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College Shipping Tips & Student Storage Advice

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Squad Blog

College Shipping Tips &

Student Storage Advice

What to Do With Your Dorm Stuff Over Summer Break (And Why Storage Is the Smartest Move)

So, the semester’s almost over. Finals are frying your brain, your RA’s threatening to fine you over thumbtack holes, and you need to figure out what to do with all your stuff before you fall into the warm embrace of summer. This begs the question:

“What are you supposed to do with all your stuff over summer break?”

Let’s break it down—your options, the pros and cons, and the smart move that saves your back and your sanity.

Can I Leave My Stuff in the Dorm Over the Summer?

Short answer? Nope

Most colleges clear out dorms entirely for cleaning, maintenance, or summer housing programs. That means:

No leaving your mini fridge in the common area
No stashing boxes in some closet in the dorm basement
No locking the door and hoping no one notices you didn’t turn in your key

If it’s not gone by move-out day, it’s getting tossed, donated, or billed to your account.

So then, what are your options?

What to Do With Your Dorm Stuff Over Summer Break (And Why Storage Is the Smartest Move)

“What are you supposed to do with all your stuff over summer break?”

Let’s break it down—your options, the pros and cons, and the smart move that saves your back and your sanity.

Can I Leave My Stuff in the Dorm Over the Summer?

Short answer? Nope

Most colleges clear out dorms entirely for cleaning, maintenance, or summer housing programs. That means:

No leaving your mini fridge in the common area
No stashing boxes in some closet in the dorm basement
No locking the door and hoping no one notices you didn’t turn in your key

If it’s not gone by move-out day, it’s getting tossed, donated, or billed to your account.

So then, what are your options?

Option 1: Take It All Home

If you live a short drive away and have a garage the size of a small nation, sure—load up the family SUV and make a few sweaty trips.

Pros:

Cheapest (if you already own a vehicle)
Keeps everything under your roof

Cons:

Total nightmare if you’re flying
Adds 6 hours of back pain to your summer break
Parents might “accidentally” throw out half your stuff while you’re sleeping in

Option 2: Ask a Friend to Store It

If you’ve got a local friend who’s cool with becoming a storage unit for the summer, sure— load up their hatchback and make a few sweaty trips.

Pros:

Cheap
You get to pretend you’re not inconveniencing anyone (even though you are)

Cons:

Risky (what if they move? what if they ghost you?)
Awkward retrieval process later
No climate control = warped books, melted candles, moldy shoes

Option 3: Rent a Self-Storage Unit

Classic option—rent a unit from a local storage company and do it yourself, sure— load up someone’s vehicle and make a few sweaty trips.

Pros:

You control everything
Short- and long-term options available

Cons:

Requires a car or truck rental (and friends willing to lift)
You do all the hauling, lifting, taping, labeling, and sweating
Doesn’t include boxes, pickup, or delivery

Option 4: Use a Full-Service Student Storage Company (Like Ours)

Now we’re talking. Storage Squad was built specifically for students who don’t want to drag a futon down three flights of stairs.

How it works:

We deliver free boxes and tape.
You pack (we even have guides for that).
We pick it up from your dorm.
We store it all summer in a secure, temperature-controlled facility.
We deliver it back when school starts again.

Pros:

Zero heavy lifting
No car required
Peace of mind (we’ve got insurance, baby)
You won’t have to worry about your futon sitting outside on your friends porch until next fall.

Cons:

You’ll wish you had this service last year

Option 1: Take It All Home

If you live a short drive away and have a garage the size of a small nation, sure—load up the family SUV and make a few sweaty trips.

Pros:

Cheapest (if you already own a vehicle)
Keeps everything under your roof

Cons:

Total nightmare if you’re flying
Adds 6 hours of back pain to your summer break
Parents might “accidentally” throw out half your stuff while you’re sleeping in

Option 2: Ask a Friend to Store It

If you’ve got a local friend who’s cool with becoming a storage unit for the summer, sure— load up their hatchback and make a few sweaty trips.

Pros:

Cheap
You get to pretend you’re not inconveniencing anyone (even though you are)

Cons:

Risky (what if they move? what if they ghost you?)
Awkward retrieval process later
No climate control = warped books, melted candles, moldy shoes

Option 3: Rent a Self-Storage Unit

Classic option—rent a unit from a local storage company and do it yourself, sure— load up someone’s vehicle and make a few sweaty trips.

Pros:

You control everything
Short- and long-term options available

Cons:

Requires a car or truck rental (and friends willing to lift)
You do all the hauling, lifting, taping, labeling, and sweating
Doesn’t include boxes, pickup, or delivery

Option 4: Use a Full-Service Student Storage Company (Like Ours)

Now we’re talking. Storage Squad was built specifically for students who don’t want to drag a futon down three flights of stairs.

How it works:

We deliver free boxes and tape.
You pack (we even have guides for that).
We pick it up from your dorm.
We store it all summer in a secure, temperature-controlled facility.
We deliver it back when school starts again.

Pros:

Zero heavy lifting
No car required
Peace of mind (we’ve got insurance, baby)
You won’t have to worry about your futon sitting outside on your friends porch until next fall.

Cons:

You’ll wish you had this service last year

So, What's the Smartest Move?

If you’re traveling, flying, or just want to enjoy summer break without your belongings becoming a second job—storage is the way to go.

And if you want storage without the hassle, Storage Squad is here with:

Free supplies (boxes, tape, labels, tags, & marker)
Free pickup & free delivery right back to your dorm
Secure storage
If you don’t know your move-in date or new dorm, no worries. Update your information when you do.

🎯 Get started now — Find Your College or University

Because if you’re like most students, this is one less thing you’ll want to worry about when finals hit.

So, What's the Smartest Move?

If you’re traveling, flying, or just want to enjoy summer break without your belongings becoming a second job—storage is the way to go.

And if you want storage without the hassle, Storage Squad is here with:

Free supplies (boxes, tape, labels, tags, & marker)
Free pickup & free delivery right back to your dorm
Secure storage
If you don’t know your move-in date or new dorm, no worries. Update your information when you do.