6 Things That Don’t Belong in Long-Term Storage
Storage is an incredibly useful thing for so many different occasions. For example, if you don’t have enough space in your house and have something you don’t want to get rid of. What do you do? Rent a storage unit? You are remodeling your home and don’t want your furniture to get damaged? Rent a storage unit. Going on an extended vacation? Rent storage again. Storage is beneficial whether it is for longer or shorter periods of time. Not to mention all the incredible features storage companies offer. Things like seven days a week access, constant security surveillance, etc. But you have to know how to utilize it best. There are some things you should be aware of first. Not all items can be stored for a long period of time. So in this article, we will discuss things that don’t belong in long-term storage and why.
These are the things that don’t belong in long-term storage
- Anything illegal
- Important documents
- Things with sentimental value
- Items that require regular maintenance
- Food
- Plants
Stay away from illegal items
It probably goes without saying, but you can not store anything illegal in your long-term storage unit. Or any storage unit for that matter. It is not just prohibited by law; doing something like that can have dangerous consequences. Things like guns without permits, drugs, and other illegal substances. For example, müv Trusted Florida Movers, or any moving and storage company for that matter, will refuse to pack and store any such items. And not just that, they can report you to the police. So before renting a long-term storage unit, you will have to do some research. Find out what items are considered illegal in your state to avoid potential problems.
Don’t put important documents in long-term storage
Other things that don’t belong in long-term storage are important papers and documents. You shouldn’t keep items like marriage licenses, birth certificates, personal ids, and passports far from you for long periods. If it’s an emergency and you have to keep them in storage, don’t keep them there any longer than you have to. Documents like that you should always keep close to yourself. And no matter how well guarded those storages are, you will always be calmer when you have your documents near you.
Avoid storing things with sentimental value
Nothing with great emotional value for you should be kept in long-term storage. Items kept in storage for a long time can get damaged. Several bad things can cause your things to get ruined. Mold, pests, and extreme temperature changes can be hazardous for your items. Family photos and childhood drawings are very delicate and the first to be destroyed by pests and mold. Things like that are better kept in climate and temperature-controlled storage. So it’s better to ask your local storage company if they are equipped to keep items like that in a safe environment than risk them getting damaged. Additionally, you might want to do a bit of research on how to appropriately prepare those items for storage.
Things that require regular maintenance are not a good fit for long-term storage
This mostly means that you shouldn’t store things that have an engine. Things like that need to be taken care of regularly. That means they need not just to be looked after but also actively used. RVs, boats, or other types of motoric vehicles can start to decay if not taken out and used. And people usually store things long-term when they are going away somewhere. So that makes it a problem. All of that being said, you can still decide to put them in a long-term storage unit, but you are risking significant damage. And the engines aren’t exactly cheap.
Electronics do not belong in long-term storage
Generally speaking, electronics are not a good fit for long-term storage. They don’t do well in places with extreme temperature changes, and those changes are bound to happen in long-term storage. Humidity is lethal for electronics. They will get damaged in moist environments. Batteries are also a problem. So if you must store electronics, at least take the batteries out. Storing electronics is often requested by moving companies. For example, you are moving office and want to store your equipment during relocation. Well, it’s crucial that you discuss how to store office equipment with your chosen storage company. They should especially instruct you on how to prepare electronics correctly because there is usually a lot of electronic equipment in an office. In case you must store electronics, ask for climate-controlled storage. It’s a bit more expensive but pays off in the long run.
Plants don’t thrive in storage
A long-term storage unit is probably the worst place for your plants. First, they need constant, everyday care and maintenance. And you can’t really do that when they are in storage. Second, plants need sunlight to grow and thrive, and they don’t have that in storage units. They also need fresh air. Neither of that is an option with long-term storage.
Don’t store food
And lastly, a thing that also doesn’t belong in long-term storage is food. Storing food for a long period is just a waste of money and resources. After the expiration date, food will be useless, and you will waste a lot of money on storage. Also, food is a magnet for pests and rodents. That’s a huge problem, especially if you are storing other items along with food in the same storage. And it’s good to know that some storage companies don’t even allow storing food in their units. So it’s best you keep your food in your pantry where you can easily dispose of it should it expire or turn bad.
Final thoughts
So, these were six things that don’t belong in long-term storage. That doesn’t mean you can’t still try and store them (apart from illegal items), but you would be doing that at risk of damage to the items and also financial damage. You also must know that different storage companies have different policies. So it’s vital that you do some research before choosing a company for long-term storage. As always, being prepared is the key to everything.