A storage unit is where clutter, valuables, and seasonal decor go for safekeeping, allowing you to free up room in your home. However, not everything is suitable for self-storage. Storing certain items can pose hazards to the building as well as your possessions. Below are a few of the essential items to avoid putting in a unit.

What to Leave Out of Your Storage Unit

1. Hazardous Chemicals & Materials

These include items like paint, ammunition, fireworks, guns, and pest or cleaning chemicals. Hazardous materials should never be left unsupervised where they could go unnoticed if they become damaged. Paint or fuel can leak fumes into the storage space if they become damaged or the container corrodes. It also heightens the risk of a fire and will make the situation even more dangerous if the facility itself catches on fire, collapses, or is otherwise damaged.

2. Edible Items

Food, snacks, and even nonperishables should be kept out of the unit. Otherwise, you risk attracting pests like mice and cockroaches. Once they invade your storage unit to get to the food, they can destroy your other belongings by nesting in or chewing on them. If your unit becomes infested, it puts all the other units at risk, too.

3. Scented Objects

Fragrant items like candles, shampoos, soaps, and perfumes may be mistaken for food by bugs and animals, attracting them to your unit. Even if they’re stored in a bag or a box, the smell can build up over time and become noticeable. If you absolutely have to store these items, consider putting them in strong, sealed, smell-proof containers with multiple layers of thick wrapping or packing around them to keep the smell contained.

4. Wet or Damp Belongings

Items like recently washed cushions, towels, or outdoor furniture—or if you load the unit in the rain—bring moisture into the space if they’re not fully dry. Because self-storage spaces are enclosed and not often accessed, any dampness in the unit will turn into moisture trapped in the air, fostering mold, mildew, and mustiness throughout your possessions. Avoid loading your unit in the rain, and make sure everything is dry when you’re packing it.

Looking for affordable storage units to store the rest of your items? Tom Thumb Mini Storage in San Marcos, TX, maintains six storage facilities in the area, with unit sizes ranging from 3x5 to 10x30. Their features include climate-controlled options, car and RV storage, and 24/7 gated access. Family-owned and -operated, they boast professional staff, clean units, and offer affordable moving supplies. You can view their rates online, and to reserve a unit, call (512) 396-3434.