What should you never store in a self storage unit?
Some items don't belong in a storage unit — for legal reasons, safety reasons, or because they'll simply be ruined. Here's the list we give every new customer.
A self storage unit is a rented room, not a bomb shelter or a bank vault. Most items are perfectly welcome, but a few things should never go inside — for your safety, your neighbors' safety, and to keep your rental agreement in good standing.
Never store these — full stop
Hazardous materials: gasoline, propane, kerosene, motor oil, fireworks, ammunition, paint thinner, fertilizer, or any flammable/explosive substance. A single leaky can can destroy every unit in a row.
Perishable food: fresh produce, meat, dairy — anything that spoils. Even sealed dry food attracts pests fast and can spread to neighboring units.
Live plants or animals: no unit is climate-controlled enough to keep a plant alive, and it's illegal (and dangerous) to store any living creature in a storage unit.
Stolen or illegal property: obvious, but worth stating. Your rental agreement forbids it, and law enforcement can obtain a warrant to inspect a unit.
Think twice before storing
Priceless valuables and cash. A storage unit is secure enough for household goods and inventory, but jewelry, cash, and irreplaceable heirlooms belong in a bank safe deposit box.
Anything wet. Damp mattresses, wet cardboard, or moisture-heavy items will grow mold quickly in a closed unit. Let everything dry out for at least 24 hours before packing.
Sensitive electronics or fine wood, in a non-climate-controlled unit. Summer heat in Georgia and North Carolina can push a closed metal unit past 110°F. If it matters, pay for climate control or store it at home.
The rule of thumb
If it's alive, flammable, perishable, or irreplaceable — it doesn't belong in a self storage unit. Everything else, we're happy to help you store safely.
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