During the last weeks of April and the early weeks of May every year, college students are studying and taking final exams. Their minds battle between cramming the last bit of molecular biology information and images of beaches, traveling, and internships. One of the least thought-about topics for a college student during this is how he or she will be packing up the dorm room or apartment and store it away for the summer. For parents and students alike, Bee Safe offers 7 helpful tips to store dorm rooms and apartments efficiently in a self-storage unit for the summer.

1. Get the Right Size Unit

You do not want to rent a unit that is too small and cannot fit your items – or rent one too big and paying for unneeded space. The following guide is a helpful tool for the right size unit:

                Dorm Room – 5×5 unit

                Apartment Room Only – 5×10 – 5×15

                Apartment/House – 10×10

2. Find A Buddy

Rent a bigger unit and share the unit with a friend or the roommates you will have in the Fall. It will be cost efficient and easier to move everyone from 1 unit when you return at the end of summer.

3. Clean Dishes, Appliances, and Linens

Moving day can creep up a college student. Even if you wake up on moving day having not had packed at all, make sure to clean any dirty dishes, de-frost and wipe dry any mini fridges, and wash any bed sheets you will be storing. Mold can begin growing on dirty appliances and linens and dirty dishes can attract all kids of bugs and rodents. The last thing you need when you move into a new dorm or apartment is to have throw out everything you had stored.

4. Use Different Box sizes for Different Items

Use smaller boxes for heavier items, like the books you did not sell back or your Instapot. Use larger boxes for any pillows, blankets, and lampshades. Separate items and label the boxes so it will be easier to unpack in the Fall. Bee Safe sells various size boxes for all your needs.

5. Take Inventory

This will be key especially if you end up sharing a unit with friends. It is always a good idea to take inventory of what you are putting away in storage so you can double check it is there when you move things out of storage. This will also make unpacking easier as well.

6. Protect Mattresses, Couches, and Chairs

It is a good rule of thumb to protect your mattresses, couches, and chairs that you will be storing by covering them. Even in the best of climate-controlled storage facilities, dust can accumulate over time. You can cover furniture with bed linens and blankets. Moving blankets and plastic covers work well as well. Bee Safe locations sell covers for mattresses, couches, and chairs and moving blankets.

7. Give a Spare Key to a Trusted Individual

After you have moved everything into a storage unit, close the door, and lock it up, it is best to give a spare key to the lock to a parent or trusted friend. The chances of you losing the key over the next few months is high so make sure you do not lose both keys at the same time and give one to someone. It will save on having to cut the lock at the end of the summer.