The average household in the U.S. contains up to 300,000 things and so it isn?t surprising that 8.96% of all American households rent a self storage unit. Self storage and portable storage units are a great way to cut down on clutter in your home when you?ve run out of options to reduce the amount of items you own. Here are some of the things portable storage units are perfect for:

• Clothing

Americans have a lot of clothing and a lot of that clothing is worn only during certain times of the year. Cut down on clutter in your closet by storing away apparel you no longer need for the season or clothing you still enjoy wearing but haven?t worn in the past six months.

If it?s winter and you?re storing summer clothing, keep in mind your storage units (whether they’re grounded medium units or portable storage units) will also be affected by the weather. Prepare for the winter by bringing sand bags or cat litter to your unit to keep snow and ice from the edges of your unit, which might keep you from opening the door. Or consider utilizing a climate control storage space if you live in an area where the weather changes often.


• Mementos

Certain mementos have strong sentimental value but largely remain in home storage such as the garage, basement, or attic where they collect dust. 25% of homeowners with a two-car garage use the space for storage rather than their vehicles and up to 32% of American homes have so much storage in their garages they only have room for one car. By keeping your mementos in a portable storage unit or even in cheap storage units, you?ll not only remove heavy clutter from your home and increase space for your vehicles in your garage, but you?d be keeping your treasured items safe from where they could be crushed or harmed by other objects.

However, even when storing your mementos in the optimal place — such as portable storage units — it?s still important to take proper care of your items to see they don?t suffer from damage. Wrap fragile belongings in industrial plastic to keep them safe from dust and insects.


• Old furniture

If old furniture is no longer of use to you, but you?re unable to donate it because of value or sentimental reasons, don?t let it sit in your house and collect dust. Because furniture is larger than most other objects in an American household, it can create more than clutter, but an entire obstacle course with your good furniture.

Consider storing your old furniture in a storage unit, but with a pallet along the unit floor to protect it from any damage that may occur. Clothes kept in storage bins are protected by the environment if snow manages to make its way into your unit through any cracks, but furniture isn?t, so be sure to use pallets to coat your storage unit floor.

However, if your old furniture is simply that — old — and it?s unable to be donated because of damage, another option to consider is a dumpster rental. Dumpster rentals are optimal for houses experiencing an intense spring cleaning so if you?re looking for a total house renewal and need to shed your old furniture, a dumpster rental may be the best choice for you.