How To Store Your Summer Gear Properly

Summer items in a suitcase set on a dock near the ocean shore.

As school bells ring and the temperatures steadily drop, you’ll need to make room for your fall items to take center stage. The only problem is that you’ll have to find an adequate space to store your summer gear before it’s too late! Thankfully, self storage is here to help.

With a few preventive measures, you can take a huge step to store and protect your summer gear before the first leaves of autumn fall. Let our team at Five Star Storage give you some expert tips for organizing and protecting your summer gear to help preserve it for years to come.

Tips for Properly Storing Your Summer Items in the Fall

When you pack up your summer belongings, there are some simple actions you can take to best shield your possessions from the changing weather outside, such as self storage. Here are some tips we recommend you take to preserve your summer gear this upcoming fall.

Seasonal Storage Tips: Choose the Right Location

The best first step to take in summer gear storage is to find a cool, dry location to store your belongings. Avoid areas that are prone to extreme temperatures and moisture, such as your basement or attic. When it comes to a storage unit, make sure the facility you choose is in a prime location, ideally close to where you live, work, or go to school.

Seasonal Storage Tips: Climate-Controlled Storage

A woman folding and packing her summer clothing into cardboard boxes.


If possible, opt toward using climate-controlled storage above all other storage types. Kept at consistent temperatures, these units help create a stable environment to store your temperature-sensitive items all yearlong, rain or snow. Some items that reap the benefits of climate-controlled storage include but are not limited to:

  • Leather and wooden furniture
  • Books and documents
  • Sensitive clothing made of leather and lace
  • Electronics
  • Musical instruments
  • Photographs

Seasonal Storage Tips: Elevate Items

Even though climate-controlled storage can help prevent moisture and humidity from getting to your prized possessions, the odds are never 100%. One simple trick to keep your belongings away from excess moisture is to keep all items elevated off the floor. This can be done by using crates and loose shelving in your storage unit, especially for larger items and boxes.

Seasonal Storage Tips: Use Desiccants

Nothing dampens the mood more than when you open your summer items for the first time and find several of your items soaked with moisture. To prevent this, use desiccants such as silica gel packets to dry up any remaining moisture that might’ve sneaked past the protective forces of your storage unit.

Summer Gear Storage: Clothing

You’ll most likely have a lot of summer clothing go out of style with the shifting season. Thankfully, with self storage, you can keep your style intact for next summer without having to let go of your favorite T-shirt or dress. While you organize your closet, sort out your clothes so you can downsize your wardrobe if needed. Store your clothing in breathable garment bags to prevent mildew and moisture from building up.

Summer Gear Storage: Outdoor Equipment

A backpack surrounded by other outdoor gear and equipment against a white background.


From your toolbox to equipment from summer sports, another set of items you’ll want to keep in great shape is your outdoor equipment. After a thorough cleaning, store your outdoor items in clear containers organized by the item group. If possible, cover your larger equipment, such as patio furniture and bikes, with protective coverings as an extra layer of protection.

Summer Gear Storage: Electronics

It’s not just outdoor belongings that are affected by the change in temperature. Electronic devices can also malfunction due to rapid changes in temperature. That’s why keeping your electronics out of the shifting climate is essential to avoid condensation from seeping into your electronics.

To help, we recommend you rent climate-controlled storage if you plan to store electronic devices.

Fall Storage Prep

Before you move your summer gear into your storage unit, it’s best to prepare your belongings for an extended stay in storage. Here are some useful tips to use to best prepare your summer items before move-in day:

  • Keep inventory
  • Clean each item before moving in
  • Pack up things that float
  • Think vertically
  • Stay organized
  • Declutter beforehand

Securely Store Your Summer Gear With Five Star Storage

Once the summer leads into fall, you’ll need the best self storage to keep your belongings secure. That’s where Five Star Storage can help. With a wide selection of storage units across several state-of-the-art facilities in the northern United States, you can kick back and relax knowing your belongings are kept in tiptop shape with us.

Contact our team or find your nearest Five Star Storage location to rent or reserve your space today!

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