December 18, 2023 - McDowell Mountain Storage Blog

Updated July 27, 2026

Storing clothes in a storage unit takes a bit more strategy than just boxing everything up. Done right, your garments stay in good condition, stay easy to find, and come out exactly as you packed them. Here’s how to do it well.

1. Assess and Prepare the Storage Unit

Before storing anything, inspect the unit. It should be dry, orderly, and free of pests. If it lacks shelving or hanging options, add some, keeping clothes off the floor makes a real difference. Check for leaks or drafts ahead of time rather than discovering them after your clothes have been sitting for months.

2. Sort and Organize by Season and Type

Group clothing by season, type, and how often you wear it, summer separate from winter, shirts with shirts, pants with pants. This makes finding a specific item later much faster, especially seasonal pieces you only need a few months a year, and it means you’re not digging through the whole unit and disturbing everything each time.

Grouping similar items also protects them: delicate fabrics stored apart from coarser materials avoid the friction that causes snags and tears. For extra protection, pair this with a climate-controlled unit, cedar chips to deter pests, and vacuum-sealed bags for compact, out-of-season storage.

3. Clean and Wrap Clothes Before Storing

Clean everything thoroughly before it goes into storage. Stains and odors set in over time, and cleaning first prevents that. Fold or roll items neatly, folding well isn’t just about saving space, it also prevents the kind of creasing that becomes a permanent wrinkle over months of storage. Wrap items in tissue paper or garment bags for an added layer of protection against dust.

4. Choose the Right Storage Containers

For Scottsdale’s dry climate, airtight or vacuum-sealed containers work well for out-of-season items you won’t be opening often, they keep out dust and pests. Just make sure everything is completely dry before sealing, and drop in a moisture absorber (see Tip 7) as extra insurance. Clear plastic containers make it easy to see what’s inside without opening every box, and having a few different sizes on hand helps you fit different garment types comfortably.

5. Fold and Stack Efficiently

Good folding technique keeps clothes wrinkle-free and saves space. Stack containers vertically rather than horizontally, it uses your unit’s height, and makes it easier to find one item without unstacking everything else.

6. Use Hanging Storage for Delicate Items

For anything delicate or prone to wrinkling, dresses, suits, formal wear, use sturdy hangers and a wardrobe box or clothing rack instead of folding. Hanging storage holds a garment’s shape over long periods in a way folded storage can’t, which matters most for pieces you want to pull out ready to wear.

7. Control Moisture with Desiccants

Silica gel packets or other desiccants absorb ambient moisture and help prevent the mold and mildew that thrive in humid, enclosed spaces. Drop a few into containers, especially airtight ones, to keep the environment inside genuinely dry rather than just sealed.

8. Label Everything and Keep an Inventory

Label each container and keep an inventory list of what’s inside and where. This alone saves the most time of any tip here, no more opening five boxes to find one sweater.

9. Set Up Your Unit for Easy Access

Put seasonal or rarely used items toward the back, everyday essentials up front. Leave a walkable aisle so you’re not climbing over boxes to reach something. A little planning here pays off every single time you visit the unit.

10. Check In Periodically

Inspect your unit every few months for pests, mold, or water damage, and catch problems early rather than after they’ve spread to your clothes. Rotate seasonal items as needed and keep your inventory list current.

Following these steps keeps your clothes in good condition, makes the most of your space, and means you can actually find what you’re looking for when you need it.

Reserve Your Scottsdale Temperature-Controlled Storage Unit Today

Ready to store your clothes the right way? McDowell Mountain Community Storage offers temperature-controlled units built for exactly this. Reserve your unit in Scottsdale today for a secure, well-maintained space for your wardrobe.

FAQs

Are there specific types of containers or bags suitable for clothing storage in a unit?

Yes. Airtight containers protect clothes from dust, moisture, and pests, and clear plastic lets you see contents without opening every box. For hanging items like dresses and suits, garment bags help prevent wrinkles.

How can I prevent mold and mildew from affecting my clothes in storage?

Make sure clothes are completely clean and dry before storing them, moisture is what attracts mold, not the fabric itself. In Scottsdale’s dry climate, airtight or vacuum-sealed containers are fine as long as items go in dry and you add a moisture absorber like silica gel inside. A climate-controlled unit adds another layer of protection by keeping humidity stable year-round. Check on stored items periodically to catch any moisture issues early.

Are there any precautions for storing delicate or fragile clothing items?

Clean items thoroughly first, then wrap them in tissue paper or use garment bags. Fold carefully or use padded hangers to avoid stretching, and store in a sturdy, protective container in a cool, dry, dark spot.

How do I keep pests away from my clothes in a storage unit?

Start with a clean storage area. Cedar balls or lavender sachets help deter insects, and sealed, airtight containers create a physical barrier pests can’t chew through the way they can cardboard. Check your unit periodically for any signs of pests.

How often should I check my clothes in the storage unit to ensure their condition?

Every few months is a good baseline, more often in extreme conditions. Regular checks let you catch pests, mold, or moisture issues early and give you a chance to rotate seasonal items and update your inventory.

Updated July 25, 2026

Scottsdale summers aren’t gentle on stored belongings. Average highs push past 105°F for most of July and August, with peak days regularly topping 110°F, and a standard, non-climate-controlled unit can run even hotter than the outside air by afternoon. If you’re storing anything beyond patio furniture, that heat is doing real damage before you notice it. McDowell Mountain Community Storage keeps every unit indoor and air-conditioned for exactly this reason. Here’s what that actually protects against, and why it matters more here than almost anywhere else in the country.

Why Scottsdale’s Desert Heat Makes Climate Control Worth It

A standard, non-climate-controlled unit tracks the outside temperature closely, and in a Scottsdale summer, that means long stretches above 100°F combined with wide day-to-night swings. Wood furniture cracks and warps as it expands and contracts. Electronics, from laptops to home audio equipment, can suffer permanent damage to internal components after repeated heat cycling. Vinyl records warp, photographs and documents yellow and become brittle, and adhesives in furniture, artwork, and instruments break down faster than they would in a stable environment.

Because every unit at McDowell Mountain Community Storage is indoor and air-conditioned, that swing gets removed entirely. Your belongings aren’t sitting behind a metal door absorbing direct sun and radiant heat all afternoon, they’re inside a conditioned building. That’s the entire value proposition: it’s not about comfort, it’s about removing the temperature swings that cause the actual damage.

What Climate Control Protects Against

Beyond heat itself, Arizona’s dry conditions bring a different but related risk: static electricity and material brittleness from very low humidity, followed by the monsoon season’s sudden humidity spikes. That combination of extremes is harder on stored items than steady heat or steady humidity alone would be. A properly climate-controlled unit manages both sides of that swing, which matters for:

Wood furniture and heirlooms: Stable humidity prevents warping, cracking, and joint separation.
Electronics and appliances: Consistent temperatures protect internal components from heat-cycle damage that shortens their lifespan.
Documents, photos, and artwork: Controlled humidity slows yellowing, brittleness, and mold growth on paper-based and canvas materials.
Musical instruments and antiques: Wood, strings, and finishes are especially sensitive to both temperature and humidity extremes.
Wine and specialty items: Temperature stability is essential for anything with a narrow safe storage range.

Security and Access

McDowell Mountain Community Storage pairs its indoor, air-conditioned units with 4k digital security cameras, multiple loading docks, and two elevators for upper-floor units, so moving items in and out doesn’t mean hauling everything up a single stairwell in the heat. The facility is open 7 days a week and locally owned and operated, which matters if you need to talk to someone who actually knows the building rather than a call center. Indoor access also means you’re not loading or unloading in direct summer sun, which matters as much for your own comfort as it does for whatever you’re carrying in.

Is Climate-Controlled Storage Worth the Extra Cost?

Climate-controlled units do cost more than standard units. In a market like Scottsdale, that premium is doing real work: it’s the difference between furniture and electronics that hold up over years of storage and ones that show heat and humidity damage within a single summer. For anything you’d be upset to replace, wood furniture, electronics, documents, artwork, instruments, the added cost is generally the cheaper option compared to replacing damaged items later.

Reserve a Climate-Controlled Unit in Scottsdale

McDowell Mountain Community Storage offers climate-controlled units built for exactly this climate, protecting furniture, electronics, and other sensitive items from the desert heat and humidity swings that damage standard storage. Reserve your climate-controlled unit in Scottsdale or call (602) 899-5487 to talk through the right size for what you’re storing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is climate-controlled storage more expensive than standard storage?

Yes. Climate-controlled units typically cost more because the facility is actively managing temperature and humidity rather than just providing space. Given how extreme Scottsdale summers get, that premium tends to pay for itself for anything sensitive to heat.

Can I access my belongings easily in a climate-controlled unit?

Yes. McDowell Mountain Community Storage offers indoor access, multiple loading docks, and two elevators for upper-floor units, so you’re not hauling items up stairs or retrieving them in direct summer heat.

What items are most at risk from extreme temperature changes?

Electronics, wood furniture, artwork, musical instruments, documents, photographs, and wine are the most commonly damaged items in non-climate-controlled units, especially in a climate with Scottsdale’s summer extremes.

What happens if I store sensitive items without climate control?

Expect a higher risk of warping, corrosion, mold growth, and structural degradation. In Scottsdale specifically, the combination of extreme summer heat and dry conditions accelerates this compared to milder climates.

What should I look for when choosing a climate-controlled facility?

Check the facility’s actual temperature range (not just “climate-controlled” as a label), humidity control, security features, cleanliness and pest control, and accessibility. See our full FAQ for more on choosing the right unit.

Month: December 2023

How To Effectively Store Clothes in a Storage Unit