We provide storage solutions for you for your household items, furniture, autos, boats, RVs, and many of our locations have climate-controlled units. We take security seriously at all of our locations and pride ourselves in protecting your items until you need to come get them or bring new items to your unit.
Self-storage units are an excellent solution for decluttering your home, organizing your garage, or simply stashing away items you don’t have immediate use for. But not everything should be kept in a storage unit. There are certain items that can cause harm to the unit, the belongings you’re storing, or even to the environment. Before you start packing up your life, here’s a list of things you should NOT store in self-storage.
YOU CAN'T STORE PERISHABLE ITEMS
It is never recommended to store any perishable items such as food, plants, items that could rot or decay over time. The risk of putting items like this in a self-storage unit is the items could attract pests and create odors over time. It is best to donate any perishable food items to a charitable organization when you remove them from your home.
Additional perishable clothing such as furs, leather, and delicate fabrics should only be store in climate-controlled units. If you decide to not store these items in our climate-controlled units, you can consider storing with a professional cleaner or in a special climate-controlled closet at your home.
YOU CAN'T STORE FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
Anything that might lead to the possibility of creating a fire is a hazard that should not be placed inside a self-storage unit. Hazardous items include gasoline, tanks filled with propane, firewood, paint, cleaning supplies, and aerosol cans. Storing these kinds of items also violates safety regulations of the rental contract.
TRY TO AVOID STORING IRREPLACEABLE ITEMS
Even though some of your most valuable items and family heirlooms and documents seem to take up space in closets and storage areas at your home, it is never recommended putting irreplaceable items into a self-storage unit. This includes expensive jewelry, sensitive private documents, old family photographs, love letters, childhood keepsakes, etc. A bank safety deposit box or in a locked safe location at your home might be better options.
TRY TO AVOID STORING ELECTRONICS
Many people hang on to old electronic equipment like TVs, computers, and audio equipment. The conundrum is where to store these items in which they are not in the way! It is not recommended storing these items due to the possibility of dust gathering inside the delicate components, fluctuation of temperatures cause condensation inside the device, etc. If you DO want to store electronic items, make sure you secure a climate-controlled self-storage unit.
YOU CAN'T STORE WEAPONS OR FIREARMS
It is unsafe to store weapons in a self-storage and may be illegal in many jurisdictions. An alternate storage solution is recommended such as a secure, locked safe at home or storage companies that offer specialized services for gun storage.
YOU CAN'T STORE LIVE ANIMALS
This is NEVER a good idea. Whether it is family pets, farm animals, even insects, placing live animals in self-storage unit isn’t a humane thing to do and certainly may violate rental policies. Animals need air, water, and proper living conditions to survive.
YOU CAN'T STORE CHEMICALS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
Items like this are hazardous and many of these chemicals can leak, spill, or create dangerous fumes. Items like cleaning agents, pesticides, fertilizers or other chemicals harmful to the environment or human health should not be placed inside a self-storage unit. Many of these items violate the safety standards portion of rental agreements. It is best to dispose of hazardous materials like this safely at a local waste disposal facility.
ANTIQUES AND FINE ARTS (Without Climate Control)
If you’re storing valuable antiques or fine artwork, it’s essential to choose a climate-controlled unit. Heat, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures can cause irreversible damage to paintings, sculptures, and vintage furniture. Wood can warp, canvas can crack, and paintings can fade.
ITEMS COVERED IN MOLD OR MILDEW
Anything that’s already moldy or mildew-infested should never be stored in a self-storage unit. Mold spreads quickly, and self-storage units that are not climate-controlled can exacerbate the problem. You’ll end up contaminating other items and possibly spreading the mold to other units.
CONCLUSION
When using self-storage, it’s important to remember that not everything is suitable for long-term storage. For the safety of your belongings and the integrity of your storage unit, avoid storing perishable, flammable, valuable, or hazardous items. Always choose a storage solution that matches the specific needs of your belongings, and if in doubt, consult with a professional storage company for advice. Keep in mind that the more careful you are with what you store, the better protected your items will be!
There are no administrative fees or hidden fees when you rent a self-storage unit at Macho Self Storage for your bicycles and e-bikes. When we quote you a rate, that’s the rate you pay! Also, you will receive 50% off your first month’s rent (restrictions apply) and a FREE lock for your storage unit.
In addition to all these amenities, we have all the packing supplies you might need for your self-storage unit. Whether you are storing your bikes long-term until the next riding opportunity or you have a larger collection than your garage will hold or you have a bike repair business and just need extra space….we have your storage solutions!
