What Not to Store in a Storage Unit
Texas Mega Storage
April 12th, 2022
Storage units are great for keeping items if you are moving, or if you don't have enough room at home. If you are planning to utilize a locker for yourself, it can be helpful to know what you should not keep inside a locker. This knowledge can prevent damage and regret down the line.
Read on to learn more about items you cannot keep inside a storage unit. Even though it might seem simpler to lock them away, you should take care to avoid putting these things inside. Understanding what can and cannot be stored will help you make the right choices when selecting what to put inside your locker.
What should I avoid storing in my storage unit?
Flammable/Combustible Materials
Flammable and combustible materials can be dangerous when placed in a storage locker setting. If they explode or catch fire, you might destroy your unit and the units of people around you. Flammable and combustible materials might even harm someone in the vicinity if something happens.
Examples of these items include:
- Kerosene
- Compressed Gas
- Acid
- Propane Tanks
Do not place these inside a storage unit, as they can be extremely dangerous. If it can explode, it should not be in your locker.
You should never put these in your unit to stay on the safe side, no matter what. Flammable or combustible materials can cause more harm than good when placed in an enclosed space.
Priceless Things
There is too much risk with a storage locker to take a chance with valuable items. If you are not paying for a temperature-controlled unit, your heirloom could fall apart due to humidity or severe dryness. Light can cause damage, as well as dust and bugs. Keep priceless items out of a locker.
Valuable pieces might include:
- Clothes or shoes that have been passed down
- Antique furniture such as sofas and cabinets
- Valuable rugs made of easily destructive materials
These should be kept from storage units to prevent potential damage.
If you need to store priceless pieces, keep them somewhere safer where you have control. Delicate items should not be left to storage companies for safekeeping as they cannot keep an eye on your things. If it is valuable to you, take good care of it in your home.
Money
Money is not safe to put in a storage unit. Despite what you may see in movies, savings do not belong in storage. Not only is it not as secure as you think, but the bills risk damage from sitting inside a dark and potentially damp location depending on the other items you have stored inside.
Keep funds in a bank or somewhere in your home. There is never a reason why you should resort to a storage locker to keep your finances safe from the outside world. A storage locker is temporary and nowhere near as secure as a bank or your home for money.
Living or Dead Items
Anything that is living or was living at some point should not go inside a storage locker. These include animals, human or pet ashes, plants, and any dead organism. Not only is this action illegal in many locations, but it can be inhumane. Pets and plants do not belong inside a storage unit or any other type of enclosed area.
If you store anything living or dead, you run the risk of:
- Legal consequences
- Killing or harming a living thing
- Bringing rot to the other items in the locker
These, and more, can come from choosing to put living or dead organisms in your storage locker.
In general, avoid putting these in your locker. There are too many things that could go wrong and even more legal issues that could arise. If it has a life, whether plant, animal, or human, don’t store it. Keep living or dead things inside your home where you can keep them safe and or alive.
Artwork
Artwork tends to be big and heavy, so many put them inside storage units. You are allowed to keep them inside the locker. However, you run a high risk of damage. Sometimes it’s better to avoid putting these pieces inside the unit so they stay intact for use later on in your life.
Many things could happen to artwork in a storage unit depending on what else you have inside. Some of these things include:
- Water damage
- Rot
- Rips and tears
Your art could experience any of these things inside a dark and damp space if you have other damaging pieces stored next to the art.
If you don’t care what happens to your pieces, you are more than welcome to put them inside a storage unit. However, if you love your items, keep them in a home and not inside a locker. They could be fine, but it will always be a gamble.
Food
Though non-perishables, such as canned beans or freeze-dried food, are permitted inside a storage locker, anything that rots quickly is not. Storing items such as meats, cheeses, or bread can attract mold and bugs. Not only will these damage the pieces in your locker, but they could also harm lockers surrounding yours.
Some examples of food items that are safe to keep inside a storage unit include:
- Canned beans
- Freeze-dried noodles
- Sauces
If it can rot, do not put it inside the storage unit. If it can last at least a year, you should keep it in the storage space. Just make sure you don’t crush or spill any of the food stored inside to avoid rot or bugs that might pursue food left out.
Conclusion
Many items cannot go inside a storage locker. Some of these include money, food, artwork, and anything either alive or dead. Placing these in a locker may cause damage and destruction if left alone for too long. They should go in storage elsewhere, or not at all.
Pairing this information, the items listed above, and common sense will ensure you only put things inside your storage locker that will survive any length of time in the dark.
Contact Texas Mega Storage in Spring, Texas to book a unit. We have a variety of sizes, including climate-controlled storage. You can also book your Spring, Texas storage unit online.