If you live in a hot and humid climate, you need to take this into consideration when renting a storage unit. After all, heat and humidity are two of the biggest threats to your items, and they also invite pests, like cockroaches and rats, to take up residence in storage units. So how do you use self-storage effectively when you live in a hot, humid area? Follow these tips.

Choose climate-controlled units when possible.

In an area with a milder climate, you might only use a climate-controlled unit if you were storing the most sensitive of items. However, in a hot and humid climate, you need to be more generous with your use of climate control. If you're storing anything made from fabric, wood, or paper, opt for climate control. These materials are quite vulnerable to fluctuations in humidity, in particular.

Put some kitty litter in the corner.

The idea of putting kitty litter in a self-storage unit may sound a little strange at first, but it's actually an affordable and effective way to keep moisture levels under control. Just open the box or plastic bucket of kitty litter, and place it on the corner. The litter will absorb humidity so that the items you are storing hopefully do not absorb that humidity. Plan on changing out the litter out every one to two months. If you have a large storage unit, you may want to put a tub of litter in each corner.

Clean linens and cloth items before storing them.

If there is any food residue or anything else smelly on your linens and clothing items, the heat and humidity will amplify those odors while your items are in storage. Make sure you wash these items thoroughly before putting them in storage. Do this a day or two beforehand so your items have lots of time to dry out. You can even wash the items using a baking soda-based cleanser, which will absorb some odors.

Don't load the storage unit on a rainy day.

Make sure you set a rain date for your storage unit loading endeavors so that you're able to reschedule if needed. You don't want to load the unit in the rain, since this might introduce even more moisture to the storage unit — something you are fighting against. 

These self-storage tips will really help keep your items safe in a hot and humid climate. Good luck!