What not to put in a storage unit
The things storage facilities ban, the things they allow that you'll regret, and how to check your own rental agreement before move-in day.
The BoxTrack team · · 4 min read
The unit had been closed since March. In August the door went up, and the smell came out first. A half-used bag of dog food at the back had brought in mice, and the mice had found the box of winter blankets next to it. Two shelves of boxes had to be opened, checked and, in a few cases, thrown out.
Most storage disasters come from a short list of things that shouldn't have gone in. Some are banned outright by the facility. Others are allowed but turn out badly after a summer in a metal box. Here's how to tell them apart before you load the truck.
Your rental agreement is the real list
Every facility writes its own rules, and the rental agreement is the version that counts. Read the prohibited-items section before move-in day, and ask the manager about anything borderline. The big operators publish theirs, and they share the same core:
- Public Storage says in its storage policies that customers can't store anything unsafe, hazardous, illegal, perishable or living, and that no one can live or work out of a unit.
- CubeSmart's rules and regulations bar guns, ammunition, weapons and illegal drugs, along with anything toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive, food, animals and perishables.
- PODS lists what can't go in its storage containers, including compressed gases like propane tanks and aerosols, and items with lithium batteries that can't be taken out.
Breaking the rules isn't a technicality. Facilities can end your rental over it, and if a banned item causes a fire or a leak, you may be responsible for the damage.
What's banned almost everywhere
| Usually allowed? | Why | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline, propane, paint thinner, solvents | ✗ | Fire and fumes in a closed space |
| Fireworks and ammunition | ✗ | Explosive |
| Food, pet food, open liquids | ✗ | Spoils, smells and draws pests |
| Plants and animals | ✗ | Nothing in a unit can keep them alive |
| Stolen goods and illegal drugs | ✗ | Illegal anywhere |
| Firearms | Varies | Some facilities ban them; ask first |
| Cars, boats, motorcycles | Varies | Often only in vehicle spaces, registered and insured |
| Furniture, boxes, seasonal gear | ✓ | What units are for |
Public Storage, for example, allows vehicles only if they run, are registered and insured, and are parked in an approved vehicle space. Marijuana is a trap at some facilities: CubeSmart treats it as illegal even in states where it's legal.
Equipment with fuel
The lawn mower, the snowblower and the leaf blower are the most common way gasoline ends up in a unit by accident. Public Storage's lawn equipment tips say to run the engine until the tank is empty, outdoors or somewhere ventilated, never inside the unit. Some facilities want tanks fully drained and some accept a fuel stabilizer, so ask yours before you bring anything with an engine. Leave the spare gas can at home or give it away.
Batteries deserve the same thought. Pull the battery out of an e-bike, scooter or cordless tool if it comes out, and check the rules before storing one that doesn't.
Allowed, but think twice
These usually pass the rules and still end badly.
Valuables. CubeSmart's rules say you can't store more than $5,000 worth of property in total without its written consent, and that buying insurance doesn't count as consent. Even where there's no cap, jewelry, cash, coins and anything irreplaceable are safer in a bank safe deposit box or with you.
Important papers. Passports, birth certificates, tax records and anything with your Social Security number belong with you. CubeSmart also restricts documents and electronic data containing personal information.
Anything wet. A damp rug, a cooler that wasn't dried out, a tent packed after rain: moisture shut in a unit turns into mildew, and it spreads to the boxes around it.
Heat-sensitive things. Photos, vinyl records, wood furniture, electronics and musical instruments can warp, crack or stick together in a unit that bakes in summer and freezes in winter. Our guide to climate-controlled storage explains which items need it.
Things you'll need soon. If you're going to visit the unit every week for the camping gear or the kids' winter clothes, keep those at home or put them right by the door.
The week before move-in
- Read the agreementFind the prohibited-items section and ask about anything unclear
- SortPull out fuel, food, liquids, valuables and papers
- PrepDrain or stabilize engines, dry everything, remove batteries where you can
- Pack and listLabel each box and write down what's in it
- Move inHeavy and rarely used at the back, what you'll need at the front
Know what's in there
Most of these problems start with not quite remembering what went into which box. The dog food in the August story was packed with the dog's bed, in a box marked "dog stuff."
BoxTrack keeps that list for you. Make a box in the app for each carton, snap a photo of what goes in, and AI lists the items. Print a QR label for every box, and scan it later from the aisle to see what's inside, or search "camping stove" from home before you drive over. See how BoxTrack works for storage units. Your first box is free.
For how to stack and map the unit itself, see how to organize a storage unit.
Sources
- Public Storage, Storage policies
- Public Storage, Lawn equipment storage tips
- CubeSmart, Rules and regulations
- PODS, Containers and storage FAQs
This is general information. Your facility's rental agreement sets the rules for your unit, so read it and ask the manager about anything you're unsure of.
