BARN BLOG

10 Items That Shouldn’t Go In A Storage Unit

A locked Self Storage unit

Self storage is a great way to keep your things safe and secure when you’re not immediately using them. You’re able to take a unit for as much or little time as you need it and know that your belongings will be protected in a secure and climate controlled unit. That being said, not everything belongs in a self storage unit.

10 Things That Should Never Go In A Storage Unit

Some items by their nature do not suit long term storage, and others are against our storage policies. Here are the top 10 items that do not belong in a self storage unit.

  1. Food and Perishables

    This should be obvious, but you could be surprised how easy it is to forget items of food that are stashed away somewhere unexpected. Make sure that you don’t accidentally leave any food items in your storage unit. Food left will mold, potentially attract unwanted pests to your unit and risk damaging anything else in your unit. To avoid running the risk of this, make sure you dispose, donate or eat any food you have when you’re packing your things for storage!

  2. Medications and Drugs

    Illegal drugs are of course prohibited. But, it is also a good idea to avoid keeping medications or vitamins in a storage unit. Any unmarked medication may look suspicious and be confused with something more concerning. Medications and vitamins can also go out of date if they are forgotten about.

  3. Dangerous Materials

    Any hazardous materials can not be stored in a self storage unit. Hazardous items can include; propane tanks, gasoline, acid of any kind. A general rule to follow is if it melts, burns, explodes, dissolves or freezes then it has no business being in a storage unit.

  4. People

    We can’t be clear enough on this point, it is against the law for a person to stay in a self storage unit. No matter what the reason, people do not belong in self storage units. It is not just against the law and our terms, but it is also very dangerous.

  5. Pets

    For the same reasons as above, you can’t store pets in self storage, no matter how hard it might be to find someone to look after them if you’re going away!

  6. Plants

    It’s not a great idea to keep plants in your storage unit. Plants need light and water, and both of these things are pretty scarce in a storage unit. We can guarantee that leaving a plant in a storage unit for any amount of time will not have great results. If a pant dies and starts to rot in a storage unit it can also damage your other things.

  7. Scented Items

    Scented items can be great, after all who doesn’t like a nice and interesting scent? Well, unfortunately rodents and insects do. Storing strongly scented items can attract pests to come and investigate which in turn can lead your things to get ruined in no time.

  8. Uninsured or Unregistered Vehicles

    Unregistered and uninsured vehicles aren’t allowed in storage units, this is because the insurance that you can purchase through a storage facility does not always cover vehicles. It’s also important that your vehicle is registered as only fully registered, fully insured, fully operational vehicles can be stored in a self storage unit.

  9. Damp or Wet Items

    When you are putting your items in storage you need to pay special attention to the condition of everything you’re putting in. If any items are wet or damp then you’re running a risk of mould developing. Mold and mildew can cause havoc in a storage unit if left unchecked, and will quickly wreck your things. The best way to avoid this is to just make sure all of your things are dry when you’re putting them into storage. Taking a towel with you when you’re loading your things into a unit is an easy way to make sure you avoid any unwanted mould or mildew.

  10. Anything Illegal

    This one should go without saying, but then again, sometimes even the most obvious points need repeating. Illegal items are absolutely prohibited from being kept in self storage.

With all of these things in mind you can be ready to store your items knowing there won’t be any items that could cause damage or unintentionally cause any issues for you. Storage units come in all shapes and sizes and can serve any need other than those listed above! Reserve yours today with us at Burlington Storage Barn.

“I am very impressed with the service and quality from the employees here.
If I need storage again, I will definitely return for their service.”

T.D., Mississauga