How to Store Your Stuff in Florida Heat Without Climate Control

Short answer: Most furniture, tools, plastic bins and outdoor gear store fine in Florida without climate control. Raise everything off the floor, use sealed plastic bins, add moisture absorbers, and make sure items go in completely dry. Photos, electronics, fine wood antiques and anything that melts are better kept at home or in climate control.

We'll be straight with you: our units at Stockpiles are not climate-controlled. That keeps your rent lower, and for most of what people store, it works just fine. But this is Florida. Summer heat and humidity are real, and a little prep makes the difference between pulling your stuff out in great shape and pulling it out musty.

Here's what we tell every customer.

What stores well without climate control

• Tools, lawn equipment and hardware
• Metal and plastic furniture, outdoor furniture
• Plastic bins of clothes, linens and seasonal decorations
• Sporting, camping and fishing gear
• Appliances (cleaned and fully dry)
• Bikes, ladders, building materials
• Most household furniture, prepped as below

What we'd think twice about

Some things really do better in a climate-controlled space. If these are the bulk of what you're storing, we'd rather you know now than be disappointed later:

• Photos, important papers and keepsakes. Keep these at home if you can.
• Electronics with screens or circuit boards, especially for long periods.
• Fine wood antiques, pianos and leather furniture. Heat and humidity can warp wood and crack leather.
• Candles, vinyl records, and anything that melts.
• Wine, medications, or food of any kind. Food is never allowed; it draws pests.

Seven prep steps that actually work



1. Use plastic bins with lids instead of cardboard for anything fabric or paper. Cardboard soaks up moisture.
2. Get everything off the floor. Put pallets or a few 2x4s down first. Air underneath keeps moisture from wicking up.
3. Make sure everything is bone dry going in. Washers, fridges, coolers, tents and outdoor gear should be wiped and aired out first.
4. Prop open fridge and freezer doors a crack so they don't get musty.
5. Cover furniture with breathable cloth or old sheets, not plastic. Plastic traps moisture against the wood.
6. Toss a few moisture absorbers in. The hanging tub kind from any hardware store. Check and swap them every couple of months in summer.
7. Leave a little air space. Don't pack tight against the walls. Airflow is your friend.

Why drive-up helps

Every unit at Stockpiles is drive-up, so you can check on things quickly, swap out moisture absorbers, and grab what you need without hauling it down a hallway. A five-minute visit every month or two during the summer is the best insurance there is.

Questions?

Call us at (352) 770-7130 and tell us what you're storing. If we think climate control is the better call for your stuff, we'll say so. Still deciding on size? See What Fits in a 10x10 vs 10x20 Storage Unit?

Stockpiles Self Storage, 4437 Treiman Blvd, Ridge Manor, FL 33523. Rent online 24/7 at stockpilesselfstorage.com.