How to Organize Your Storage Unit: Tips and Tricks That Actually Work

You’re paying for a storage unit every month. If you can’t find anything inside it, you’re wasting money on an expensive junk drawer. Here’s how to organize a storage unit so it actually works for you — whether you’re in Tyndall, Springfield, Freeman, or anywhere in southeast South Dakota.

Why Most Storage Units Turn Into Chaos

It starts out fine. You move in a few boxes, stack them neatly, and think, “I’ll keep this organized.” Six months later, you’re pulling everything out to find a single Christmas ornament box buried in the back corner.

The problem isn’t laziness. It’s that most people don’t have a system. They pack the unit the way they’d pack a truck — fill it until nothing else fits, then shut the door and hope for the best.

That works for a one-time move. It doesn’t work for ongoing access. And in southeast South Dakota, where you’re rotating seasonal gear in and out constantly — hunting stuff, holiday decorations, farming supplies, boat accessories — you need a unit you can actually use.

Start With a Plan Before You Load a Single Box

Draw a Simple Layout

Your storage unit is a rectangle. Draw it on a piece of paper. Mark the door. Now plan zones:

• Back wall: Stuff you won’t need for months (off-season items, archive boxes)
• Middle: Items you’ll access occasionally (seasonal decorations, extra furniture)
• Front/Door area: Things you’ll grab regularly (tools, current-season gear, frequently needed boxes)

This is the single most important thing you can do. Everything else flows from it.

Make an Inventory

You don’t need fancy software. A notebook or a simple spreadsheet on your phone works. List every box and its contents. Number the boxes to match your list. When you need something, check the list first instead of opening 15 boxes.

The Right Supplies Make Everything Easier

Uniform Box Sizes

This is where most people go wrong. They use whatever boxes they can find — liquor store boxes, random Amazon boxes, old moving boxes from three moves ago. Different sizes don’t stack well, waste space, and collapse under weight.

Buy uniform boxes in 2-3 sizes: - Small (1.5 cubic feet): Books, heavy items, tools - Medium (3 cubic feet): Kitchen stuff, clothes, general household - Large (4.5 cubic feet): Lightweight bulky items — pillows, linens, lampshades

You can find moving boxes at hardware stores in Yankton, or order them online. The $50-75 you spend on proper boxes saves you hours of frustration.

Shelving

If you’re keeping a unit longer than a few months, shelving changes the game. Freestanding metal shelving units ($30-50 each at any hardware store) let you:

• Stack boxes without crushing the bottom ones
• Access items at eye level instead of digging
• Use vertical space efficiently
• Keep items off the floor (important for flood-prone areas)

Place shelving units along the side walls. Leave a center aisle wide enough to walk through comfortably.

Clear Plastic Bins for Frequently Accessed Items

For things you’ll grab often — seasonal clothes, sports equipment, holiday decorations — clear bins let you see what’s inside without opening them. Label them anyway, but the visual confirmation saves time.

The Loading Strategy

Heavy on the Bottom, Light on Top

This seems obvious, but people forget when they’re tired and just want to finish loading. Heavy boxes (books, tools, kitchenware) go on the floor or bottom shelves. Light boxes (linens, clothes, decorations) go on top.

Create an Aisle

Never pack a unit solid from wall to wall. Leave a walkway down the center — at least 2 feet wide, ideally 3. Yes, you “lose” some space. But a unit you can navigate is worth ten times more than a unit that’s packed to the gills but requires unloading half of it to reach anything.

Furniture Strategy

• Disassemble what you can. Table legs come off. Bed frames break down. Shelving units flatten. This saves enormous space.
• Stand sofas on end if ceiling height allows — they take up half the floor space
• Put drawers to work. Leave items in dresser drawers. It’s free storage space.
• Wrap furniture in moving blankets or plastic wrap to prevent scratches and dust

The “Last In, First Out” Principle

Think about what you’ll need first and load it last. Moving into a new apartment in Springfield? The kitchen boxes should be near the door, not behind the couch and three bookshelves.

Labeling: The Boring Step That Saves Hours

Label every single box on at least two sides (so you can read it from the aisle regardless of orientation). Include:

• Box number (matching your inventory list)
• Room or category (Kitchen, Bedroom, Holiday, Hunting)
• Brief contents (“Pots, pans, utensils” not just “Kitchen”)
• Priority (Mark “OPEN FIRST” boxes if this is move-related)

Use a thick black marker on the box itself or on colored tape. Some people color-code by room — blue tape for bedroom, red for kitchen, etc. It works surprisingly well.

Organizing by Category

Seasonal Rotation Items

Southeast South Dakota means you’re swapping gear constantly. Set up a seasonal zone near the front of your unit:

• Winter gear (ice fishing equipment, snow gear, heavy coats) goes in during spring, comes out in fall
• Summer gear (camping supplies, water toys, lawn equipment) goes in during fall, comes out in spring
• Holiday decorations rotate by season — keep them organized in labeled bins

Documents and Records

If you’re storing paperwork — tax records, business files, family documents — use file boxes with lids. Raise them off the ground on shelves or pallets. Label by year or category. Consider scanning critical documents and storing digital copies elsewhere.

Clothing

Vacuum-seal bags for off-season clothing. They compress items to a fraction of their size and keep moisture out. Don’t use garbage bags — they trap moisture and promote mildew. In South Dakota’s variable humidity, this matters more than you’d think.

Tools and Hardware

Pegboard mounted to a wall (if your facility allows it) or a freestanding tool organizer keeps hand tools accessible. Power tools should be stored with batteries removed. If you’ve got contractor equipment, keep it near the door for easy access.

Climate and Pest Considerations

Moisture Control

Even in a well-built storage unit, moisture can accumulate during South Dakota’s spring thaw and summer humidity. Preventive measures:

• Desiccant buckets (DampRid or similar) — replace every 30-60 days
• Pallets or 2x4s under boxes if your unit has a concrete floor
• Never store directly against exterior walls — leave a 2-3 inch gap for air circulation
• Climate-controlled units are worth considering for sensitive items — here’s how to decide

Pest Prevention

Mice are the number one enemy of storage units in rural South Dakota. They’ll chew through cardboard, nest in furniture, and destroy clothing.

• Don’t store food. Ever. Not even canned goods if you can avoid it.
• Use plastic bins instead of cardboard for anything you care about
• Mothballs or cotton balls with peppermint oil deter rodents (though results vary)
• Check your unit every 4-6 weeks for signs of activity — droppings, chew marks, nesting material

The Monthly Check-In

Set a reminder to visit your unit at least once a month. During your visit:

1. Walk the aisle — check for moisture, pest signs, or shifted boxes
2. Refresh desiccant if needed
3. Update your inventory if you added or removed items
4. Check locks and door seals

This 15-minute visit prevents the “I opened my unit after a year and everything was ruined” scenario that nobody wants.

Common Organization Mistakes

Overpacking boxes. A box you can’t lift is a box that’s going to sit wherever it lands. Keep boxes under 50 pounds.

Not leaving an aisle. We said it already. It’s that important.

Using trash bags. They tear, trap moisture, and you can’t see or label what’s inside. Just don’t.

Storing everything “temporarily.” Temporary storage has a way of becoming permanent. If you haven’t accessed something in two years, it might be time to sell, donate, or toss it.

Ignoring vertical space. Most storage units have 8-10 foot ceilings. If your stack tops out at 5 feet, you’re paying for air. Shelving solves this.

A Quick Organization Checklist

Before you close the door:

• [ ] Aisle is clear from door to back wall
• [ ] Heavy items on bottom, light on top
• [ ] All boxes labeled on two sides
• [ ] Inventory list updated and stored at home (not in the unit)
• [ ] Frequently needed items near the door
• [ ] Moisture control in place
• [ ] No food items in the unit
• [ ] Furniture wrapped and protected
• [ ] Seasonal items grouped and accessible

Keep Your Storage Unit Working for You

A well-organized storage unit isn’t a luxury — it’s the difference between storage that helps your life and storage that adds to the clutter. Whether you’re storing hunting gear between seasons, keeping furniture during a home renovation, or holding onto family heirlooms, organization turns a metal box into a useful extension of your home.

Lock N’ Leave It Storage in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman offers clean, secure units in a range of sizes. Need help figuring out what size works for your stuff? Check out our size guide or contact us — we’ll help you find the right fit and get started on the right foot.