How to Store Stuffed Animals in a Storage Unit In Murfreesboro, TN

There's something about stuffed animals that makes them impossible to throw away. That bear from your childhood, the entire collection your daughter had before she left for college, the giant teddy bear your husband won at the fair that seemed like a great idea at the time, but now takes up half the bedroom.

And then one day you look around and realize you have, what, fifty stuffed animals? A hundred? More? And you're not getting rid of them, but they also can't keep living on your bed, your couch, and every available surface in your house.

That's usually when people start thinking about storage. You can't just toss stuffed animals in a box and forget about them. Well, you can, but you probably won't be thrilled with what you find when you open that box a year later.

Why People Store Stuffed Animals

Before we get into the how, let's talk about the why, because I've heard every reason imaginable.

Kids who have grown up and don't want their stuffed animals anymore, but parents can't bring themselves to donate them yet. That's probably the most common one. There's always that thought of "what if they want them someday" or "what if I have grandkids."

Collections that got out of hand. Beanie Babies, anyone? Or those people who collect specific characters or brands. Some of those collections are actually worth something, which makes storage even more important.

Sentimental value that's hard to explain to other people. You know that ratty stuffed dog is just fabric and stuffing, but it's also the one your grandma gave you before she passed. So yeah, it's taking up space in storage instead of the trash.

Seasonal or decorative stuffed animals. Easter bunnies, Christmas bears, Valentine's Day teddy bears. They're cute for two weeks a year, and then they need to go somewhere.

The Big Mistake Everyone Makes

Okay, here's what happens ninety percent of the time. People grab some garbage bags, stuff the animals in there (pun intended), and put them in storage. Or they use random cardboard boxes they got from the grocery store.

Fast forward six months or a year, and they open those bags to find musty-smelling, potentially moldy, possibly bug-damaged stuffed animals. Not great.

The problem? Plastic bags trap moisture. Cheap cardboard boxes aren't much better. They can attract pests, absorb moisture, and fall apart over time. Your stuffed animals need to breathe a little, but they also need protection.

What You Actually Need

Let's start with containers. Clear plastic bins with lids are your best friend here. You want something sturdy, sealable, but not airtight. The good news is you don't need anything fancy.

Size-wise, don't get bins that are too big. You'll be tempted to cram them full, and that's not great for the stuffed animals. Medium-sized bins are better.

Before anything goes into a bin, the stuffed animals need to be clean. I'm not saying you need to wash every single one (though that's ideal), but they should at least be dust-free and dry. A quick vacuum with the upholstery attachment works if washing isn't an option.

The Washing Situation

Some stuffed animals can go right in the washing machine. Check tags to see if they still have them. Use cold water and a gentle cycle, then air dry completely. Any dampness going into storage is asking for mildew problems.

For delicate or valuable stuffed animals, hand washing is safer. Mild detergent, lukewarm water, gentle squeezing (no wringing), then air dry flat. Give them at least a full day to dry, maybe two if they're large.

Old or fragile stuffed animals might not handle washing at all. For those, spot cleaning with a slightly damp cloth might be all you can do. Just make sure they're totally dry before packing.

Actually Packing Them

People usually make their second mistake by packing them too tightly. Stuffed animals can get squashed and lose their shape if you compress them too much. You want them snug but not crushed.

Start with larger animals on the bottom, smaller ones on top. If you've got any that are particularly special or valuable, wrap them individually in acid-free tissue paper. Regular tissue paper isn't ideal long-term. The acid in it can actually damage fabric over time.

Don't mix stuffed animals with other random items in bins. Keep them separate. Mixing them with books, toys, or whatever else will just make them harder to find later and increase the chance of damage.

Label your bins clearly. Not just "stuffed animals," but be specific. Whatever makes sense. Trust me, you'll appreciate this later.

Do You Need Climate Control Storage?

Short answer: probably yes, if you're storing them long-term.

Stuffed animals are basically fabric and filling. Fabric doesn't love extreme heat or cold, and it really doesn't love humidity. Regular storage units can get pretty hot in summer here in Murfreesboro, and while that won't necessarily ruin your stuffed animals overnight, it's not great for them long-term.

Climate-controlled storage keeps the temperature and humidity stable. For collections with sentimental or actual monetary value, it's worth the extra cost. We've got climate-controlled units at our Lascassas Pike location, and for stuffed animal storage, I'd honestly recommend going that route.

Keeping Pests Away

Nobody wants to think about bugs or mice, but it's a real consideration with fabric items. Here's how you prevent that nightmare:

Make sure everything is clean before storage. Pests are attracted to food residue and body oils, so washing helps a lot.

Don't use mothballs. They smell terrible, they're not great for your health, and the smell gets into the fabric and never comes out. There are better options.

Cedar blocks or lavender sachets are natural pest deterrents, and they smell nice. Toss a few in each bin.

Check on them periodically. You don't need to do this weekly, but once every few months isn't a bad idea if you're storing them long-term.

How to Organize So You Can Actually Find Things

If you've got a lot of stuffed animals going into storage, organization matters. Here are some ways people do it:

If they belong to different family members, keep them separate. Makes it easier if someone wants their collection back.

All bears together, all dogs together, whatever. Or small/medium/large categories.

The really special ones are in their own bin, and the less important ones are grouped together.

All Disney stuff together, all holiday items together, all vintage pieces together.

There's no wrong way to do it as long as you can find what you need when you need it.

What About Really Large Stuffed Animals?

Those giant teddy bears or oversized plush animals are tricky because they take up so much space. You've got a few options:

Vacuum storage bags can work for these, but only for shorter-term storage. The compression isn't great for them long-term, and they might not fully regain their shape.

Standing them up in a unit instead of trying to pack them in bins. If you've got the floor space, sometimes this works better.

Wrapping them in clean sheets or blankets for protection and stacking them carefully.

Just accepting that they're going to take up a lot of room. Sometimes that's the reality with oversized items.

Retrieving Them Later

When you're ready to bring stuffed animals out of storage, give them some time to air out. Even if they were stored perfectly, they might need a day or two to fully puff back up and shed any storage smell.

Fluff them up by hand, maybe give them a shake or gentle brushing. For anything that looks flat or misshapen, sometimes you can carefully add a little stuffing back in if you're crafty.

If they smell like storage (that particular smell everything gets in storage), putting them in the dryer on air-only with a scented dryer sheet can help. No heat, though.

Where We Come In

At StorPlace Self Storage on Lascassas Pike here in Murfreesboro, we see people storing all kinds of collections, and stuffed animals are definitely in the mix. Climate-controlled units are at 2079 Lascassas Pike if you want to check them out in person.

Most people with stuffed animal collections don't need huge units. A 5x5 can hold a surprising amount when you're organized about it. If you're combining it with other storage, obviously, you'd go bigger.

We're month-to-month, so if you're not sure how long you need storage, you're not locked into some crazy long contract. Store them until you figure out what you want to do with them long-term.