Okay, let’s talk. You’ve got a storage unit, or you’re thinking about getting one. It’s a brilliant solution, right? Suddenly, your garage is empty, your attic is just for ghosts, and you can finally walk through your basement without playing a game of “what’s that smell?”
But here’s the thing. That unit isn’t a black hole. You can’t just toss anything in there, slam the door shut, and expect the universe to handle it. I’ve been in this business a long time, and let me tell you, the stuff people try to store… it would make your hair curl.
We need to have a quick, honest chat about what not to put in there. This isn’t me being a buzzkill. This is me stopping you from creating a science experiment, a biohazard, or a five-alarm fire. I’ve seen ’em all.
So, grab a coffee. Here’s the real list.
The “Are You Kidding Me?” Stuff
This is the big one. The dangerous one. If you remember nothing else, remember this.
- Anything that goes boom or whoosh. I’m looking at you, can of gasoline for the lawnmower. I see you, little propane tank for the camping grill. “But it’s almost empty!” I don’t care. Those fumes are sneaky, heavier than air, and they’ll pool in the bottom of your unit. All it takes is one tiny spark from the light switch or you scuffing your shoes on the way in. Next thing I know, I’m calling the fire department and your unit—and maybe your neighbor’s—is a charcoal briquette. Just don’t. Drain the equipment. Take the tank home.
- Fireworks. Ammo. Seriously. Why? Just… why?
- The chemical soup from your garage. Old paint thinner, half-used cans of stain, mystery solvents. These things leak. They eat through plastic. The fumes alone can warp the plastic on your kid’s action figures or make your wooden dining table sticky. It’s a slow-motion disaster.
The “You’re Running a Bug Buffet” Section
This is the most common mess we deal with. And it’s almost always an accident.
- Food. Any food. I don’t care if it’s a sealed bag of rice or a can of beans. A mouse can smell that from three units down. They will chew through a plastic tote, a cardboard box, and your wedding photo album to get to it. And they won’t come alone. They’ll bring their friends, their kids, and their weird uncle. Before you know it, your unit is the number one rated restaurant for pests in the entire county, and they’ve left… let’s call it “bad reviews”… all over your stuff.
- A quick tip: If you’re storing kitchen stuff, wash it. Like, really wash it. That casserole dish with the baked-on cheese? That’s a five-course meal to a cockroach.
The “It Just Gets Sad” Category
These ones don’t always cause a catastrophe, but they always end in regret.
Anything wet:
Did you pressure wash your patio furniture? Great. Is it bone-dry? I mean, really dry? If you lock even a slightly damp chair in a dark, sealed space, you’re not storing furniture. You’re farming mold. In a month, it’ll be a fuzzy, smelly science project that you can’t even pay someone to take away.
The priceless things:
Now, I’m proud of our place here at Lock-It & Leave-It. Our units are clean, we’ve got great locks, and Frank who manages the place has a face only a mother could love, which is a fantastic crime deterrent. But I need to be straight with you: no storage unit on planet Earth is a vault. Don’t put the only copy of your family photos in here. Don’t put your grandma’s original wedding dress in a cardboard box. Don’t stash your grandpa’s war medals. Those things belong in a fireproof safe at home or a safety deposit box. This unit is for your stuff. Not your treasures.
Things that breathe:
Plants will die. Pets will… well, that’s illegal and horrible. And people? No. Just no. It’s not a guest room. It’s a storage unit.
Look, the goal is for you to open that door in six months and find your things exactly how you left them. A little common sense goes a million miles.
If you’re ever looking at something and your brain says, “Hmm, I’m not sure…” just listen to it. Or better yet, give us a ring at Lock-It & Leave-It and ask. Frank might grumble, but he’ll give you the right answer.
Store smart. Your future self will thank you for it.
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