What
you cannot put in a storage unit
All
storage facilities have their own rules, and that includes guidelines on
prohibited items. Here are the 10 items you likely can’t put in a storage unit,
regardless of who you’re renting from:
·
Food
·
Stolen and illegal goods
·
Weapons and ammunition
·
Hazardous materials
·
Priceless and irreplaceable items
· Live or dead animals
·
Money
·
Furs
·
Tires
·
Wet items
Here is
what to know about each of the items on this list, including the reasoning
behind why they are not allowed in self storage.
1. Food
Perishable
food items are magnets for attracting rodents, bugs, ants, roaches, mold, and
mildew, and even in a climate controlled unit they are not going to stay
fresh for very long.
Always
assume that perishable items aren’t allowed in your storage unit, and if you
have a question about storing a non-perishable items and your rental agreement
is unclear regarding this, ask the storage operator to find out what their
policies are and what they recommend. You may be able to store certain shelf
stable food items if they are kept in tightly sealed containers, but it’s best
to know ahead of time.
2. Stolen
and illegal property
If you
are in possession of stolen property or illegal goods, you are not going to
have any luck keeping it in your storage unit. Not only are self-storage
facilities well-monitored, but their employees are also liable to call the
police if they suspect that there is something suspicious going on. Most rental
agreements contain language that will allow the storage facility to enter the
storage unit if illegal activity is suspected.
3. Weapons
and ammunition
Firearms,
ammunition, and other weaponry are almost always on the list of items you cannot
put in a storage unit. That’s because there are a lot of liability issues
involved on the part of the facility, plus the obvious safety issues. It can
also create a number of issues for the facility if your unit goes up for
auction.
4. Hazardous
materials
If an
item is toxic, flammable, or combustible, then you are not going to be able to
keep it in a storage unit. This includes:
·
Fertilizer
·
Paint
·
Paint thinner
·
Turpentine
·
Oil
·
Grease
·
Gasoline
·
Kerosene
·
Chlorine bleach
·
Acid
·
Acetone
·
Propane tanks
·
Compressed gas
·
Radioactive materials
·
Fireworks
Some
storage facilities will allow household chemicals in household quantities, such
as cleaners and pesticides. Be sure to check your rental agreement or ask the
facility operator.
5. Priceless
and irreplaceable items
If you
can’t live without it, it should not go in your storage unit, period. While
it’s not a matter of safety or liability, there are always some risks taken
when you put an item in storage, including the possibility that you will face
some sort of hardship later on that will lead to your belongings being sold at
auction. Likewise, while it’s unlikely, unfortunate events could also take
place on the premises that destroy your items, such as a fire, flooding, or theft.
Remember there are a lot of tenants in and out of the facility and they may not
all be honest.
But if
it’s truly irreplaceable to you, you are better off keeping it nearby. Some
facilities have a maximum property value limit in their rental agreements.
6. Live
or dead animals
It
probably goes without saying that, live or dead, animals cannot be kept in
storage units. While this may seem like common sense, you would be surprised
what some people will put in their storage unit.
7. Money
If you
have cash or other types of currency to store, opt for a bank safe deposit box instead of stashing
it away in a self storage unit. You will simply have more protection for these
items in a bank than you would through a storage facility.
8. Furs
Fur
clothing requires very specific climate conditions in order to be properly
preserved, including strict requirements around temperature and light. As such,
many storage companies put furs on the list of items you can’t put in a storage
unit. If you need to store fur, look for a specialty storage provider instead,
since they can ensure that the right conditions will be met.
9. Tires
Tires
often on the banned list of storage items, and for two goods reasons: one, tire
fires are intense and extremely hazardous, and two, if the storage company gets
stuck dealing with left behind tires, they face steep disposal fees.
10. Wet
items
You can
store items that are intended to get wet, such as kayaks, boats and scuba gear,
but they are going to need to be dry before you shut the door. That’s because
wet items tend to grow mold and mildew in dark, closed off spaces, which is
exactly what your storage unit is. Be sure to allow refrigerators and freezers
to defrost and dry before going into storage. Once you close that door with
your items wet, mold and mildew will grow and spread to everything you own in
that unit. Worse, it may spread to your neighbor’s unit and you could be
liable.
