Whether you’ve just started or finished the packing process, it’s important to peruse the items on your moving checklist and properly assess storage decisions. Some of your household belongings may not be safe or necessary for transit. The list below outlines items that you should keep off the roads during your move.

What to Leave Behind

1. Flammable & Combustible Items

Beauty products and cleaning agents can become serious safety hazards during transportation. Air is trapped inside a moving truck for hours, leading to humidity and rising temperatures that make your bottles of nail polish remover and paint buckets ticking time bombs, especially in the summer. Interior vehicle temperatures can reach 130 degrees after an hour when the outside temperature is merely 85 degrees. Aerosol cans become over-pressurized and explode at 120 degrees. 

2. Perishables

You may be wondering what to do with all the food piled high in your fridge and pantry. While it may seem easy to pack everything into the moving truck, more risk than reward is involved in storing food items. Fresh produce and frozen food can rot quickly in hot temperatures, inviting unwanted pests to feast and make a mess of your food containers. Food stored in containers may be crushed under the weight of other packages during transportation. 

3. Medicine

Temperatures of 75 to 77 degrees are ideal for medicine storage. Heat can change the chemical composition of medication and degrade its potency. Lorazepam, a medication used to treat seizure disorders, undergoes a decrease in effectiveness by 75% when stored at 100 degrees. Medication such as nitroglycerin, which prevents chest pain for those with cardiovascular disease, and levothyroxine, which treats hypothyroidism, are also heat-sensitive.

4. House Plants

House plants are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. Temperatures above 95 degrees can send some plants into shock, like orchids. When left in darkness for too long, some may undergo abnormal growth or become brittle. Weak plants may be more susceptible to disease and pest infestation, which can wreak havoc on your other belongings.

When the time comes to prepare for relocation, have the experts at Nebraskaland Moving in Lincoln, NE, help mark off items on your moving checklist. They’ve been helping customers pack, store, and unload their valuables all across the states for over 35 years. They’re equipped with the experience and resources to make your move reliable, quick, and safe. Their team also offers guaranteed four-day delivery for long-distance moves and door-to-door shipping services. Call (402) 466-8169 for a free moving estimate, or visit their website for information about their services.