Non-Storable Items

Top 7 things you should never put into a storage unit
Here’s a handy list of things you are not allowed to keep in a self-storage unit, including the very reasons why they are not permitted. Some of these restricted items are pretty obvious, but there are also those items that you don’t automatically consider unfit to be stored in your rented space. So, do read on.

1) Food
This is one of the most frequently overlooked safety rules when using self-storage! Food, including pet food, should never be kept in a storage unit. Just think about it – you leave food in the enclosed space for a long time, it will rot and its smell will attract insects and rodents alike. In turn, those little intruders will probably damage the rest of your stored items by chewing on them and even nesting in them.

Want bigger problems? Infestation is quite possible for the entire self-storage facility. And if, miraculously, no rodents enter your unit for the food, mold and bacteria will appear from the rotting food.

2) Live animals / pets
This one is crazy: who would want to leave a live animal in their storage unit? Yet, there are those who have done it. Leaving a live animal (for example, your poor pet) in a self-storage unit is not only against the public storage restrictions, but it is against the law. Don’t ever do it! If you’re leaving and you can’t take your animal friend with you, then the least you want to do is subject them to darkness, loneliness and without proper cares.

Do you care for your pet at all? If yes, leave them with a family member or a friend you can trust, hire a pet sitter or leave your animal friend with pet caring professionals.

3) Plants
Now that you know never to leave a live animal in your rented space, what not to store in your self-storage unit includes plants as well. As you know well, plants need light, water and fresh air to grow, and these three essentials cannot be found inside in a storage unit.

If you can’t take your plants to your new home or you can’t find space for them in your current residence while the latter is being remodeled, then leave them with friends or give them away. In other words, don’t kill your leafy friends while desperately trying to save them.

4) Stolen items
One of the things you should never put into a storage unit is… drum roll… stolen things! Now that should be common sense right there but hey, you never know.  You’re not allowed to keep items in your self-storage unit if you don’t legally own them or if you don’t have the explicit permission to keep them there by their true owner. Why? Because it is very illegal. If the facility manager senses or suspects that something illegal is going on, then they won’t hesitate to call the police for further investigation.

If it turns out that you’ve placed in storage items have been reported as stolen, then you could be arrested and interrogated. In other words, don’t even think about doing it.

5) Hazardous materials
Speaking of restricted items in a storage unit, hazardous materials do classify as such. By definition and as a rule of thumb, anything that has the potential to create substantial damage if opened or spilled is considered a hazardous material. Corrosive, flammable or explosive materials are strictly forbidden to be put in storage as they pose serious health risks and can cause damage to property in seconds!

Examples of such no-no materials include chemicals, aerosol cans, acids, gases, gasoline, propane tanks, lamp or motor oils, paints, paint thinners, cleaners, pesticides, weed killers, car batteries, fireworks, liquor, charcoal, and more. Also, what you shouldn’t put in storage is yard equipment containing fuel. Yes, you can store a lawnmower in your unit but only after you have drained all the fuel and oil from the machine.

And no, you are definitely not allowed to store firearms of any type, ammunition, and explosives – look for suitable storage for your weapon at your local gun shop or shooting range.

6) Scented or wet items
What not to store in a storage unit include scented or damp items. As mentioned above, strong scents can easily attract pests, insects, rodents or vermin to investigate the source of the overwhelming odors. Trust us, you don’t want any living things crawling or flying around in your rental unit as that will spell out T-R-O-U-B-L-E in no time.

Also, any items that are wet or damp will start producing mold, mildew and spread bacteria in your self-storage unit, and that will likely damage some, most or all of your prized possessions placed in temporary storage. First and foremost, make sure that every single item you plan to store in there is perfectly dry before you pack it up and leave it in your storage unit.

7) Valuables
This safety rule is pretty simple: don’t store any items that have high value for you. Value is measured differently for different people. An expensive piece of jewelry is valuable because it has high monetary value, but a piece of inexpensive clothing or an ordinary painting can have extremely high sentimental value for you.

The security of the whole storage facility can be exceptional but nevertheless, it’s not worth the risk to push your luck and find your valuables stolen or damaged. So, always keep your valuables safe with you.


If you have any questions or concerns please contact the office.