What Shouldn'T Be Kept In Long-Term Storage

Self storage facilities can be rented for the keeping of most types of household items. However, there are certain kinds of hazardous or perishable materials that should not be kept in long-term storage units. These prohibited items may subject the entire facility to an increased risk of fire damage, chemical contamination, or pest infestation. The rental agreement should have a list of all forbidden items, so be sure to check this before signing the contract.

Always check with the owner of the mini storage unit before storing any questionable items. An easy way to do this is to prepare an inventory list prior to moving any of your items. Take the list to the self storage manager for his or her review. This saves you the trouble of taking the items down to your storage unit and then finding out later that they must be removed and taken back home. Storing dangerous items against the owner's wishes may be against certain local laws and will open you up to prosecution if discovered.

Of course, flammable and explosive materials are prohibited in self storage units. These are very dangerous and can cause the entire storage facility to catch on fire. Some hazardous items include nail polish and remover, liquid bleach, charcoal, acid, lighter fluid, gasoline, explosives, firecrackers, fertilizers, paints, matches, car batteries, kerosene, pool chemicals, paint thinner, motor oil, weed killer, ammonia, pesticides, cleaning fluid, propane, lamp oil, chemistry items, and other types of aerosols. Gasoline powered tools may be kept on the premises, but all gasoline and oil must be drained before storage.

Perishable food items should never be kept in a general storage unit. If you must store food, look for a specialized company that has climate control storage units designed for the holding of food. These facilities should have adequate pest and vermin control procedures in place. Food items attract rodents and insects to the storage unit, which may lead to a widespread infestation throughout the entire facility. Most rental units do contain some type of rat trap or poison, but this will not be sufficient to fend off large numbers of vermin who are attracted by the scent of food. In fact, the danger is so great that many insurance companies will deny payment for any items damaged while being stored in the same unit as perishable food items.

Some long term storage facilities will not allow you to store items with a significantly high dollar value. Many times, these restrictions are imposed by their insurance company because of the increased liability risk. Some commonly prohibited high value items include electronic equipment, antiques, jewelry, stock certificates, and cash. Even though it is not usually prohibited, items with a lot of sentimental value also should not be stored in a rental unit. While most storage units are secure and will not be broken into, you don't want to take a chance with anything you would be very upset about losing.

Live plants are not suitable for self storage facilities. Similar to perishable food, plants will attract pests to the storage unit and may lead to a facility-wide epidemic. If you have relocated from another area, you may be bringing new pests into the local ecosystem. This can have a wide-ranging destructive effect throughout the entire community, not just the storage facility. Even without this danger, plants are not likely to survive the conditions found inside the rental unit, making self storage a poor place to keep your plants.

Obviously, radioactive material and other biohazards are always forbidden in self storage rental units. These types of materials are highly dangerous to anyone who may come in contact with them. They may also contaminate the immediate vicinity and lead to a quarantine of the self storage facility. There are usually strict laws regulating the storage and disposal of radioactive or biohazardous waste, so keeping these items in long-term storage may even be a criminal act.

Many mini storage locations also provide for vehicle storage on the premises. Some facilities have a separate, open-air parking area for vehicles, while others simply permit renters to park a car or motorcycle inside their rental unit. Vehicles must be insured and have valid registration tags in order to be stored. This prevents thieves from using self storage facilities to hide stolen cars and reduces the manager's liability. Also, some companies have limits on the number of tires that may be kept inside any one storage unit, generally up to four.