Planning a storage unit can often be a messy business. You need to figure out just how much room you need – and how much you actually have. Then, you will want to know what items you will be able to put there – and if there are some items that cannot be kept in storage. These are important things to consider. Many Lauderhill FL movers have separate rules and regulations pertaining to their units, as well as some general rules that apply to all units. In this article, we take a look at some of these units. Keep reading in order to maintain perfect order in your unit.
Do not cause a hazard to your storage unit
One of the most obvious items that you should not consider storing in a unit is hazardous materials. First, there is a reason why no movers – either residential or office movers Fort Lauderdale – will take them on their moving truck. They can easily catch fire or explode, and this can wreak havoc on everything.
Sadly, there are many things that we consider hazardous. For example, the most common ones are gasoline, propane, oil, and grease. Similarly, many cleaners, aerosols, and even paint include chemicals that are highly hazardous. Therefore, you will not be able to put paint thinner or similar supplies into your unit. Then, you will have to worry about the bathroom and kitchen items. Many of these contain dangerous materials that you will want out of your unit. The same applies to gardening supplies and lawn equipment too. Find another place to store your weed killers and fertilizers, as well as your gasoline.
Another thing to note is the disposal of hazardous materials. You cannot just toss them aside. Instead, you need to take them to the waste management agency.
Living things cannot be kept in storage – for obvious reasons
This might seem like a crazy thing to even think about – but you can never, under any circumstances, store living things in a storage unit. There are many cases of people thinking they can use their units for temporary homes for their pets, for example. This is strictly forbidden. The pets can make a mess, and you will also endanger their lives by doing so.
Plants might be a little less obvious. However, they are living things as well, even though they might not complain like pets. If you just leave them in the storage, they will die. Furthermore, their soil can attract moisture, which is the biggest enemy of storage units. Moisture means you will get mold and mildew which destroy your items completely. Not only that, but they can attract pests too.
If you did put plants in your storage unit, then make sure to take them out as soon as possible. Then, air everything out and try to clean boxes and supplies as much as you can. If possible, use new ones because there might be some soil remaining. You need to make sure that there is none in order to keep your storage in optimal condition.
Similarly, avoid storing perishables as well
Just like plants can die and start rotting, so can the food. Therefore, you will want to store it in a refrigerator instead of a unit. Meat, dairy – anything that needs you to keep it somewhere cool – are all included on the list of items that cannot be kept in storage. On the other hand, if you have non-perishable food items, then you can store them in the unit freely. It is even better if they have airtight containers. This way, they cannot spill out and cause any damage to your other items.
For example, dry goods are quite a popular storage item choice. People put them in storage for emergencies, and this is usually fine to do. However, keep in mind that you should not store rice and grains, boxed foods, powdered milk as well as pet food in your storage. These can turn rancid, and a lot of them also smell bad. Even worse, they can attract rodents and pests too. So, if you do insist on storing these, make sure you are using containers that you can’t smell through. Glass or plastic usually work well – if they are thick enough.
When storing cans, however, you need to check their expiration dates. You will want to visit your storage from time to time to check these. Also ensure you check for damages, cause those can introduce bacteria and moisture into your unit.
Weapons, explosive and similar items cannot be kept in storage
This is something similar to hazardous materials. Storing weapons and explosives is often illegal, so ensure you are not doing it. It can cause a lot of damage and hurt people too, so refrain from even trying to do so. This can be obvious for some items, while it might not be that obvious for others. For example, there are states which forbid even small fireworks. Things like poppers and sparklers are included in this. So, before you store something, check the laws and consult with Florida movers about what you can have in the unit – and what you should not.
Another odd thing, but which we are including on the list, are vehicles. For these, there are specialized storage units that you can look into. It doesn’t matter what you are storing – a boat, a car, or a truck – everything needs to be properly stored. This includes getting the paperwork in order, having the license and registration, and making sure the vehicle is operable. Make sure you also drain the oil and fuel – and check if vehicles cannot be kept in storage units you are using.