Deciding what not to store in storage units can be tricky. One key fact is that not everything is safe or allowed in self-storage units. This article will guide you through the top five items you shouldn’t store in your storage unit.
Items You Shouldn’t Store in a Self-Storage Unit
When deciding what to keep in your self-storage space, some choices might seem good but aren’t. Odd items like perishable treats and living things can cause big problems, from attracting unwanted critters to creating bad odors that stick around.
Living Things
Storing living things like animals, people, and plants in a self-storage unit is not allowed. Pets such as reptiles and small caged animals need regular care, which they can’t get inside a storage space.
Likewise, plants cannot live without sunlight and fresh air. If you’ve had pots with plants in them, make sure to clean and dry these containers before putting them away. This step helps prevent mold, mildew, and unwanted pests from invading.
Pests like mice can damage other items stored nearby. Secure self-storage units are not designed for the day-to-day needs of living beings or to maintain an environment where they could survive or thrive.
After considering the well-being of living things, it’s also important to think about what perishables you should avoid storing next.
Perishables
Perishable goods such as meat, dairy, and fresh fruits or vegetables should never find a place in your self-storage unit. These items spoil quickly and can create unpleasant smells that attract rodents and insects which is why you shouldn’t store food, not even storing canned foods in your unit.
Keeping these perishables out of storage units is crucial to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of pests.
Canned foods might seem like a safe option but require regular checks for any signs of damage or expiration dates. It’s best to store non-perishable food items in sealed containers to keep them away from any potential contaminants.
Strong Smells
Storing items with strong odors in a self-storage unit is a bad idea. Fragrant objects like incense, perfumed soaps, lotions, scented candles, fragrance oils, colognes, and spices can seep into other stored goods.
Over time, these smells mix and may become unpleasant. This problem affects your belongings as well as those in nearby storage units.
To prevent moisture and odor accumulation within the storage space, it’s smart to use pallets or shelves. These keep your items off the ground. Such practices help maintain air flow around your stored possessions, reducing the risk of mold caused by damp conditions which can make smells worse.
Cash or Currency
Moving on from the risks associated with storing items that give off strong odors, keeping cash or money in a self-storage unit introduces another set of concerns, primarily theft.
Self-storage units often lack the security features of a bank or a secure home safe. This makes them an easy target for thieves who know that some people might see these units as an alternative place to stash their valuables. Additionally, in some store units, keeping cash or currency are considered illegal items to be kept there and you may even face legal consequences.
Keeping large amounts of currency in these units increases the risk of financial loss and could attract unwanted attention, possibly even leading to criminal activity around your storage space.
A safe deposit box at a bank, personal safes, or other more secure options are far better suited for storing valuable currency than self-storage facilities. These alternatives offer enhanced security measures specifically to safeguard your financial assets against theft and other potential harms.
Nonoperational Vehicles
Just as storing cash or currency in a self-storage unit poses security risks, keeping nonoperational vehicles can also lead to complications. These vehicles must be registered, insured, and in working condition if they are to be stored.
This rule helps prevent the storage of potentially hazardous materials like gasoline or oil that should be drained from vehicles before placing them in storage.
Parking a car that doesn’t run into your storage space isn’t allowed because it could leak harmful substances. These leaks can damage other items in the self-storage facility and create safety hazards.
Always ensure any vehicle you plan to store is free from flammable liquids and is fully operable to comply with regulations and maintain a safe environment for everyone using the facility.
Items You Can Store in a Self-Storage Unit
For keeping your items safe and out of the way, self-storage units offer a perfect spot. You can fill them with seasonal gear when you’re not using it, like holiday decorations or winter sports equipment. Keep extra furniture or office supplies there too. It helps clear up space at home while keeping your belongings secure. Self-storage is also great to store electronics or some gadgets and kitchen machines that you don’t use daily but aren’t ready to part with just yet.
Seasonal Items
Self-storage units shine as a go-to spot for seasonal items like Christmas decorations and camping gear. These objects, only needed at specific times of the year, find a perfect home in storage spaces, freeing up much-needed room in your house or garage.
Before you store electronic holiday decorations, take a moment to check each piece. This ensures they’re ready to light up the season when you pull them out next year.
Storing seasonal goods helps keep your living areas clutter-free and preserves the condition of items that might suffer from being crammed into inadequate spaces at home. From festive ornaments to outdoor equipment used during summer vacations, self-storage provides an ideal environment that protects these valuables until their next use cycle rolls around.
Household Goods
Storing household goods in self storage units is a smart choice. This category covers items like furniture, toys, kitchen and bathroom essentials, clothes, books, keepsakes, collectibles, and antiques.
These objects often fill our homes but may need temporary places when moving or decluttering.
Before transferring these items to a unit, pack a “starter kit” box of important kitchen utensils. This step ensures easy access to necessary things without rummaging through numerous boxes.
It simplifies the process of storing and later retrieving your belongings from the self storage facility.
Business Storage
Shifting from household goods, business items serve as another suitable use for self-storage units. Entrepreneurs find these spaces perfect for holding inventory or setting up a small shipping station.
Simple steps like labeling boxes clearly can help you keep track of documents and products easily. This method ensures quick access whenever necessary, making it a smart choice for those looking to streamline their operations.
Self-storage units also offer a secure environment for financial and sensitive documents. By using these facilities, businesses protect important records from natural disasters or theft.
With the right organization, such as shelving units for easier access and inventory management systems, storage companies can efficiently use their storage space to supplement their offices or garages.
This approach saves on rent and keeps essential data safe and sound.
Electronics
Moving from business items, electronics are next on the list for suitable self-storage unit contents. TVs, stereo systems, speakers, computers, and printers can endure the storage environment if prepped correctly.
Before placing these devices in a unit, take out any CDs, DVDs, inkjet cartridges, and batteries to prevent damage. It’s also smart to bundle and clearly label wires to avoid confusion and ensure easy reassembly.
Storing electronics requires careful thought about their conditions. Unlike perishable items or items with strong smells that pose risks in a self-storage setting outlined earlier in this blog post series on what not to store in a self storage unit.
Electronics need a dry environment to prevent moisture damage. Simple steps like removing easily lost or damaged small parts safeguard your valuable technology until you need them again.
Appliances
Before you store appliances in your self storage unit, make sure they are clean and dry. This includes your refrigerator, stove, microwave, washing machine, dryer, freezer, toaster, coffee maker, and vacuum cleaner.
Dirty appliances can attract pests or develop unpleasant odors while in storage. Also, keep the doors of these items slightly ajar to prevent musty smells from forming inside them.
Wrap the cords of each appliance neatly to avoid tangling or damage. Place any cleaned attachments back inside their corresponding appliance for safekeeping. This careful preparation ensures your appliances remain in good condition during their stay in the storage unit.
Final Thoughts and Tips
As you plan to fill up your storage space, always stay informed about the dos and don’ts laid out by your facility. You might need to look for other places to keep certain things safe if they don’t fit into the rules of a typical storage unit.
Be aware of storage facility rules and regulations
Every self storage unit has its set of rules and regulations that you must follow. These guidelines help ensure safety, health, and legal compliance. Before signing a lease, always ask for a checklist of permitted and prohibited items from the facility’s website.
This list will tell you exactly what you can’t store, such as toxic waste or combustible materials like propane. Following these rules protects you from potential legal problems.
Make sure to choose a reputable storage facility with robust security measures, clean units, and helpful staff. If you have hazardous materials to dispose of, contact local waste management agencies for guidance on proper disposal methods.
Consider alternate storage options
Exploring different storage solutions can save you from headaches later. Not everything fits well in a self-storage unit. For items that come with safety or legal concerns like petrol, ammunition, and certain chemicals, look into specialized facilities designed for these materials.
Sometimes, renting space at a facility made for specific goods is smarter than cramming everything into one unit. For instance, storing wine requires controlled temperatures and humidity levels that a standard unit might not provide.
Climate-controlled units are great for seasonal items and electronics but check if they meet all your needs first. Moving on, let’s talk about how often you should visit your stored treasures.
Properly label and organize your unit
Labeling your boxes and bins clearly plays a key role in keeping your storage space well-organized. This simple step allows you to find items quickly, saving time and avoiding the hassle of searching through every box.
Use large, clear labels with bold writing to mark each container with its contents. This way, you immediately know where everything is located without needing to open and rummage through each container.
Organizing your unit smartly makes it easier to access your belongings and optimizes the use of available space. Start by placing larger items or appliances at the back of the unit and stack boxes logically according to weight, with heavier boxes on the bottom.
Create a walkway within your storage space for easy access to items at the back without moving things around too much. Taking these steps ensures that your belongings stay in good shape and are always within reach when you need them.
Conclusion
Keep certain items out of your storage space. Avoid storing living things, perishable food, items with a strong odor, currency, and broken vehicles. These can cause health risks or attract pests.
Follow the facility’s rules closely and pick climate-controlled units for delicate goods like electronics or antiques. Organize your unit well to keep track of everything easily. Making smart choices about what you store ensures safety and maximizes the usefulness of your storage unit.
Contact Snappy Self Storage today to find out how we can help in finding you the best storage solution.
FAQs
1. What things are forbidden to store in self-storage units?
Certain items like fridges, cookies, or anything with a short shelf life should not be stored in self-storage units.
2. Can I use my storage unit to store everything?
No, you can’t use your storage unit to store everything. There are rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority that restrict certain items from being stored.
3. Is it safe to store personal information or financial documents in a storage unit?
Storing sensitive documents like those related to privacy or financial conduct authority could attract criminal gangs and compromise your security.
