What items are not allowed in self storage?

Self storage units are great to put your items away whenever you don’t have enough space for them in your own house. And people do this for a plethora of different reasons. Any reason it may be, you should do some research into what goes, and what simply can’t be stored in these units. So, what items are not allowed in self storage units? It will mostly depend on the storage company itself, so consulting their online resources is going to be your best way of finding out. However, lots of items are banned in most places, as Master Moving Guide very well knows, and you can count on them being banned in your storage company, as well. Then it will be just a matter of just checking the company’s specific policies, and comparing your items with their lists.

What you should expect that companies will ban

As previously stated, most places will ban the same items. That’s because these are considered too dangerous. However, some places might have their own specific policies and specific items they ban, that are otherwise allowed in other self storage units. That’s why following reliable storage tips is especially important. For example, some places will ban any fur clothing because it can quickly deteriorate under bad storage conditions. If the company can’t provide those, they simply ban them outright. The companies’ principle is better to be safe than sorry. Moreover, most companies will also ban expensive items, money, and other irreplaceable belongings. Even though they do vouch for the security of your items, it’s again better to be safe. The bottom line is: if you don’t want to risk even a 0.1% of losing something, don’t leave it in a unit. That being said, they’re very safe and reliable.

So, what items are going to be banned in most storage units?

• Food and other perishable items,
• Fur,
• Tires,
• Any kind of weapons, ammunition, hazardous items,
• Illegal and stolen goods,
• Wet items,
• Unregistered vehicles,
• Other specific things that a company may list on their list of banned items. Consult with them and their website to see what items are not allowed in self storage for that specific company

Why do companies ban some of these items?

As you can see, some of these items make perfect sense to be on the list. The companies simply don’t want any weapons, ammunition, or hazardous items. Even if you own a license for owning those, a self storage unit is not a good place for them. For example, think of what’d happen to them if your unit was sold at an auction. Or, if they go off, there’s a fire, and so on. Simply, find a different storage service to store those instead in the unit. Speaking of fires, it’s the same reason why tires are often banned from being stored in units. Burning fires can be a real problem, so companies ban them just to be safe. That’s not even mentioning the high disposal fees they’d run into if someone left them a storage full of tires.

The logic behind banning food and other perishables

Many people rent out self storage units during their home renovations and repairs. And sometimes, people think it is alright to leave some of the food in the unit – it is not. Food is the answer when you’re wondering of what items are not allowed in self storage units. You cannot leave anything that might spoil over time. Not only it’s not hygienic, but the unit itself will also get a rather distinct bad smell. Anything that may spoil, including all kinds of yogurts, and drinks can’t be stored in a unit. If you don’t have a place for those in your home for some reason, either donate them or throw them away. Lots of charities will be more than glad to take them in, as well.

Companies will not allow weapons, ammunition, and other hazardous materials in self storage units

A lot of companies will disallow any such items to be in their units. They may go off, in case of a fire they’re going to be potentially lethal, and so on. Moreover, many places, companies included, require weapons and ammunition to be stored in special boxes. Any kind of biological, radioactive, and similar hazardous materials are highly disallowed. Moreover, you can get arrested for even having such items. It goes without saying that companies don’t want to have such items near their facilities.

You should do your own research to see what items are not allowed in self storage units for specific companies

After finding a reliable storage company in your area you plan to use, it’s best to contact them directly. This will give you a good opportunity to ask questions. You can also ask what specific things they ban. Some specific companies might ban other things not listed on this list. Furthermore, look for things such as climate-controlled units, insurance policies, heightened security, and so on. Depending on your needs, you can find reasonably cheap storage units that provide professional standards. When looking for a good deal, the most used metric is the unit’s size. Larger units will require you to pay a larger sum to get them, naturally. However, calculate whether it’d be more affordable if you stored your items in boxes.

Buying a couple of extra boxes just for the unit can be cheaper than renting a bigger unit. That’s because items organized and stacked in boxes can take less of the unit’s space. Some people tend to just leave their stuff in the unit, which is a bad idea that can cost you more. So, other than just simply wondering about what items are not allowed in self storage units, think about the price, the size, and similar metrics. Also, make sure you learn about the repercussions of being late for paying for the unit. You don’t want to have your stuff sold at an auction.