Smart Summer Storage Advice You’ll Actually Use (2025)

Alright, let’s be honest. Your garage is a disaster right now. You’ve got kayaks leaning against bikes, Christmas decorations next to the lawnmower, and you can’t even park your car in there. Sound familiar?

So you’re thinking about a storage unit. Smart move. But summer is a weird time to store stuff. That heat isn’t just uncomfortable for you—it’s a nightmare for your things.

I’m not a corporate shill. My name’s Dave, and my family runs Bristol VA Self Storage over on Main Street. We’ve been at this for 20 years. I’m the guy who actually walks the property, checks on things, and has the awkward conversations when someone’s unit has, well… an odor.

Let me give you the real-deal advice I’d give my brother-in-law.

The Moisture Problem is Real

The heat is one thing. But it’s the humidity that’s the silent killer. That muggy, thick air gets into everything. I once had a customer pull a beautiful wooden rocking chair out of his unit. The wood had swelled so much the joints popped. It was never the same.

And fabric? Don’t get me started. If you store a couch or clothes in a muggy unit, they’ll develop this faint musty smell that never really comes out. It smells like regret.

This is why I always, always tell people to get a climate-controlled unit if they can swing it. It’s not us trying to upsell you. It’s us trying to save you from a huge headache. At our place, Bristol VA Self Storage, it’s simple: our climate-controlled units are just indoor rooms with air conditioning and a dehumidifier running. They feel like your living room. Your stuff sits in a nice, stable, DRY environment. No surprises. If you’re storing anything made of wood, fabric, leather, or paper—just do it.

Your Packing Game Needs to Be Strong

Listen, I see how people pack. They throw everything in garbage bags and call it a day. Two months later, it’s a melted, sticky mess.

Here’s the truth:

• Cardboard boxes are the worst: They’re basically a welcome mat for bugs and mice. They absorb moisture from the floor and get soft. Spend the twenty bucks on those big plastic totes with the locking lids. The ones you see at Home Depot. They’re a game-changer. They stack, they’re tough, and they keep the critters out.
• Get it off the ground: I don’t care if you use our pallets, some cinder blocks, or even just a couple 2x4s. Just get your boxes off the concrete floor. Concrete “sweats” when the temperature changes, and your stuff will be sitting in a puddle you can’t even see.
• Don’t pack it in like a clown car: Leave a little space. Let the air move around. If you jam everything in wall-to-wall, you’re creating a perfect pocket for hot, stagnant, moist air to ruin your day.

The “Absolutely Do Not Store” Hall of Shame

I have to say this every year. Please, for the love of all that is holy, do NOT put these things in your unit:

• Food. I mean any food. A bag of dog food. A case of soda. A single granola bar. It will attract every ant, mouse, and raccoon within a mile. I’ve seen it.
• Anything that’s even a little damp. Your camping tent? Make sure it’s 100% bone-dry. Your patio cushions? Let them bake in the sun for a day after you wash them. Trapped moisture in a hot, sealed space is a science experiment in mold growth.
• The dangerous stuff. Gas cans, propane tanks, paint thinner. The heat can make these things expand and leak. It’s a major fire hazard. Just keep them in your shed.

A Few Weird Tricks That Actually Work

My customers have taught me a lot over the years.

• Throw a few of those cheap dryer sheets in with your stored clothes and linens. It keeps them smelling fresh.
• For wooden furniture, give it a quick wipe with a furniture polish before you store it. It adds a thin protective layer.
• Before you lock the door, take a picture of the inside of your unit with your phone. When you need your Halloween decorations in a hurry, you’ll know exactly which box they’re in.

Look, storing your stuff should make your life easier, not give you something else to lose sleep over. A little bit of common sense goes a long, long way.

And if you’re ever unsure, just ask me. Seriously. That’s why we’re here. At Bristol VA Self Storage, we’re not a big, faceless company. We’re your neighbors. We’ll give you honest advice and make sure your summer doesn’t end with a storage disaster.

Now go enjoy the pool. We’ve got your back.