What You Can and Can’t Store in a Storage Unit
Before you pack your storage unit, it’s important to know what’s allowed and what’s off-limits. In this blog, we outline the typical storage items you can store, like furniture, electronics, and seasonal gear, along with the items you can’t store, such as food, hazardous materials, and live animals. Stay safe and compliant with these essential self storage tips.
What You Can Store in a Storage Unit
You can store most belongings from your home or business in a storage unit. Common items include the following, as they’re durable and easy to keep in storage for a short or long time:
Furniture
Furniture is one of the most common items to store in a self storage unit. If you’re moving, redecorating, or need more space, large items like couches, tables, chairs, and mattresses fit well in most storage units.
Electronics
From TVs and desktop computers to laptops and game consoles, you can store a wide variety of tech in a storage unit. Make sure to unplug and clean them before storage, and remove batteries to avoid corrosion. If possible, store your electronics in their original boxes or wrap each item with Bubble Wrap and place them in sealed containers. Your electronics should always be completely turned off to avoid issues like drained batteries or overheating.
Clothing and Seasonal Gear
You can store offseason clothing and seasonal gear in a storage unit year-round. Pack away items like winter jackets, boots, gloves, and scarves during warmer months to make more closet space. Self storage is also ideal for sports equipment such as skis, bikes, camping gear, and golf clubs.
What Not To Store in a Storage Unit
Knowing what not to store is just as important as knowing what you can. Certain items are prohibited because they pose safety risks or could harm other people’s belongings. Storing these items may violate your rental agreement and put both your unit and neighboring units at risk.
Perishable Food
Never store perishable food, like fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, or anything that can spoil, in a self storage unit. These items can break down quickly and attract pests like ants, roaches, or rodents, which may damage your belongings and other storage units nearby. Spoiled food can also cause bad smells, mold, and harmful bacteria, turning your storage unit into a health hazard.
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials aren’t allowed in storage units because they pose serious safety risks. Common hazardous materials you cannot keep in self storage include, but are not limited to:
- Gasoline
- Propane tanks
- Motor oil
- Paint
- Cleaning chemicals
- Fireworks
Even if these are sealed items, they can still be harmful in a closed space or during extreme heat.
Live Animals or Plants
Storing live animals or plants in a storage unit is not only against the rules, it’s also unsafe and inhumane. Storage units aren’t designed to provide the air, light, water, or temperature control that living things need to survive. As for plants, they can quickly die without sunlight and care, and they may often attract insects or mold.
Store Confidently With My Garage Self Storage®
At My Garage Self Storage®, we make it easy to store your belongings. Our storage units are clean, secure, and many have climate control to shield your items from hot or cold weather. We also use smart technology to help keep you at ease when storing your belongings with us.
With a range of rental options and friendly service, we’re happy to assist. Explore our size guide and call or contact us online to rent your storage unit today!