Self-storage is a booming business. In 2024, the US market was estimated between $30 and $40 billion, with over 52,000 self-storage facilities. Clearly, many people are renting self-storage units. I’ve written about this topic before, specifically to help figure out if self-storage is a good solution for your situation. Regardless of the reasons for getting started, most people come to a point when they are ready to clear their unit out and move on. This process can feel daunting, so if you have an unwanted storage unit in your life, here are my thoughts on how to declutter a storage unit.
First, as with any decluttering project, it is important to start with a goal in mind. For example, ask yourself:
- Do I want to completely empty my storage unit and end my contract?
- Do I still want to have the unit, but downsize it to a more affordable unit?
Next, if you are keeping the unit, set a further goal for how you want to use the storage unit. Consider:
- Do I plan on accessing the items in this storage unit on a regular basis, so I need things to be easy to access?
- Is my plan to store things here for a temporary period of time, during which I don’t need access?
- Who, besides myself, needs access to the contents of this unit?
Once you’ve set a vision for where you want to end up, the next step is to make a plan for how you will tackle the project. In general, there are two broad approaches, each with their positives and negatives.
Plan A: Work on the storage unit “full force” until you are finished.
In other words, work consecutive days until the unit has been completely decluttered.
- Pros: Quick, satisfying result.
- Cons: Significant investment of time and energy. Requires a lot of decisions in a short period of time.
Plan B: Whittling away “one bite at a time”
In other words, work for small periods of time, either in the unit or by bringing boxes home, with no specific time pressure, until you have reviewed everything and decluttered what you don’t want.
- Pros: Less overwhelming. Doesn’t require a full-time effort.
- Cons: Takes a longer time to achieve a final result. More susceptible to procrastination.
Choosing between Plan A and Plan B is important because it will determine what resources you need to gather and when.
Now you have a goal and a plan. Before you begin, I recommend you take a couple of preparatory steps.
- Take before photos
- Check with your specific facility for information about rules and procedures they have in place for people removing contents from their units. A few details to check out are:
- Can you place items in the hallway while you are reviewing?
- Do they have tables you can borrow on which to review items? Are you allowed to bring our own table and put it outside of your unit while you are working?
- Are there any restrictions on who can enter and help you?
- Do they need advanced notification if you need to bring in a junk hauler or other vendor?
- What, if any, disposal options are available on site? (e.g., recycling, trash, hazardous waste, electronics, paint, etc.)
- Determine where you will donate items you don’t want and find out from the charity what their restrictions are for what they will/will not accept.
- Decide if you want others to help you on this project. (e.g., friends, family members, professional organizer, junk hauler, “muscles” to help you move heavy items, auction house, reseller, etc.) Set a budget and speak with suppliers to determine who you want to hire.
- Schedule time into your calendar for when you will work on this project. If you go with Plan A, this may be blocking out a week or long weekend. If you go with Plan B, this will look more like a weekly timeslot of a couple of hours each week to gather items and review them.
- Schedule your resources/vendors (if you are using any). For instance, if you are doing Plan A, you may want to schedule a junk hauler or charity to come pick up at the end of the week.
- Gather tools you may need, including gloves, a broom, trash bags, donation bags/boxes, a utility knife to cut open tape on boxes, and rags or wet wipes. You may also wish to have a mask (in case you run into rodent droppings).
Now you have a goal, a plan, and tactics. You are ready to start reviewing. My tips for reviewing are:
- Dress to get dirty. Wear close-toed shoes and clothing that can be tossed into the washing machine.
- Pull items out for review. If you are using Plan A, put items into piles of “categories” of like items as you remove them from the interior. For instance, sporting goods go in one spot, holiday decorations in another, clothing in another, etc. If you are using Plan B, this may be as simple as moving two boxes from the unit into your car to take home.
- Once you have determined what you will review in this “session,” review them in a well-lit, ergonomically friendly location.  Bending over boxes is a quick path to a sore back, so try and get them up to a sorting surface at waist height. You also want to review in a well-lit space so you can see items clearly.
- As you review, ask yourself questions that will help you make decisions. For instance:
- Which is a higher priority to me: keeping this item or emptying this storage unit?
- Do I value this item enough to continue to pay for its monthly storage? Remember that you are paying for your storage unit by the cubic foot. Keeping that amount top of mind can be helpful!
- Consider how you might absorb the belongings into your current living space. Can you accommodate them now? Where (exactly) will you put them? If you don’t have a space now, do you have a plan to make space?
- If an item is in disrepair, seriously consider letting it go. Be honest about your commitment to getting it fixed.
- Push yourself to make a decision on each item. Resist the temptation to pick up an item, consider it, and then put it back where it came from or in another spot in the storage unit “for now.”
- End each session by moving items to their final destination (e.g., drive the donations to the drop off, put the trash in the trash can, shred the sensitive paperwork). If you can’t take this step in the moment, schedule times in your calendar to take care of these tasks.
A few additional thoughts:
Often, we keep items with good intentions, such as to give to a specific person. This is a nice idea, but we may struggle to follow through. When you are decluttering a storage unit, identifying simple solutions is more important than finding the “perfect” solution for each individual item.
Be realistic about the value of selling items. If you have pieces that you believe have value, take photos and contact an auction house and/or look them up on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Sadly, much of what we paid a lot of money for in the past is not worth the effort to sell. Don’t burden yourself with guilt. The money you spent isn’t coming back. It’s okay to just let things go.
For items that you want to continue to keep in your storage unit (if any), reload them with your goal in mind. In order to be able to identify and access what you put back, remember to:
- Go vertical. Bring in shelving so you can take advantage of the full cubic space you are paying for.
- Put the items you think you are most likely to need at eye level.
- Leave some floorspace so you can walk into the storage unit.
- If you have to fill the unit completely, reserve the “front” of the unit for items on wheels so you can easily roll them out of the way to gain access.
- Label all containers.
- Put tall and awkward items in the back corners.
- Keep an inventory in a note on your phone or draw up a sketch to help you remember what you are storing.
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Decluttering and/or emptying a storage unit can feel overwhelming. It will take time to review everything and disburse what you don’t want. However, like any project, it can be done by taking one step at a time.
Have you ever decluttered a storage unit? What tips would you add?
Impressive! Clearing out a storage unit is a big undertaking! Gathering a team to help with heavy items and moving to transportation makes this job easier.
It is a big and often dirty job. I often think this would be a neat niche for a PO!
These are very well-thought out and actionable tips. I have used storage units in the past and emptied them. We held some furniture and boxes of things for our sons in 2 storage units. We ended up emptying the units, taking some things to Goodwill and shipping the furniture to our sons when they requested it.
I also helped organize several storage units for a group I belong to. I and other volunteers did as you suggested and made good use of the vertical space. We were storing decorations and placards for the group which were accessed at different times during the year.
I think storage units are terrific to use when you have either a short term need or you plan to use them as an additional, easy to access, storage room. It’s when things sit in storage for years that the unit is simply a drain on a person’s finances that I believe they (the contents in the storage units) should be reviewed and the purpose revisited.
It can be shocking to realize how much we are spending to store stuff we don’t even want. Each situation is different, and I think they can be a wonderful tool. But if you’ve reached the point where you don’t want to paying for one anymore, these tips might be helpful in getting out!
Great breakdown of both the mindset and the method! I always remind clients that every box they sort is one step closer to freedom—emotional and financial.
That’s a great, positive reminder, Cathy. Small progress is still progress!!
What a comprehensive blog! I have worked in downsizing storage units. Orgainizing your space so that none of it is wasted but that you still have walk-in access to all categories is very important. Using shelving instead of stacking boxes is best. Boxes can collapse under the weight of items stacked on top and it always seems that the box you want is the one on the bottom. Knowing what is in your storage area and making scheduled times to revisit it are important.
I always strongly discourage clients from getting a storage unit unless they have a definite plan for its use. Once things go into the unit and it is set up on an automatic payment plan, people just postpone going in a clearing it.
It is a task that is easy to procrastinate. I understand: it’s physical, dirty, draining work. Still, sometimes it just needs to get done. I’m hoping this post helps people prepare and move as efficiently as possible through the process.
I’ve never had a storage unit, but I think that cost would also be a factor in deciding how to tackle the project. Knowing how much I’d save by getting it done before I have to pay again would be a pretty good motivator for me!
Keep that out-of-pocket expense VERY VISIBLE, right? Remember that this is costing you by the minute. Make sure it is worth it.
Great list of questions! I had a client who needed the storage unit decluttered since she wasn’t living in the area any longer and needed to clear it out. It took about 4 weeks, and many items were recycled or trashed. Then, we organized the rest, and she decided to sell items (Star Wars Legos, valuables, etc…) She did a great job, and selling the items helped her pay for my time. =)
How did she sell the items? I’m curious. Great way to pay for the organizer for sure. 🙂
We had a storage unit for far too long. It was just procrastination. Moving to a different location finally forced us to clean it out. Most o the things were either given away of trashed. We found some things we wanted and had been looking for wondering what had become of them. It was really dumb to keep it that long-cost a fair amount of money. I wish I had read your post long ago! I encourage everyone to regularly go through the storage unit and make decisions before it just becomes a waste of money.
Once items get stashed away, out of sight, they get forgotten. In a storage unit, these items are often buried and difficult to access if they weren’t loaded in properly originally. Great testimony to the reason to let stuff go now!
Wow, Seana, this is a topic I’ve rarely seen covered, and it’s so important. A storage unit has all of the drawbacks of a basement or attic (in that all the appealing things about convenience means people will just throw anything and everything in, willy-nilly with no game plan of organization or structure), plus unique drawbacks: cost, the inconvenience of distance, and the inability to control the temperature or access.
Of all your advice, and I do agree with every bit of it, the key for me has to be “review them in a well-lit, ergonomically friendly location.” When you’re in your own home, you can always go spelunking through your home for more lighting, a folding table, gloves, a change of clothes, etc., but once you’re stuck at the storage facility, you often “make do” in a way that’s bad for your back (and your front and your sides).
I’d like to add one further tip of resources to have on hand. In addition to having tables on which to sort things, you need to have seating. Any time I’ve worked with clients in their storage units, I’ve asked whether there were chairs (or something that would serve as chairs) for sitting as well as tables for sorting, and encouraged them to bring whatever they lacked. One client who didn’t have seating only realized/remembered, once we’d been in her storage unit for 15 minutes, that she wasn’t able to stand for a four-hour session. I’d brought a folding golf chair for my own use, but my client was in so much pain standing that I had to cede it to her. Plus, unlike in your own home, where you might be at ease sitting on the floor (because you know the last time it was swept or vacuumed), you probably won’t want to sit on a storage room floor.
Water and a chair are excellent additions to the supplies list! I know others who have a tough time standing for long periods of time. For those who are working a bit at a time, maybe tuck a folding chair into the storage unit on your first trip so you don’t have to keep lugging one back and forth!