What You Can and Can’t Store in a Storage Unit
While self storage is a great resource for storing various belongings, there are limitations on what items can be stored. It’s best to know the allowed and prohibited items ahead of time to eliminate guesswork and avoid headaches down the road.
What Can You Store in a Storage Facility?
You can store a wide variety of personal or professional belongings in self storage, so long as there’s space. Let’s explore some of the most common items you can keep in a storage unit.
Furniture and Appliances
A storage unit is an ideal place to store furniture, including couches, beds, tables, and chairs. Appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers are also stored in self storage. Before you move them in, clean and dry them to deter pests and mildew.
Electronics
Self storage is also ideal for electronics, including TVs, computers, and sound systems. The best storage space for your electronic devices is climate-controlled storage. The stable environment of a climate-controlled storage unit helps prevent extreme temperatures from causing your electronics to short-circuit, corrode, or fail.
Clothing and Textiles
Do you have an abundance of extra towels, blankets, and sheets cramping your closets and drawers? A storage unit provides you with room to keep your textiles and clothing items. These items are also best kept in climate-controlled storage as a shield against dusty conditions.
Household Goods
Using residential storage for household goods is one of the most common ways people use self storage. Use the perfect size storage unit to store seasonal decorations, gardening tools, and kitchen supplies.
Office Supplies
In addition to household goods, commercial storage is a great solution for storing items from your business. Common business storage uses include space for excess promotional items, office stationery, and records you need to keep track of.
What Can You Not Store in a Storage Facility?
Even with all the great uses of self storage, some items cannot be stored due to safety reasons and the preservation of your other belongings.
Food
Whether it’s dairy, meat, or grain, perishable food can attract pests into a storage unit and damage the other items stored there. Avoid the hassle and keep food out of your storage unit.
Hazardous Goods
Any items considered flammable, toxic, or combustible are not permitted inside a storage unit. These hazardous materials and goods include:
- Paint and thinner
- Fertilizer
- Fireworks
- Oil
- Chlorine bleach
- Acid
- Propane tanks
- Compressed gas
- Kerosene
- Gasoline
- Grease
We recommend checking your household cleaning supplies to see if they contain any hazardous ingredients. If so, do not keep them in your storage unit.
Illegal Items
Keeping illegal items in a storage unit is a one-way path to trouble. Common examples of illegal items include unlicensed weapons, illegal drugs, and stolen property. Storage facility workers are liable to call local authorities if they suspect any suspicious items inside one of their units.
Living Things
Simply put, living or dead plants, such as flowers and shrubs. Any kind of organic matter is a magnet for pests.
Storage Ideas and Tips for Proper Use
When it’s time to find and move into a storage unit, there are several ways to streamline your experience and avoid common mistakes. Here are some practical storage tips for you to use:
- Maximize vertical space with shelving
- Choose clear, airtight containers for long-term storage
- Label all your boxes for storage
- Map out your storage unit or create an inventory list
- Organize your belongings into groups
Rent Quality and Secure Self Storage at Overflow Garage
Do you have several boxes of household or business items that need storage? Overflow Garage helps you find the space you’re looking for! With several small, medium, and large storage unit sizes to choose from across numerous locations, you’ll make room for office moves, home renovations, or a new family member lightning fast.
To rent or reserve your storage unit, contact us or find your nearest Overflow Garage location online today!
Frequently Asked Questions About What To Store in a Self Storage Unit
Yes, you can use self storage to park your car, RV, or boat. For the best quality protection, designated car storage spaces are available at several Overflow Garage storage facilities.
If you plan to rent a small storage unit for clothing, we recommend using vertical space and hangers to maximize storage space. If you plan to store clothing and other fabrics in containers, we recommend using clear, stackable bins and renting climate-controlled storage.
The 25 square feet of space in our 5×5 storage units are best used for boxes of out-of-season clothing, office stationery, and seasonal decorations. Learn more about all our storage unit sizes through our online size guide today.