If you have items in storage, you might love the fact that these items are stored off-site and help keep your home clean and clutter-free. However, you might not be sure that your items will be safe from damage this winter. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to prepare your storage unit for the cold months. Then, you won't have to worry as much about your items being damaged.

Put Items on Pallets

It is a good idea to keep your stored items elevated off of the floor anyway, but it's especially smart during the winter. This is because snow and ice could accumulate and melt, and the resulting water could go right underneath your storage unit door. Putting items on pallets will help protect them from this.

Wrap Up Items That Can Be Damaged By Water

For similar reasons why you should put items on pallets, consider wrapping up items that could be damaged by water. You can use thick, heavy plastic to do so. Not only will this help shield your items from water, but it can also help protect them from insects, dust and other things that could damage them. You can buy this heavy plastic in a huge roll from any warehouse store.

Check the Door Seal

Before the winter hits, it's a good idea to check the door seal on your storage unit door to help shield your unit -- and obviously, your belongings -- from melting snow and ice. You should be able to look at it and tell if the door seal is cracked, torn, faded or otherwise showing signs of damage. If you find that it is damaged, you should be able to talk to someone from the storage unit company to have it repaired or replaced.

Keep Sand or Cat Litter on Hand

The area outside of your storage unit door can become very slippery if ice accumulates on it during the winter. A good solution is to keep a bag of sand or kitty litter on hand; then, you can scatter it for traction when you need to get in and out of your storage unit. Just make sure that you use caution when moving items out in the ice, since the sand or cat litter might not provide enough traction for you to do so safely.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways that you can prepare your storage unit for winter. Follow these tips, and you won't have to worry about much in regards to your storage unit when the temperatures plunge.

For more information about self-storage, contact a local business like North Star Mini Storage.