can survive a long time without feeding.
- Silverfish. These feed on paper, book bindings, photos and cardboard, especially where it's damp.
How Pests Get Into A Storage Unit
Most pests don't break in. They're carried in. Boxes from a basement or garage, a secondhand couch or a bag of clothes can bring insects, eggs or rodents along. Food is the other big draw. A forgotten box of snacks, pet food, birdseed or grass seed gives pests a reason to move in and stay.
Rodents can also squeeze through small gaps under doors and between units. Every facility is different, so it's worth asking the office how they handle pest issues and what you're allowed to store.
Signs Of Pests In Your Unit
When you visit, look before you start moving things around.
- Droppings on the floor, shelves or box lids.
- Chewed corners on boxes, shredded paper or fabric piled in a corner.
- Small holes in wool clothing, or fine debris under stored rugs.
- Dead insects, shed skins or small dark spots on mattress seams.
- A musty or stale smell that wasn't there before.
How To Pack A Pest-Resistant Storage Unit
Good packing does most of the work. These steps make your unit far less inviting.
- Clean everything first. Wash and dry clothing and linens, vacuum furniture and wipe down appliances. Crumbs and stains attract pests.
- Use sealed plastic bins. Hard plastic bins with tight lids hold up far better than cardboard, which rodents chew and roaches hide in.
- Never store food. That includes pet food, birdseed, grass seed and anything scented like candles or soap that could draw interest.
- Protect fabric and furniture. Wrap mattresses and upholstered pieces in sealed plastic covers. Store wool and natural fibers clean, in airtight bins.
- Get things off the floor. Use shelves or pallets, and leave a narrow aisle so you can see and reach every side of your stack.
- Visit regularly. A quick check every few weeks lets you catch a problem early.
Before you set out traps, baits or sprays of your own, check your rental agreement and talk to the facility office. Many facilities have their own rules about what can be used inside a unit.
Bringing Items Home Without Bringing Pests
When you empty the unit, check items before they come inside. Open bins in the driveway or garage, shake out fabric and look over furniture seams, drawers and the undersides of tables and chairs. Wash and dry clothing and bedding before putting it away. If you see any sign of bed bugs, keep those items out of the house and get them inspected first.
When To Call A Professional
If you find signs of mice, bed bugs or roaches in your stored belongings, or pests show up at home after you bring items back, it's time for professional help. EcoFusion technicians can inspect the items and your home, identify the pest and recommend a treatment plan using EPA-registered, eco-safe products. If mice have followed your things home, our rodent exclusion service finds and seals the gaps they use to get inside. Facility managers looking for ongoing service can see our self storage pest control page.
A storage unit should keep your things safe, not feed the neighborhood mice. Clean before you pack, choose sealed bins, skip the food and check in on your unit regularly. If you're in Roselle and something has already gotten into your stored belongings, EcoFusion Pest Control can help you sort it out.