Self-storage has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the commercial real estate for the last 4 decades. According to the Self Storage Association, out of the 59,500 self-storage facilities in the entire world, 52,500 primary and secondary facilities are located right here in the United States. A recent study shows that roughly 10% of all American households rent a self-storage unit. You do the math.
The huge popularity of self-storage units shouldn’t come as a big surprise. After all, a storage unit can temporarily solve a number of problematic situations for you – when you’re moving to another smaller home (downsizing) or when you’re remodeling your current home and need extra space to store your stuff until you’re done with the project. It’s like having a spare spacious room at your disposal, usually 24/7 – extra space which, in reality, you do get for a monthly fee.
But in order to have the self-storage business work out beautifully for you, you will have to follow some basic and common sense rules. These self-storage rules exist for tenants’ safety, the safety of their personal belongings, and the safety of the entire storage facility as well. And Rule #1 is that there are specific things you are not allowed to put into storage.
Why do public storage restrictions exist?
Some people might argue that as long they keep paying for a storage unit, that rented space becomes their own rented space, and therefore they can store in it anything they wish. Needless to say, that argument is rather weak simply because those people tend to forget something that is of paramount importance: SAFETY. Safety rules are there to protect people and property alike, and without them, chaos, anarchy, and trouble would follow.
Rules are rules, and the same way you can’t just disregard all road safety rules and traffic regulations simply because you’ve rented a car, you are expected and strongly advised to follow the safety guidelines when renting a self-storage unit. Unless, for some strange reason, you are in the mood for a world of headaches and even possible serious troubles with the law.
Remember: there are things you can’t put into storage because they are not allowed for safety reasons. Simple as that. If anything bad happens due to your negligence and refusal to follow the rules, then you will be liable for any potential damage.
READ ALSO: What to look for when choosing a self-storage facility?
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.
SEE ALSO: How to pack for storage?
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.
USEFUL INFO: How to get good deals on storage units?
Bonus self-storage tips: Living space vs. Office space
Finally, here’s one of the most frequently asked questions: Can you live in a storage unit? The answer is hardly surprising: no, you cannot. You cannot work from your storage unit either as it is no office space.
Your rented storage room is meant for household items, not for persons, animals, or plants. Keep in mind that if you get caught sleeping or working in your self-storage unit, the police will be called immediately.
BONUS READ: Is self-storage a bad investment?
I really like your tip to make sure you don’t put any food in a storage unit. I also appreciate what you said about not keeping animals or pets in your storage unit. I’ve heard that there are different things that you can store in a storage unit if it is heated or refrigerated, I’ll have to look more into it though!
Canned goods can
This is some really good information about what to not keep in your storage unit. I didn’t realize that it would be bad to store scented things in the unit. I like that you explained that the reason is because a lot of scents attract pest. I would hate to find bugs in my storage unit, so I like that you pointed this out.
I didn’t realize that you couldn’t put a strongly scented item in a storage unit. It makes sense that strong smells might attract pests. I will have to remember that when I fill my storage unit next month. I am going out of the country, so I have to put a lot of my stuff in a storage unit. Hopefully I can keep all the pests out.
I would add not to store anything for longer than three months because if you do you just might end up storing it for 10, 15, or more years. You’re far better off just selling the stuff. If you can’t sell it because nobody wants it, then why are you holding on to it? Haul it to the dump and let them store it for you for a small one time dumping fee.
Storage rental is kinda like making minimum payments on your credit card. It’s easy and it doesn’t cost much per month so you don’t think about how much its costing in total. Month after month goes by and year after year and before you realize it you have spent more in storage fees than the items that you are storing are worth. That’s even more ridiculous when you consider that you not only could have saved all that money spent on storage, but you could have made some buy selling your crap on the front end instead. Whatever it is that is being stored can’t be that important to you because you’re living just fine without it .
Of course I’m referring to personal belongings and not business inventory. In the case of storing inventory or other business purposes, then storage units can be a cheap resource input toward making money. So, if it’s not making you money, it’s costing you money.
Look at the items your storing and mentally calculate what they are worth. Then divide that number by the monthly rental fee. That’s how long you can store them and still get your money back by selling everything at the end of that term. Meaning you will have zero money for the belongings or for your time and effort moving crap around. It makes no sense at all.
Three months should be your rule…. Just saying. And that’s coming from someone who has spent $54,000 in monthly storage fees on three units for ten years and who is currently in the process of selling off the contents and will be lucky to get $10,000 selling the stuff.
It’s just crazy…
Thanks for pointing out that we shouldn’t put scented items in storage units. My mother is trying to de-clutter her house by moving some of her things into a storage unit. She has a lot of incense and candles that are heavily scented, so I’ll definitely pass along the tip that she shouldn’t store those things in her unit.
I’m glad you pointed out that scented items shouldn’t be stored in storage units, since they can easily attract rodents or other pests. My husband and I need to put some things in storage so his brother can stay with us for a few months. I have a box of scented candles I was going to store, so I’m glad I read your article beforehand.
Thanks for helping me understand that we should be careful about what we store there especially if it has a sentimental value to us. I will keep that in mind to pick the items that I will be storing there. We just need to put away some stuff now that we will be living in a smaller place to save up.
My brother is planning to put some of his old stuff in a storage locker. It was explained here that self-storage has storage restrictions to ensure that safety of stuff. Furthermore, it’s recommended to go to trusted businesses when considering using storage lockers.
My sister is thinking about getting a storage unit while she gets ready to move. She would love to know a little more about the tips that make this easier. Looking into what kinds of items she is putting in there like wet or scented items that might attract bugs would help her a lot.
It’s interesting that the article mentioned not storing any food or live animals in a rented storage shed. My brother is moving from his current home to another one across town, but his new home will not be ready to hold all of his stuff by the time his current lease is expired. It would be good for him to rent a storage unit to house all of these things while he waits for his new home to be ready. However, I will tell him not to keep his food stored there.
I want to store some items when I move this spring so thanks for sharing this. I like your point about not storing wet items. I’ll be sure to avoid this so they don’t get moldy.
I will be gone for the summer and want to put my stuff in storage between leases. I wouldn’t be storing any of the items that you mentioned. It does make me sad though that people will put pets in storage units.
It’s good to know more about storage units. I love how you said that plants and food shouldn’t be stored. We were considering storing our sealed food storage, but it’s probably better safe than sorry.
My sister has a lot of old stuff in her room but she doesn’t want to throw it away, so, she’s planning to place all of it in storage. It was suggested here that she should not place food or any hazardous materials in the storage. Furthermore, it’s recommended to go to a trusted storage unit facility for quality services.
I like your tip about not putting stolen things into storage. That would make sense considering you can have your storage searched by the police. I’ll have to consider your tips so that I can store things properly.
FYI with a search warrant they cam also search your hone or apartment so I would be cautious storing items there as well 😉
I’m not suggesting that anyone get into the stolen items businesses but if one who the police know has engaged in that business in the past (criminal record) or suspects may be now I would think law enforcement would in most cases be able to find you current or recent addresses through numerous databases parole/probation records, DMV, credit report, state issued professional licenses to get search warrants before they would find someone’s store unit I would think… unless 1) law enforcement sees suspicious activity there or follows suspect there to obtain probable cause or 2) storage units periodically report to some public or private database the names of all renters that is in some searchable database for law enforcement or creditors can buy access to for asset searches if not since all other valuable data is for sale I should probably get in that business before the big data people do
Thanks for helping me understand that we should never put wet items in it since it can cause moisture which might lead to molds and mildew. I will keep that in mind, so I will not put my perfumes in there. Instead, I will take those with me to my new flat. But I need to put some things in a unit since the property where I will move into is smaller.
My sister wants to have personal storage because she has a lot of books and clothes. It was mentioned here that she should never put food and plants inside the storage. Moreover, it’s recommended to consult professionals when in need of quality personal storage.
That’s a good point that food will attract pests into a storage unit. I was thinking about storing some food storage in a storage unit since it won’t go bad, but I wouldn’t want to attract any pests in there to ear all my stuff. I’ll have to make sure to leave all the food out if I decide to use a storage unit when I move.
I was thinking about getting in self storage services for my move. Keeping away from a places that don’t have good security for your valuables. Checking that you are keeping these valuables in your immediate care is helpful.
I love your tip about how you should follow all of the security and safety protocols of your storage facility. That makes sense considering you don’t want to damage anyone else’s unit or your own stored items. We have a lot of stuff in our house and should probably put all of it in a secure storage unit.
It’s good to know that you should never put your food in self-storage since it will go bad and produce an unpleasant smell. My wife and I need a short term storage solution for a fridge that we want to move into our new house. We’ll keep this information in mind so that we don’t accidentally leave any food in it when we store it.
Thanks for the advice on what to put in a storage unit. I plan on moving, and I will need to put some stuff in storage. I’ll be sure to find a storage location that I can trust with my belongings.
I like that you said that storing scented articles can attract rodents into your storage unit. My wife told me that she has a rustic table she wants to store, but in humid areas it despite a weird wood odor. I’m going to let her know about getting a climate storage unit.
It’s important to know that you should never put items in your storage unit that you don’t legally own. My sister has been searching for a place to store some Christmas decorations, and as far as I’m aware none of them are stolen. I’ll share this information with her so that she can store them effectively if she isn’t a thief.
I’m glad you mentioned that scented things can attract rodents or insects because that’s something I didn’t even consider. I have a lot of scented candles that smell really awesome but naturally, I don’t want them to cause any animals to get into my storage unit. I’ll make sure I store my candles in a different place.
My roommates and I are going to move houses because we have found a townhouse that is big enough for five people. Thanks for informing me that I shouldn’t put pet food inside a storage container if I’m going to rent one for us all. I think I’ll take a look around to see if there are some containers that we can rent near our new home so we can make sure that we’ll be able to pul our items out of there as fast as we can.
I like what you said about not putting food in a storage unit since it will attract pests. My brother has been telling me about how he wants to make sure that all of his things are secure when he moves in a few weeks. I’ll share this information with him so that he can make sure he only puts appropriate things in his storage unit.
I’ve been looking for a storage unit facility where I can place my other belongings because of my small space. I’ll remember to avoid keeping plants in any of the storage rooms because obviously, they wouldn’t survive in there. Also, I’ll keep in mind to never place any paints, paint thinners and cleaning products in my chosen storage facility.
It’s good to remember we shouldn’t store things that are wet in a unit because that could lead to mildew and mold over time. My wife and I are thinking of getting a storage unit to move some items to while we’re renovating our living room next month. We’ll have to keep an eye on the forecast in advance to make sure we’re moving things in on a day that it’s not raining or snowing outside.
My husband and I are moving out of our old house in two months’ time, and I’m in charge of taking care of our stuff while we’re preparing to go to our new home. I think I’ll look for a storage unit where we can put all our possessions in one place. Thanks for reminding me that putting pet food inside a storage unit is something that I must avoid, so I’ll be sure to do that.
Thanks for your important tips on the things I should never put in a storage unit. I’ve been planning to rent one to make my moving experience easier. Since I will be moving into my new place, it’s great that I have read your article. I had no idea that plants are not allowed since it needs light, water, and fresh air for it to grow. I shall consider this when I start looking for storage units.
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I had no idea that scented or damp items should not be in a storage unit. You mentioned that it may attract pests and insects and would just cause trouble. Since I am looking for a storage for my moving experience to be easier, it’s good to know this. I’ll just bring my scented candles with me then.
Thanks for the items you listed that are not allowed in storage. It now makes sense to me why food isn’t allowed, because if you leave food in the enclosed space for a long time, it will rot and its smell will attract insects and rodents, which can result to infestation. I’ll keep that in mind when I rent one.
My sister will be storing her valuables off somewhere so she can join us for a vacation. I found it very helpful when you stated that wet or scented items should not be stored because my sister owns a lot of scented decorations and room centerpieces that we regularly use whenever we visit her place. I’ll be sure to show her this article so she can plan her storage much better before we settle in for vacation. Thank you!
I enjoy your work, appreciate it for all the great blog posts.
Can I use a storage unit to keep my old motorcycle ?
My brother has a lot of paint, clay, and other materials that he uses in his art. Your information about what he can store in a unit is very helpful. I’ll suggest that he read this so he knows what he can store in a unit.
Bird seed/food is definitely one that SHOULD NOT be stored as well!