Storage facilities provide a great solution for housing and protecting household items, but there are certain items and materials that should not be stored in a storage unit. Knowing what not to store is important and can help make your storage experience a good one. Perishable items such as liquids and food should not be stored. Similarly, hazardous and toxic materials should not be stored in a storage unit. It is very dangerous to expose potentially harmful chemicals to the extreme heat of the summer, and it is equally dangerous to store any type of explosive item in a storage unit. For items that contain gasoline, such as vehicles, boats and lawnmowers, gasoline should be removed prior to storage so there are no flammable substances present in the storage unit.

For items of great value, such as irreplaceable jewelry, photo albums and keepsakes, it is best not to store those items in a storage unit. While most storage facilities are under surveillance and gate entry access, you don’t want to risk something happening to items you can never replace in the event of a fire, robbery or flood. If you have no other options, it is wise to take out renter’s insurance for your storage unit, so that in the event something happens, the value of your lost items will be covered.

Certain types of electronics, such as laptops, cameras and televisions should not be stored in non-climate controlled units because extreme cold and hot weather can impact their performance. If storing electronics is unavoidable, be sure to wrap and protect them well and remove any batteries present.

This may sound obvious, but pets and animals should never be stored within a storage unit, as well as illegal substances and drugs. While you are paying for the space you rent and own the items that you store, it is still important to remember that, by law, you are renting space on someone else’s property and facility and you are bound to cooperate and abide by the laws of the state, as well as the rules and regulations of the storage facility.

If you are uncertain about what items should not be stored in a storage unit, a good guide to follow and consider is remembering that other people are also using the storage facility. You would not want someone to store dangerous material that could cause potential harm or damage to your property, so in return, you would not want to do that to someone else. If in doubt or questions persist, check with management at your storage facility and ask in advance what items are permitted for storage at their facility.

For more information about storage or additional tips and help, check out the Storage page of our website.