Items You Cannot Put In Storage

Most storage companies will have restrictions on what they will allow you to store at their facilities. These restrictions are placed to protect both the storage company and the items being stored. Storage companies will vary in what they allow, so just because one storage company will not allow for storing expensive jewelry, it does not mean that you will not find a company that will allow you to store these items.

When you first visit or call the storage company, ask what items they do and do not allow. They will typically have a published list that you can take home to review. The list of items a storage company refuses to allow is often similar to the list of items a moving company will not move for you.

It is important to look over this section prior to doing your own packing and loading, so that you do not arrive at the warehouse and find out you are not allowed to store some of your items that you had already packed and prepared for storage. There are also items you should not pack yourself and you may need a professional packing company like USA Moving & Storage .

The following list serves as a guide solely on what not to put into storage. If you have any specific questions contact your storage facility directly.

• Hazardous Materials / Combustible Materials / Aerosols

The storage company obviously will not want items in storage that can potentially combust or explode and destroy the entire warehouse.

Flammable, corrosive or explosive items including:

Acid / Gasoline Poisons / Charcoal / Lighter Fluid
Fertilizer / Paints / Car Batteries / Matches
Nail Polish & Remover / Ammunition / Liquid Bleach / Stern
Aerosols / Kerosene / Pool Chemicals / Chemistry Sets
Fireworks / Pesticides / Motor Oil / Paint Thinner
Batteries / Loaded Weapons / Weed Killer / Ammonia
Lamp Oil / Propane Tanks / Cleaning Fluid

• Perishables such as food - There are specialized warehouses that store perishable food items for short periods of time in conditioned storage, but warehouses that store personal belongings will not allow this.
• Plants – Plants are notorious for not traveling very well and often die during transit. Plants do not survive well when moved from one location to another, so they are not typically stored. Some plants also attract pests like insects so most storage facilities will not allow them to be stored on site. Contact the department of agriculture before moving any plants across state lines as many states have rules and regulations that prohibit the entry of plants.

High Value Ordinary Value Items -It is not advisable to store items of high value or importance in a storage facility unless the facility specializes in storing these items. For example furs may be stored in cold dark fur vaults during the summer months and jewelry can be stored in safety deposit boxes or safes in banks. Items over $100.00 per pound per article are usually defined as “high value items”. Your specific storage company may have a different definition of high value so always ask.

Examples may include:
Antiques / Crystal / Precious Stones or Gems
Art Collections / Currency / Silver and Silverware
Cameras / Figurines / Video Cameras
Computer Software / Furs
Coin Collection / Oriental Rugs

Firearms – Generally storage companies will not allow you to store guns or ammunition. There are some facilities that will allow you to store these items, but only under very strict security guidelines.