Homeowners are getting their own storage units for many reasons. You may be downsizing your home, traveling more often or moving from place to place and need somewhere to put your things in the meantime. Storage units are very convenient for those who need them, but it’s also important to know what you can or can’t put into your unit.
Our specialists at Noah’s Ark Self Storage want to share helpful self storage tips for those who are interested in getting their own unit. Here are five things that you should keep out of your storage unit.
Food
Even for a short time, you should refrain from storing food in your storage space. Food can spoil in your unit, whether it’s climate controlled or not. Spoiled food can attract rodents and other pests which can chew through and damage your belongings. Not only that, but nonperishable items, especially canned goods, are at risk of combustion within the unit. These are safety hazards for the storage facility.
You should also leave out your wine from your storage unit. Wine can be extremely sensitive to changes in temperature and it can create a hazardous environment. The ideal temperature for storing wine is anywhere between 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything outside of that range could spoil the wine or break the glass. Even in climate-controlled storage, wine could spoil due to temperature changes. Save yourself the trouble of cleaning up after spoiled wine and take it out of your unit.
Household Plants And Animals
It is illegal to leave a live animal in a storage facility. Having live animals and plants in your storage unit is dangerous and can harm them if left unattended for too long. If you’re going on a weekend trip or you’re going out of town overnight, be sure to call in a house sitter to watch over your pets. Plants can die in the darkness of a storage unit and their moist soil can attract pests and promote mold growth in your unit.
Combustible, Flammable or Hazardous Materials
Leaving hazardous materials is dangerous for you and your storage unit. Anything that could start a fire or lead to harmful circumstances should be left out of your storage unit and put somewhere safe. These items include:
- Guns
- Ammunition
- Gasoline
- Fireworks
- Gas
- Oil
You can never predict what will happen if these items aren’t kept in a safe place. Protect yourself and your belongings by storing these items outside of your unit.
Wet Items
While you can store your water equipment like kayaks and scuba gear, make sure they are fully dry before putting them into your unit. Wet items can build moisture in the air, which leads to mold and mildew growth. These kinds of growths can damage your unit and contaminate the air within the system. Don’t ruin the rest of your belongings with these kinds of growths – dry off your equipment before putting them in your unit.
Tires
While you can have the tires on the car you’re storing, storing separate tires in your unit is against regulation in most storage facilities. Rubber tires can cause serious fires and damage your unit. And if left inside an abandoned unit, the storage facility has to face steep disposal fees. You’ll often find tires on storage company banned lists, so be sure to keep them outside of your space.
Start Storing With Noah’s Ark Self Storage!
If you’re looking for more space to store your belongings, contact Noah’s Ark! Our team will help you organize your items carefully without hassle or harm. Contact us today if you need tips for decluttering or need extra room for your items.
