Protection - Pest Dust Enviro-Control

Before renting a self storage unit, ask management how they protect the facility from pests. Look around and make sure you feel confident that they are doing a good job. If not, go elsewhere. Pests like to hide in boxes and paper bags, so they can easily gain access to a storage facility. For this reason, a couple of dead insects on the floor may not mean trouble, but spiders in the corners, scurrying cockroaches and lines of marching ants might signal that pest prevention methods are not working or are insufficient.

At Maximum Security Self-Storage we have a rigorous and continuous pest control program; however, as your unit is accessible only to you, we recommend you consider taking your own measures to eradicate insects within your unit. Our managers will happily advise you on the basis of the goods you are storing within your unit.

Spiders
While spiders are frightening to most people, they do keep damaging pests in check.
Insect sprays approved for indoor use can be spread along the base of wall panels and door trims to help kill and deter spiders. Read and follow label instructions, or contact a licensed pest control professional, who can use somewhat stronger insecticides, to help.

Cockroaches
While spiders are more frightening for what some of them are capable of doing - biting and injuring us - cockroaches seem to evoke more of a sense of intense disgust in people. For anyone who has seen cockroaches scurry for cover when a light is turned on, this feeling is well-known. What reinforces this repulsion for the most common household pests is the fact that the insects can transmit bacterial pathogens that can make you sick.

The pesky insects, which can go for many weeks without food or water, generally hide in dark areas during the day and then come out at night.
Just as with spiders, cleanliness can help decrease cockroach infestations. Because they are attracted to food and water, it is essential you not store either in anything other than totally secure, air-tight containers.

Baits laced with insecticide work well on cockroaches and provide long-residual control. Sprays also do a good job, but provide more immediate results. Make sure you treat the areas where you most suspect them or have seen them.
For other treatments, you may want to consider insecticide dusts. Boric acid, with its low toxicity to humans, is a popular and effective control, since it poisons cockroaches over the several months it's active. It can be used full strength, or look for it as a key ingredient in some popular insecticide dusts. The acid is abrasive to the insects' exoskeleton, causing it to break down and cause death. The least toxic treatment is a sticky trap, but a cockroach has to walk directly on it to become trapped, limiting its effectiveness.

Ants
Ants come in an array of colours, including blue, purple, green and yellow, but the most common colours are black, brown and rust. Among the "tidiest" of insects, worker ants take debris from inside the colony and place it outside the nest. If disturbed, most ants will bite, and some can sting.
Treating ants is similar to treating cockroaches. Boric acid is especially effective. Most baited traps contain boric acid, which it taken back to the colony where it poisons other ants, including the egg-laying queen. Sprays can be used, but they seldom control ant colonies as well as other, albeit slower, methods. When controlling ants, sprays are more effective in providing a barrier around the house, rather than to control the colony. A two- to three-foot wide barrier around the perimeter of the house is ideal.

Protect Yourself
Self storage facilities take precautions to exterminate insects and spiders, but with all of the goods moving in and out, these creatures can easily slip into boxes, papers or folded clothes and hide for awhile.

Look before you touch boxes or reach into files, especially those that have not been tightly sealed.
Shake out clothing, shoes, blankets and other items before packing them and when removing them.
Seal boxes well. Use airtight containers when possible.
Clean items before placing them in storage.
Check boxes for cockroaches or other insects before packing anything in them.
Don't store perishable food.
As a precaution, seek medical attention when a bite is suspected.
You keep the only key and you have 7 day access!
Storage Insurance available for your added protection and peace of mind.