What You Can (and Can’t) Store in a Storage Unit

Published: December 16, 2021

Have you come to the realization that you need a storage unit but want to make sure you know what’s allowed? Whether it’s time to declutter or you want to stay organized as you move or remodel your home, it’s important to know what you can store and what’s not a good idea to keep in your storage unit.

Storage unit companies have rules around what’s allowed in their facilities and then there are items that they allow but don’t recommend you keep in a unit. We’re breaking down both categories, but first, let’s start with what you can store in a unit.

What is Allowed in a Storage Unit

Typically, you can store anything that’s not on that storage unit’s prohibited items list, but that list can vary by company. In general, there is a wide array of items you can safely store in your unit. Here is a short list:

• Home décor
• Boxes
• Books 
• Artwork
• Furniture
• Lamps
• Electronics
• Sporting equipment
• Newspapers
• Musical instruments
• Appliances
• Business inventory

What Most Storage Units Won’t Allow

As expected, you can’t store stolen items or living (or deceased) beings. Here’s a list of other items that many storage unit companies won’t allow:

• • Firearms: Storing firearms can create liability issues for storage facilities. Think about what could happen if guns are not stored safely.
  • Food: Perishable items like meat, milk, eggs, and vegetables can attract unwanted pests, mildew, and unpleasant odors that affect the entire facility. 

• Hazardous materials: Dangerous substances can spill and wreak havoc not only in your unit but other units in the facility, damaging property.

• Money: While storage units are safe spaces, it’s not advisable to keep money in your unit and many storage companies won’t allow it for liability reasons.
• Leaky equipment: Storage facilities want to keep their units clean and presentable, so they may not allow you to store equipment that can leak gas, like lawn mowers. 

What’s Allowed But Not Recommended

• Items you use frequently: As long as the items are not prohibited, you can store them in a unit, but it will be inconvenient for you to constantly drive to your facility to access them.
• Irreplaceable items: If you pick a storage facility you can trust, your items will be safe, but if you can’t place a monetary value on some of your belongings, you may be better off finding an alternative place for them. This includes materials like family heirlooms.
• Wet or heavily scented items: If it has a scent, it may lose its luster while being stored. If it’s wet, it could leak, so we don’t recommend storing water beds that still have water inside! Items in this category also include incense, perfumes, oils, and lotions.

Based in Baltimore?

Now that you know what to store and what to keep elsewhere, it’s time to pick your unit. If you’re in the Baltimore area, UNITS of Baltimore offers fast, safe, secure and simple storage solutions in a convenient location. We can even deliver a mobile storage unit right to your door, so you don’t have to drive your items to a storage facility. 

Ready to get started? Give us a call or fill out this form for a quote! We’re happy to help.